Football Review | Oxford United 2 - 2 Millwall

Last-minute equaliser denies promotion contenders Millwall at Oxford.

Przemyslaw Placheta’s late goal stopped the away side from moving into the automatic promotion places.

Author | James P

Stadium | Kassam Stadium

The visitors went ahead through Thierno Ballo, who took full advantage of a lapse in Oxford’s defending to nod home from a long throw.

Oxford, eager to climb clear of the relegation zone, found a response just before half-time when Cameron Brannagan bent a fine strike into the top corner from outside the area.

Jake Cooper, making his 400th appearance for Millwall, restored the visitors’ lead after Tristan Crama’s effort deflected into his path, allowing him to finish from close range. But Oxford refused to yield, and Przemysław Płacheta’s low strike deep into stoppage time ensured the points were shared.

More analysis of what happened 

Before kick-off, U’s boss Gary Rowett had spoken warmly of his former club, calling them “a beacon for smaller clubs in the Championship”. Yet his side were caught cold in the opening stages. A long throw into the box was left to bounce, and Ballo pounced to nod past the stranded Jamie Cumming.

Millwall captain Cooper came close to adding a second, glancing a header narrowly wide from a corner. Oxford began to grow into the contest, though, upping the tempo but struggling for accuracy, with Brian De Keersmaecker and Jack Currie both shooting off target.

Their persistence finally paid off when Stanley Mills cut inside from the right and teed up Brannagan, who curled home with precision.

Alex Neil’s men started the second half on top and reclaimed the lead through Cooper’s close-range finish, but Oxford’s determination was rewarded at the death when Płacheta fired low into the corner to snatch a point.

The draw lifts Oxford to eighteenth, while Millwall slip to fourth. This is definitely a situation Millwall fans would have taken at the start of the campaign, but now they will be dreaming of so much more.