OXFORD United scored arguably their goal of the season so far in a fiery draw at second-placed Wigan Athletic.

Matty Taylor finished off a sumptuous counter-attack in the 23rd minute after Mark Sykes and Cameron Brannagan carried the ball from one end of the pitch to the other.

It was the second time in four days United had opened the scoring on the break, but Callum Lang fired home shortly after to ensure the points were shared.

Tempers flared in a closely-fought second half, although Wigan looked more likely to find a late winner as they stretched their unbeaten run to 20 games.

It meant both sides finished the night where they started in the Sky Bet League One table, with sixth-placed United reaching 50 points.

The U’s made only one change from the weekend thrashing of Gillingham, as Herbie Kane returned from suspension to partner Marcus McGuane in midfield.

Nathan Holland dropped to the bench so Cameron Brannagan played behind Taylor, with Billy Bodin and Mark Sykes either side.

The front four linked well during a cagey start, although neither goalkeeper was troubled as the two teams worked each other out.

United shaded the first 15 minutes but Wigan grew into the game, with James McClean seeing a shot blocked and Lang firing wide after shrugging off the challenges.

All of a sudden, the game burst into life as the U’s opened the scoring with a goal of such quality it was a privilege to witness.

Lang’s cross was cut out and Sykes took a risk when he pushed the ball past Power on the edge of his own box, but ran around his opponent and raced up the touchline.

He found Brannagan and the midfielder burst forward before cutting inside and laying the ball into the path of Sykes, who had continued his run down the left flank.

The No 10 kept his cool to find Taylor, who bounced the shot into the turf and past Ben Amos for his 16th goal of the season.

Wigan rotated personnel in response, with McClean moving to left back and Power into midfield, and Elliott Moore had to throw himself in the way of Lang’s shot just after the half-hour mark.

The Latics gained the ascendancy and the equaliser came nine minutes before the break, Tom Naylor releasing Lang with a lofted pass over the top. The forward took a touch and fired low into Jack Stevens’ far corner.

United’s goalkeeper breathed a sigh of relief in first-half stoppage-time when he flapped at a cross, only to see Jack Whatmough head against the far post.

Wigan began brightly after the break and United cleared an early McClean shot in the six-yard box, while tempers started to spill over in a fiercely-contested clash.

Steve Seddon and Lang were engaged in a running battle and the latter threw the ball into his opponent’s face just after the hour mark, rather than handing it to the left back.

Brannagan rushed in and pushed Lang, with both players booked.

There remained nothing in it and the two managers matched each other with substitutions in the 71st minute, Josh Magennis making his home debut for Stephen Humphrys and Ryan Williams replacing Bodin.

Neither side had gone close since McClean’s cross-shot, but Wigan fizzed efforts over the crossbar in quick succession.

Whatmough fired inches over after Max Power’s long throw dropped his way, before Magennis headed over from a corner 15 minutes from time.

Sam Winnall replaced Taylor shortly after, but all the attacking was at the other end as Tendayi Darikwa sliced wide and Graeme Shinnie volleyed straight at Stevens.

Wigan thought they had won it with five minutes left when they caught United napping from a quick free-kick and Magennis converted at the back post, only for the offside flag to go up.

There was still one more chance to come and Stevens made a crucial save in stoppage-time, shovelling the ball behind after Whatmough made space for a shot on the turn.

Wigan Athletic (4-2-3-1): Amos, Power, Whatmough, Tilt, Darikwa, Naylor, Shinnie, Massey (Edwards 85), Lang, McClean, Humphrys (Magennis 71).

Unused subs: Jones, Kerr, Watts, Bayliss, Aasgaard.

Booked: Lang.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Stevens, Long, McNally, Moore, Seddon, McGuane, Kane, Bodin (Williams 71), Brannagan, Sykes (Mousinho 90+1), Taylor (Winnall 77).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Forde, Davis, Holland.

Booked: Moore, Kane, Brannagan, Winnall.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham).

Attendance: 9,958 (571 visitors).