Oxford United manage lively 1-1 draw with Hull City

A fourth-minute opener from Hull’s Mo Belloumi was a frustrating start, but the United captain’s spot kick levelled things less than ten minutes later.

The U’s late charge saw them almost nick the win through Mark Harris but the ball was turned agonisingly wide of the post.

Will Lankshear found the first effort of the game, seeing his shot from the edge of the box deflected and saved before Hull found an early opener.

Belloumi brought down a long ball forward from Semi Ajayi and drove inside before sticking the ball past Jamie Cumming.

Hull City celebrate Mo Belloumi’s opener against Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

Oxford responded well however, and Lankshear drew a penalty from Charlie Hughes just nine minutes later, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee about to latch onto Jamie Donley’s through ball before being brought down.

Brannagan tucked away the U’s second penalty in as many home games to level the score.

Matt Bloomfield’s men carried on attacking, finding space in wide areas as Lankshear put a diving header agonisingly over the crossbar.

Will Lankshear wrestles with the Hull City defence (Image: Oxford United)

Donley and Belloumi both put efforts off target from the edge of the box, before the latter directed a cross towards Kyle Joseph just wide of the post with the outside of his boot.

Joseph did find a chance moments later, Belloumi this time picking him out, but Cumming saved his shot from a slight angle inside the area.

Myles Peart-Harris runs with the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

The U’s tried to hit back again, Ciaron Brown finding Myles Peart-Harris in space, the winger poking his shot at the goalkeeper before Donley’s heavy touch took the rebound wide, the chance going begging when Peart-Harris crossed back in from an offside position.

A blocked volley from Belloumi saw out the first half.

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Two early second-half chances fell for the Yellows as Michal Helik headed over from close range before Brannagan forced a diving save from Dillon Phillips from a long way out.

Ruben Roosken puts a foot in for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

Hull hit back as John Lundstram saw a vicious shot blocked in the box before Matt Crooks had two efforts in the box go begging.

A multitude of shots were blocked by Hull shirts before ambitious efforts from Mark Harris and Helik.

As the board showing four minutes added time was shown, Oxford almost took the win.

Brodie Spencer with eyes on the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

Harris slid in at the back post to meet Stan Mills’ low ball but was stretching and could only put it painfully wide of the post.

Substitute Will Vaulks forced a final save out of Phillips with a sweet strike, but it was a point apiece in the end.

Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Roosken, Konak, Brannagan, Mills, Donley, Peart-Harris, Lankshear

Hull: Phillips, Drameh, Ajayi, Hughes, Coyle, Lundstram, Crooks, Belloumi, Gelhardt, Joseph, McBurnie

Bookings: Hughes