Match ends, Oxford United 2, Barnsley 2.
Oxford United 2-2 Barnsley
- From the section League One
Barnsley gave their promotion hopes a boost by battling back from 2-0 down to earn a spirited 2-2 draw at Oxford.
It extended their unbeaten league run to eight games, but they were given a shock by struggling Oxford.
Josh Ruffels headed the U's into a 25th-minute lead at a corner, and Jamie Mackie forced goalkeeper Adam Davies into an error before knocking in a second goal early in the second half.
Mamadou Thiam pulled one back for the Tykes with 20 minutes to go.
And substitute Kieffer Moore then slickly turned in Jacob Brown's pass in the 79th minute with his 17th goal of the season.
Karl Robinson's team were unlucky not to win, though, because they struck the crossbar three times.
Gavin Whyte's effort when he lobbed the keeper from 30 yards was especially unlucky as the ball bounced down onto the goal-line.
Ruffels opened the scoring when he nodded in from three yards after Rob Dickie won a header at the back post following a corner.
Striker Mackie slotted home in the 48th minute after challenging Davies from Jamie Hanson's long ball forward, but Thiam and Moore ensured that Barnsley returned to South Yorkshire with a valuable point.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
- 1Eastwood
- 6Hanson
- 4DickieBooked at 90mins
- 5NelsonBooked at 36mins
- 14Ruffels
- 8Brannagan
- 15Mousinho
- 16Whyte
- 17HenrySubstituted forKashiat 85'minutes
- 18GrahamSubstituted forGarbuttat 81'minutes
- 19Mackie
Substitutes
- 3Garbutt
- 11Carruthers
- 23Long
- 24Sykes
- 27Stevens
- 40Kashi
- 42James
Barnsley
- 1Davies
- 12Cavaré
- 5Pinnock
- 6LindsayBooked at 66mins
- 28WilliamsBooked at 73mins
- 33Brown
- 8McGeehan
- 4DougallBooked at 39minsSubstituted forMooreat 45'minutes
- 27MowattBooked at 87mins
- 26ThiamBooked at 37minsSubstituted forBähreat 71'minutes
- 9WoodrowSubstituted forGreenat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 15Green
- 18Jackson
- 19Moore
- 21Bähre
- 23Pinillos
- 29Adeboyejo
- 35Greatorex
- Referee:
- Kevin Johnson
- Attendance:
- 5,794
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Oxford United 2, Barnsley 2.
Robert Dickie (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mike-Steven Bähre (Barnsley).
Foul by Josh Ruffels (Oxford United).
Jordan Green (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Barnsley) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a set piece situation.
Booking
Robert Dickie (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Robert Dickie (Oxford United).
Jacob Brown (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt saved. Jacob Brown (Barnsley) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Gavin Whyte (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Mike-Steven Bähre (Barnsley).
Booking
Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Cameron Brannagan (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Cameron McGeehan (Barnsley).
Substitution
Substitution, Oxford United. Ahmed Kashi replaces James Henry.
Attempt blocked. Ben Williams (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Josh Ruffels (Oxford United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Oxford United. Luke Garbutt replaces Jordan Graham.
Foul by Dimitri Kevin Cavaré (Barnsley).
Jordan Graham (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal!
Goal! Oxford United 2, Barnsley 2. Kieffer Moore (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jacob Brown with a cross.
Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Robert Dickie.
Attempt missed. Jamie Mackie (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Dimitri Kevin Cavaré.
Booking
Ben Williams (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gavin Whyte (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Ben Williams (Barnsley).
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Mike-Steven Bähre replaces Mamadou Thiam.
Goal!
Goal! Oxford United 2, Barnsley 1. Mamadou Thiam (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jacob Brown with a cross.
Booking
Liam Lindsay (Barnsley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Gavin Whyte (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Liam Lindsay (Barnsley).
Foul by Jamie Mackie (Oxford United).
Ben Williams (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Jordan Green replaces Cauley Woodrow.
James Henry (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Cameron McGeehan (Barnsley).
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Adam Davies.