Cardiff City were held to a 1-1 draw by Oxford United at Cardiff City Stadium on Easter Monday.
Interim First Team Manager Aaron Ramsey elected to make three changes from the side that lost to Sheffield United on Friday. There were returns for Perry Ng, Chris Willock and Cian Ashford, with Ollie Tanner, Yakou Méïté and Will Alves making way.
All the chances fell one way in the first half, and that was the way of the Bluebirds. Twice Yousef Salech headed over the bar from crosses, while Willock curled a strike just wide of the post. But it was Willock who would have the best opportunity of the half. A clever ball into the box by Alex Robertson found the winger, but he couldn’t keep his strike down.
Oxford United chances were incredibly limited. Towards the very end of the first half, they applied some pressure on the City backline, but Ethan Horvath wasn’t tested. The U’s Przemyslaw Placheta was lucky to stay on the field for a bad tackle on Ng, but at the break, it was goalless.
Ten minutes into the second half and Ramsey’s men were rewarded for their dominance with the opening goal. Willock’s hanging cross towards the back post was met by Salech, who nodded back across goal and into the far corner. Minutes later the same duo combined again, but this time, Salech’s header was held by the keeper.
Oxford had hardly threatened the City goal, but with ten minutes remaining they equalised through Cameron Brannagan’s powerful strike from distance.
Despite the setback, once again City went on the front foot to try and find a winner. Substitute Tanner looked lively, and while his shot narrowly missed the target, his inviting cross was almost turned home by a player in blue, but somehow, no one could get a connection on it, meaning the spoils were shared.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1-1 OXFORD UNITED
Cardiff City: Horvath, Ng, Fish, Chambers, O’Dowda, Rinomhota, Mannsverk (Turnbull 80’), Robertson (Colwill 75’), Willock (Alves 75’), Ashford (Méïté 70’), Salech (Tanner 80’). Subs not used: Turner, Goutas, Daland, Bagan.
Oxford United: Cumming, Vaulks, Placheta (Leigh 46’), Brannagan ©, Bennett (Moore 82’), Neslon, Matos (Rodrigues 69’), Goodrham, Kioso (Phillips 46’), Helik, Bradshaw (Harris 69’). Subs not used: Ingram, Romeny, El Mizouni, Mills.