PRIDE was restored for Town in an ugly match, even though two precious points slipped through their grasp.

With just one change to the line-up humiliated at Macclesfield, manager Peter Jackson and the fans got the battling response they were after.

Indeed, Jon Stead's 15th goal of the season should have done for the bruising former leaders, who looked like they'd raided a Christmas Pudding shop en route to Yorkshire and hadn't quite had their fill.

That Oxford pegged Town back was down to three major factors.

Firstly the sending-off of striker Julian Alsop, which mysteriously breathed new life into the visitors' flagging challenge rather than catapulting Town towards a vital victory.

Secondly, the brilliance of substitute Mark Rawle, who was much more lively than Alsop and, just as Oxford had appeared to be going nowhere, made a smart run to elude marker Efe Sodje and plant Matt Robinson's cross firmly past Phil Senior with 18 minutes left.

It was only a second effort on goal in the entire match for Ian Atkins' side - a measure of how well Town defended with Paul Scott in midfield and Steve Yates back in defence.

The third factor was twice surviving dangerous Town attacks in the last couple of minutes.

Firstly, with only 90 seconds left to play, Yates contrived to volley wide when it seemed easier to score from Fola Onibuje's excellent run and cross.

Then, in stoppage time, Lee Fowler - who had a much improved game - forced Andy Woodman into a hasty tip-over with a cracking drive from 25 yards after surging through the middle.

It was just about Fowler's last contribution because, having been booked for a foul on James Hunt in the first half, he foolishly clattered into Dean Whitehead near the Kilner Bank touchline and went marching for the second time this season.

Many felt referee Roy Pearson was simply evening things up after blundering his way through the game but, if that was the case, Fowler made it easy for him to become the ninth dismissal for Town at only the halfway point in the season.

That's a dreadful record which needs to be improved every bit as much as the away form, and fans will be keen to see Jackson's men defending at Darlington on Friday with all the resolve they showed against an Oxford side who slipped off top billing thanks to Doncaster's Friday win.

There was plenty of fire, purpose and determination about Town's play, even though it was mostly a slog, and they did the basics pretty well as fired-up Stead provided inspiration up front.

"I'm very happy with a point, especially having gone down to 10 men, because the other leading sides have got to come here and they aren't going to win either," said Atkins.

"I was disappointed that we only picked up the pace and tempo of the game when we were down to 10, but when we play like that there's no-one in this division who can live with us.

"We aren't at the top of the table for nothing and, when you look at Huddersfield, you have to wonder why they are where they are in the table.

"When they perform with such great willingness, endeavour and workrate and look so good at home, I bet their manager is tearing his hair out about their away record."

Jackson is, of course, and it's only an unbeaten home run of nine matches which reads seven wins and two draws which is keeping Town within four points of the play-off placings going into Christmas.

They kept that run going with Stead's deflected 15th goal of the season on 37 minutes - one which Oxford contested should not have stood because Efe Sodje was offside as the ball took a touch off Anthony Lloyd on its way to the net.

The goal capped a fine display from the 20-year-old striker, who was watched by five Premiership scouts and four from the First Division, and Atkins is not surprised by the interest.

"He is a good player," said the visiting manager.

"Apart from at Reading in the Cup, when he played wide, it's the first time I've seen him live and up front and the lad has good movement. How far he can go, who knows? But you can see he has got something in him."

Stead caused Oxford no end of problems in the first half, linking nicely with the lively Danny Schofield and going close with a couple of crisply-hit shots. He also teed up two inviting crosses into the six-yard box which should have been stuck away.

A Whitehead shot, easily fielded by Senior, was all Oxford could muster in the first half as Town protected the box with much more professionalism than the previous week.

And Town remained on top for the opening 20 minutes of the second half, with Anthony Lloyd and Nat Brown joining the attack, Andy Booth and Schofield having shots charged down and Nathan Clarke just missing a Schofield corner which flashed across the face of goal.

It was only the long hold-up for Alsop's dismissal - he saw red for violent conduct and raising an arm to Sodje's face when he appeared to do no more than pull the defender over with his shirt - and the introduction of Rawle which changed the game.

Sodje was down for ages, players pushed and shoved and Alsop had a long conversation with Jackson at the touchline before he eventually trotted off.

Town, watched by a Quid-a-Kid crowd of 9,368, were never quite the same in the rest of the match and the loss of two points and Fowler's red card made for a disappointing finale.

But after the horrors of Moss Rose it was important for Town to show character and fight, and that's exactly what they did.

TOWN FORM (3-5-2)

Phil Senior Had faced only one shot on target by the time Rawle scored the Oxford equaliser. Patrolled the area well Rating: 7/10

Nat Brown Improved as the game went on, pushing forward and supplying a deep cross which Onibuje headed wide Rating: 6/10

Anthony Lloyd Confident in his work pushing forward and linked nicely with Stead in one attack. Also saw a late curler saved Rating: 7/10

Steve Yates A first start in almost two months and looked solid. Had the chance of the match on 88 mins but fired wide Rating: 7/10

Efe Sodje Did a great job marking Alsop but, when he was sent off, held his hands up for losing sub Rawle for the equaliser. Rating: 6/10

Nathan Clarke His long throw caused problems for the Oxford defence and led to Town taking the lead. Strong sweeping show Rating: 7/10

Lee Fowler Had a much better game but ruined it by getting sent-off in stoppage time for a needless challenge Rating: 6/10

Paul Scott Moved forward from midfield and got stuck in, disrupting Oxford. Will be banned for getting a fifth booking of the season Rating: 7/10

Danny Schofield Was off the field having three stitches in a rigtht eye wound when Oxford netted their equaliser. Played well Rating: 7/10

Andy Booth Won his share of headers, but not in the game as much as usual and saw his best chance cleared Rating: 6/10

Jon Stead Scored his 15th of the season and created a few other good chances in a hard-working and lively display Rating: 8/10

Oxford United

Woodman, McNiven (Rawle 67), Robinson, McCarthy, Bound, Crosby, Whitehead, Hunt, Wanless, Alsop, Basham (Ashton 90).

Subs not used: Hackett, Steele, Brown.

***

STAR MAN

Jonathan Stead

Not just for his goal, which was deflected in on 37 minutes, but because of his tireless workrate and the fact he caused problems for Oxford all afternoon. He was lavishly praised by visiting manager Ian Atkins for his pace and his trickery in the box

TURNING POINT

The sending-off of Oxford striker Julian Alsop for a tussle with Efe Sodje on 65 minutes breathed new life into the visitors, who had never looked likely to equalise. They did so through much livelier substitute Mark Rawle

STATISTICS

Subs used: Town: Mattis for Schofield 72; Onibuje for Booth 82. Oxford: Rawle for McNiven 67; Ashton for Basham 90.

Subs not used: Town: Martin, Edwards, Holdsworth. Oxford: Hackett, Steele, Brown.

Scorers: Town: Stead 37. Oxford: Rawle 72.

Referee - Roy Pearson (Peterlee).

Dismisal: Town: Fowler (two yellows).

Bookings: Town: Scott, Fowler. Oxford: Woodman, Wanless, McCarthy.

Shots on target: Town 5, Oxford 2.

Corners: Town 4, Oxford 3..

Caught offside: Town 2, Oxford 1.

Free-kicks awarded: Town 9, Oxford 10.

Attendance: 9,368 (Away: 616).

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