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Savage was the only change in the Wanderers side from the one that had beaten Grimsby the previous Monday - the Reading striker being a direct replacement for Adam Birchall away on U21 duty for Wales in Azerbaijan. Oxford's opener came after Wycombe had enjoyed the better of the possession in the opening exchanges but without really creating any serious efforts at goal - Danny Senda's speculative shot from 25 yards in the 7th minute being the closest. Following Roget's goal, Tyson saw a long range attempt deflected wide while as the half drew to a close Frank Talia was forced to palm away a Matt Robinson shot on the run from the left flank. It looked like Wycombe would trail at the interval but a break down the right led to Savage having his initial shot saved before Jon Ashton scythed him down for a clear cut penalty. Tyson cooly slotted away the spot-kick to the 'keepers left as the travelling fans from Oxford tried their best to distract the Wycombe striker. Half-time 1-1 Tony Adams made a tactical change at half-time - replacing Keith Ryan with Roger Johnson and in the process moving Gary Silk into midfield. The switch saw Wycombe create more chances although in an entertaining second period the result could have gone either way. Wanderers came out all guns blazing and Stuart Nethercott's overhead kick two minutes after the restart following a corner from the right had to be hacked off the line by Julian Alsop. Gus Uhlenbeek's cross from the right on 55 minutes to the far post saw Ian Stonebridge head back into the danger zone but without success. Then a minute later Stonebridge broke down the right channel but was shut out as he approached the edge of the penalty area. Senda went close with another long range effort on 73 minutes - United 'keeper Chris Tardiff managing to palm down the ball to safety. The visitors responded with Robinson angling a shot wide of Talia's left hand post on 75 minutes and were then given a one man advantage when Gary Silk got his marching orders. Silk had been booked for a hefty challenge on Rob Wolleaston and then blatantly encroached at the resulting free-kick giving the referee no option but to produce a second yellow card. There were calls from Wycombe fans two minutes later to 'even things up' when Tyson was pulled back by Jon Ashton some 40 yards from goal but referee Hill decided a yellow card was sufficient. It was Tyson who went closest to grabbing a winner in the 87th minute when his pace produced space on the left but his shot was blocked and the game ended all square. Final Score - Wycombe 1 Oxford United 1 Speaking after the game Tony Adams said a draw was a fair reflection on the game and was pleased with the improvement in the second-half, explaining to BBC Three Counties Radio "I don't think we dealt with their two front boys today but they are good players and credit to Oxford. I don't think we dealt with that first half and I made a tactical change at half-time." Commenting on Bas Savage he said "I thought he was excellent. He had a better second half. I thought he was exciting and he gives us another option. I think he is going to do well and obviously I thought when we went down to ten men he was exceptional, holding the ball up and giving us time to play off of him."
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