OXFORD United conceded three times in the final ten minutes to exit the Emirates FA Cup in devastating fashion at Bristol Rovers.

The U’s were 3-1 up and coasting in the second half of extra time, only for Sion Spence to head home and Aaron Collins equalise with a screamer.

Spence then profited on an error in the United defence to win it with two minutes left, sending the home fans wild and Rovers into the second round.

The teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of normal time, but United seemed to have struck the hammer blow in the first 180 seconds of the additional 30 minutes.

Billy Bodin scored his first United goal at the home of his former club, before Steve Seddon headed inside the near post.

It came after Matty Taylor dispatched a penalty within two minutes of coming on to score for the fourth time this year against his old club, equalising Sam Finley’s opener.

Karl Robinson’s side now only have Sky Bet League One to concentrate on as their six-match unbeaten run came to an end.

United’s much-changed side and 3-2-4-1 formation saw Anthony Forde and Ryan Williams deployed as wing backs, with ex-Rovers man Bodin and Mark Sykes behind Dan Agyei.

United again fielded no substitute goalkeeper in the Cup, while Cameron Brannagan missed out through illness.

Rovers boss Joey Barton made just three changes and any assumptions that the competition was a distraction were dampened by some strong challenges in the early stages.

Herbie Kane, playing in a midfield two with Marcus McGuane, was booked for a late tackle just four minutes in, before Finley went in hard on Sykes.

United needed time to get used to a different shape and it took 20 minutes for either side to work the opposition goalkeeper.

The U’s created the first – and best – chance of the half, as Agyei played in Sykes to force James Belshaw into a save low to his left.

United enjoyed a bright spell and Agyei nicked the ball off Cian Harries’ toes four minutes later, but Connor Taylor got back well to stop the forward finding Sykes.

Bodin was booked for clipping Nick Anderton’s heels and Harry Anderson had Rovers’ only effort of the half moments later, with Simon Eastwood scrambling to his right to dive on the shot.

After an underwhelming half, the second period took just three minutes to burst into life as United conceded the opening goal for the first time since September 18.

Rovers’ two scorers at the Kassam Stadium combined, as Antony Evans found space down the left and laid the ball across for Finley to beat Eastwood from 18 yards.

A triple substitution had disrupted United’s rhythm nine days ago, but this time it had an instant impact.

Taylor, James Henry and Sam Long replaced Agyei, Kane and Jordan Thorniley ten minutes into the half, with the U’s No 9 getting a predictably hostile reception.

The striker fed Williams with his first touch and the winger went down as he skipped inside Anderson.

Taylor grabbed the ball immediately and dispatched the ball low to Belshaw’s right, taking his tally to eight for the season.

The game suddenly had the feel of a proper Cup tie and Bodin shot over the bar from a promising position, before Eastwood parried Westbrooke’s fierce drive.

Seddon replaced the lively Sykes with 19 minutes left and the substitute moved to left wing back, with Williams playing behind Taylor.

Moments later, Josh Grant came on for Luke Thomas in Rovers’ first change.

The tie was there for the taking and Eastwood saved with his legs from Sam Nicholson 11 minutes from the end, before Seddon’s drive was diverted wide by Connor Taylor.

Rovers should have won it in stoppage-time when a deflected cross fell perfectly for an unmarked Evans, who headed wide from eight yards.

Elliott Moore replaced John Mousinho as the teams regrouped, but the U’s had scored twice before their defence was even troubled.

Extra time was less than 30 seconds old when Williams dissected the Rovers defence to send Bodin away and the forward kept his composure to finish, opting not to celebrate against his former club.

Within two minutes United had the all-important third goal, as Taylor turned provider.

The striker was in unfamiliar territory out on the right, but had time to cross for Seddon to head inside the near post.

United almost scored another three minutes later as Bodin cut inside after being released by Henry, but he was twice denied by Belshaw.

Barton made his final three substitutes as Spence, Ryan Jones and former Oxford City player Pablo Martinez replaced Evans, Zain Westbrooke and Finley.

But the next big chance fell to United, as Belshaw tipped over Williams’ shot on the turn following Bodin’s knock-down.

The U’s appeared to be coasting to victory, only for Spence to halve the deficit when he headed home a cross from the left with ten minutes remaining.

The hosts were not done yet and they equalised in stunning fashion five minutes from the end.

Second-half substitute Aaron Collins had won Rovers’ late penalty at Grenoble Road and he made the difference late on again, sending a rocket of a shot into Eastwood’s top corner from 25 yards.

A penalty shoot-out was suddenly on the cards, only for United to shoot themselves in the foot.

The visitors failed to deal with a cross and with Eastwood stranded, Spence was left unmarked to knock the ball into an empty net.

Bristol Rovers (4-3-1-2): Belshaw, Anderson, Taylor, Harries, Anderton, Finley (Martinez 98), Westbrooke (Spence 97), Coutts, Thomas (Grant 73), Evans (Jones 97), Nicholson (Collins 80).

Unused subs: Ward, Greenslade, Brain, Vaughan.

Booked: Evans, Anderton.

Oxford United (3-2-4-1): Eastwood, McNally, Mousinho (Moore 91), Thorniley (Long 54), McGuane, Kane (Henry 54), Forde, Sykes (Seddon 71), Bodin, Williams, Agyei (Taylor 54).

Unused subs: Hanson, Cooper, Holland.

Booked: Kane, Bodin.

Referee: Neil Hair (Cambridgeshire).

Attendance: TBC.