OXFORD United scored a late equaliser through a Tyler Goodhram screamer to ensure Millwall left Kassam stadium with only one point after the Lions led for most of the game.

Millwall took the lead at the end of the first half after Japhet Tanganga powered home Joe Bryan’s cross, and were in control for most of the game. However, the U’s mounted a late resurgence, and Goodhram’s goal came after a period of sustained pressure around the Lions’ box.

To make matters worse for Millwall, Tanganga picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, ruling him out of next week’s match against Coventry, and Shaun Hutchinson was substituted off with what looked like to be an injury – leaving the Lions threadbare at the back.

Millwall headed into the game on a eight-game unbeaten stretch and with a full week of rest after Wednesday’s tie against Portsmouth was postponed due to power outage near Fratton Park. This meant Shaun Hutchinson was fit enough to feature after not being selected in the Lions match-day squad against Pompey.

After a string of fixtures against teams near the top of the Championship, the Lions were taking on an Oxford United side that sat 18th in the league. They had lost their last three games in a row, including a 6-2 thumping by Middlesbrough at home, and had lost five out of their last six fixtures.

The U’s had only won one game in their last twelve and were in danger of getting embroiled in a relegation fight in their first season in the Championship since 2000-01.

It was a flat atmosphere in Kassam stadium at the start of the game, and it was reflected on the pitch. Neither side really got going.

Oxford had the first chance, and it came from a Lions mistake. In the 18th minute, Joe Bryan misplaced a pass straight to Tyler Goodrham, who burst through on goal. Casper De Norre made an excellent recovery run, forcing Goodrham to shoot early from outside the box, and his effort was well-saved by Lukas Jensen in the Lions’ net.

Aside from that, it was a drab opening 30 minutes. Lions had plenty of possession but were lacking a cutting edge around the box, and were being held back by their propensity for committing stupid fouls in dangerous moments, including getting caught offside. Despite being the home side, Oxford were more than happy to sit back and threaten on the counter.

Despite a frustrating opening period, Millwall were clearly the better side, and exerted more and more control over the game as the half went on. Wingers Femi Azeez and Romain Esse looked dangerous every time they got on the ball, and helped the Lions win corner after corner. Eventually, Millwall took advantage of a set-piece.

In the 45th minute, Bryan whipped in a corner to the back post. Tanganga lost his marker, ran around a group of Oxford defenders and headed the ball home from close range. It was poor defending by Oxford, but Tanganga was well positioned to punish the U’s.

It was excellently-timed goal, and one that likely changed the tenor of Neil Harris’ half-time talk. The Lions were now 1-0 up against a team that had previously been content to sit back and hit Millwall on the counter.

Despite Oxford’s need for an equaliser, it was more of the same in the second half. U’s boss Des Buckingham made three attacking subs within the first 16 minutes of the half, but his side did not have an shot until the 66th minute. Neither side really looked like scoring, which suited the leading Lions to a tee.

Millwall came close to doubling their lead after Romain Esse whipped in a low cross into the six-yard box in the 71st minute, but the ball was cleared before Tom Bradshaw could tap it in.

The Lions’ depleted centre-back depth was dealt a further blow when captain Shaun Hutchinson departed the match in the 80th minute. Tanganga is set to be ruled out of next week’s clash with Coventry through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card, and Millwall may be down to two fit senior centre-backs.

The Lions received even more bad news four minutes later. In the 84th minute Tyler Goodrham received the ball on the edge of the box, cut inside and uncorked a ferocious shot that flew past Jensen.

The U’s had only really started to put Millwall under pressure in the last ten minutes of the match, and the Lions would have to feel hard done to only be level.

Millwall had a couple of late corners, but failed to

Millwall: 4-2-3-1 – Jensen; Leonard, Hutchinson (Wallace 80), Tanganga, Bryan; Saville, De Norre; Esse, Honeyman, Azeez (Langstaff 90); Coburn (Bradshaw 46)

Subs not used: Roberts, McNamara, Mitchell, Wintle, Emakhu, Ivanovic

Oxford United: 4-4-1-1 – Cumming; Leigh (Goodwin 84), Long, Moore, Brown; Goodrham, Vaulks (El Mizouni 46), Brannagan, Placheta (Rodrigues 61); Phillips (Dale 73); Scarlett (Harris 61)

Subs not used: Ingram, McEachran, Ter Avest, Thornley

Attendance: 10,990

Referee: Anthony Backhouse