The U’s drew 2-2 against Exeter City in the cup before missing out on an extra point with a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat at St James Park.

Young midfielder Harrison Bradney scored the Yellows’ first goal before Jack Fitzwater steered the ball into his own net with 12 minutes of the match left.

The game was Oxford’s first in 17 days after an extended international break in which four players left to play for their nations, two for Northern Ireland and two for Wales.

Aaron Ramsey’s side return to League One action with an away trip to Notts County on Saturday.

“I thought it was an entertaining game from a neutral point of view,” Gunter detailed after the Exeter draw.

“It was a good start in terms of a couple of weeks without a game, going ahead now into the league fixture as well.

Oxford United winger Aidan Elliott-Wheeler in action against Exeter City (Image: Oxford United)

“We’re off and running in the competition, which we want to do well and I thought the approach to the game leading into it was right.”

The U’s rotated for their EFL Trophy clash, with five names gaining their first starts of the season.

Two of those were Aston Villa loanee Luka Lynch and academy product Aidan Elliott-Wheeler who were positioned on the right flank together in the first half.

Ramsey and his coaches made some interesting tactical rotations, allowing right back Elliott-Wheeler to stay high and wide whilst Lynch drifted centrally in behind the striker during Oxford’s build up.

The duo were also seen doing the opposite, with the Villa loanee out wide and the U’s youngster coming inside.

Games like these where the stakes are slightly lower and personnel has been changed provide good opportunity to try some new ideas, which Gunter expanded on.

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“No two games for us have really looked the same in terms of the profiles of who we have on the pitch [and] the opposition.

“So there’s always sort of slight tweaks in that.

“There was an opportunity today where we animated at times with the ball in a slightly different way.

“In the first half, it can be a little bit more congested and easier for the opposition to sort of track those forward runs.

“In terms of building relationships, it would have been a new one today on the right-hand side with Aiden and Luka and getting to know and understand each other and what we want from them.

“They’ll only be better for that.

“Part of our strength this season has been sort of how fluid we are within a structure and it makes it really difficult for the opposition.

“When it’s done well, it can look like it did for the last 45 minutes; creating chances, controlling the game, dominating it.”

The Yellows drew 2-2 in regular time thanks to Harrison Bradney’s debut goal and an own goal from Grecians centre back Jack Fizwater.

Bradney cancelled out Taylor Perry’s seventh-minute opener with Josh Gordon regaining the lead for the hosts a minute later before the 78th-minute own goal.

Aaron Ramsey’s men sit third in Group I on one point after the draw at St James Park.

After starting on the front foot, Oxford found themselves behind after only seven minutes.

Liam Oakes’ low ball into the box following a short free kick found Perry in space who tucked home for the hosts.

Despite owning possession, Exeter were the ones to find the next shot, Charlie Cummins’ effort hitting Luka Lynch only for Jamie Cumming to get down to meet it.

The Yellows found their breakthrough at the half-hour mark.

Lynch finally made his way to the by-line into space and put the ball across goal to young midfielder Bradney whose scuffed shot bounced over the despairing Frankie Phillips.

Yellows’ celebrations were quickly quietened by the hosts who regained the lead a minute later.

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A rocket of a hit from Gordon at the edge of the penalty area beat Cumming and rippled the roof of the net.

The Grecians came forward again, Jack Fitzwater nodding narrowly wide from a corner.

Oxford picked themselves back up, Siriki Dembele darting in behind and bending a shot just wide of the post.

Bradney almost bagged a second shortly after, James Golding nodding a corner back to the midfielder who fired over at the back post.

Ramsey’s men were well in charge in the second period.

O’Donkor should have found the equaliser as Aidan Elliott-Wheeler put the ball on a plate but the striker scuffed it.

The centre forward found another chance thanks to Louie Sibley’s neat pass, but rocketed wide at the near post.

The goal eventually fell but it was a red shirt that found the net.

Peter Kioso’s cross towards O’Donkor again was met by Fitzwater who slid in to put the ball into his own goal.

The U’s went all out for a winning goal, Leo Snowden seeing two shots blocked off the bench whilst Tyler Goodrham sent two agonisingly wide from range.

A volley over the bar from Greg Leigh preceded O’Donkor seeing a shot cleared off the line which Mo Missanga then put wide with the final kick of the game.

Two saves from Phillips to deny Bradney and then Golding saw Exeter win the shootout 4-3 with Cumming making one save of his own in the shootout.

Grecians: Phillips, Samuel (Taylor 66), Fitzwater, Woodhouse, Cayless, Kite (Watts 73), Oakes, Perry (Scully 61), Cummins, Birch (Alsop 73), Gordon (Lang 73)

Yellows: Cumming, Elliott-Wheeler (Snowden 71), Long, Golding, Currie (Leigh 59), Bradney, Brannagan (Goodrham 59), Sibley, Lynch (Kioso 59), O’Donkor, Dembele (Missanga 46)

Bookings: Oakes, Kite; Golding, Sibley