Oxford United pulled off a dramatic 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, with a stoppage-time goal from Dane Scarlett salvaging a point at the Kassam Stadium.
The late equaliser denied West Brom the chance to go top of the table and extended Oxford’s unbeaten home run this season.
West Brom Strike First
The Baggies, looking to secure the top spot, took control early on, with Karlan Grant’s 30th-minute goal putting them ahead. Grant struck from just outside the penalty area, delivering a low shot that ricocheted off the post and into the bottom corner, silencing the home fans.
Oxford United, newly promoted to the Championship, pushed back in the second half but struggled to break down West Brom’s defence until the dying moments.
The first half offered a glimpse of hope for the home side when Mark Harris found himself through on goal in the sixth minute. However, a heavy touch allowed West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer to smother the chance and keep the score level early on.
West Brom dominated set pieces and came close to doubling their lead when Torbjorn Heggem’s header narrowly missed the target following a corner. Oxford, in contrast, nearly found an equaliser before the break when Ciaron Brown’s header flew over the bar from a well-placed corner.
Oxford Battle Back
The second half saw both sides playing with more attacking intent, as Oxford looked to restore parity and West Brom sought to seal the victory. Oxford’s best chance came when Harris broke away from a Baggies defender and appeared to be clear on goal. However, the referee controversially halted play, ruling that Harris had fouled the defender in the buildup, much to the frustration of Oxford boss Des Buckingham, who was subsequently booked.
As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Oxford mounted a late surge, pinning West Brom deep in their own half. With the game into stoppage time, a long throw from Will Vaulks was flicked into the path of Scarlett, who nodded the ball past Palmer to make it 1-1, sparking wild celebrations from the home fans.
“We’re happy with the second-half performance. We came up against a really good team in West Brom, who I’m sure will be challenging to get out of this league, so to get a result, we’re very happy,” Oxford manager Des Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford. “There was an identity about us and we didn’t panic despite the scoreline. It took us until the 93rd minute, but we got there in the end and that’s what matters.”
Despite missing the chance to top the table, West Brom remain in fifth place, while Oxford continue to build on their promising form following last season’s promotion.
