Oxford United 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1

United's second home pre-season friendly in quick succession saw the Us starting with virtually the same line-up that drew 2-2 with a Manchester United XI on Saturday. The only change was in goal, where Jake Cole replaced Ben Hinchliffe. United took the lead in the 28th minute when James Constable headed the ball on, but with no other Oxford player nearby he chased it down itself and stopped it going out for a throw-in by backheeling the ball into the path of Jamie Guy. Guy burst into the Wycombe penalty area and beat Scott Shearer with a powerful shot from a narrow angle. The lead lasted just a couple of minutes. Wycombe's controversial equaliser came when Cole's weak punch fell to Gary Holt on the edge of the area. Holt passed the ball to Magno Viera, looking suspiciously offside, who poked the ball under Cole.

This was an entertaining game, and United gave as good as they got against their higher-league opponents. Constable could have regained the lead after some more excellent link-up play with Guy, but he was just unable to reach Guy's cross. With these two forging an exciting partnership, and with Yemi Odubade and Lewis Haldane creating havoc down the wings, United are looking like a potent attacking force for the first time in ages.

In central midfield Adam Murray and Joe Burnell again looked like a tight unit, with both players tackling and passing well. The defence also looks solid, for the most part, but they are still prone to the odd error, such as the one that led to Wycombe's equaliser. James Clarke is improving with every game, but can still lose concentration at vital moments, while Barry Quinn seems to have learned that there is more to defending than aimless hoofing. Luke Foster, who earlier signed a new two-year contract with the club, was immense, and Chris Carruthers continues to impress.

The first substitution saw Hinchliffe replace Cole at half time, but United looked no weaker for it. On the hour Chris Willmott came on for Foster and slotted seamlessly in to the back four, while triallist Levi Reid from Macclesfield Town replaced Yemi. Reid looked keen to run at the opposition, and combined some skillful jinking runs with some neat passing. With 20 minutes to go, Constable went off with another Macclesfield triallist, Michael Husbands, coming on for him. Husbands showed his intent with his first touch, a stinging shot that flew just wide. Five minutes later, Peggy Lekondo came on for Haldane. Lekondo had more time to show what he can do than in his last appearance, and while he's not as fast as Haldane he showed some neat touches and played some good passes into the feet of the strikers. With five minutes left Alex Fisher came on for Guy, who left to another standing ovation, and a couple of minutes later Rob Davies replaced Burnell.

Unlike the Manchester United game, this was a much better workout for the United squad against a side much nearer the standard of opposition that they're likely to face next season. Oxford look like they could be a powerful force next season, and if the current crop of triallists, all of whom looked fairly decent today, are taken on, that would alleviate some of our concerns about the depth of the squad.