CAMERON Brannagan could barely contain his emotions after Oxford United’s incredible 3-2 win over Portsmouth.

The midfielder’s stunning long-range strike levelled the score at 2-2 with eight minutes left after the visitors had held on for more than an hour with ten men.

Nathan Holland then fired in from a similar distance deep in stoppage-time to spark wild scenes at the Kassam Stadium.

The verdict: Super Saturdays are becoming a regular occurrence for Oxford United

The U’s have fought back to win 3-2 in their last two home games and Brannagan reflected on a special victory.

He said: “I couldn’t have hit it any better.

“That feeling is something you can’t really explain.

“When the third went in, if I hadn’t been booked I would have been in the stands because my head had gone.

“It meant a lot to win, so I’m more than happy.”

It has been quite a week for the 25-year-old, who scored four penalties at Gillingham the previous Saturday.

He added: “I don’t know who’s looking over me at the minute, but special things have happened.”

A season-best Kassam Stadium crowd of 10,373 were treated to a thrilling Sky Bet League One clash, featuring 17 minutes of stoppage-time in total and 11 yellow cards.

In the first 16 minutes alone Luke McNally put United ahead, Michael Jacobs equalised and Joe Morrell was sent off for a high challenge on Brannagan.

A dominant U’s display was punctuated by a 30-minute half-time due to a ‘medical incident’ in the tunnel area.

Ronan Curtis put Pompey ahead shortly after the break and the visitors appeared to be on course for victory.

Brannagan said: “When a team goes down to ten men that early people think you should always win the game but that’s never the case.

“They sit everyone behind the ball, it gets harder and you get frustrated.”

Brannagan scored the winning penalty at the same end when United beat Portsmouth in the League One play-off semi-finals in 2020, but the presence of supporters meant this moment topped the spot-kick.

He said: “The pen was a great feeling, but to have the fans here was special.

“That only took us to 2-2 so I wanted to go mad but I couldn’t.

“I wanted the winner so badly and luckily Nath slotted it away.

“It was a great finish and that feeling was probably better than my goal.”