The U's stayed unbeaten but lost their 100% home record today as ten man Grays battled to a point. Playing against 10 men for 86 minutes, United took the lead through Steve Basham but an Aaaron McLean goal pegged them back and there was no way through for a winner despite a frantic finale.

United boss Jim Smith made one change to the team that beat Exeter in midweek.Skipper Phil Gilchrist returned after injury and took his place at the heart of the Oxford defence.That meant that Matt Day returned to the bench, but Rob Duffy was not risked and missed out.

Everybody knew that potentially, this was going to be United's toughest game so far thisseason.However, United were given a massive boost when after just four minutes Jay Smith was sent off for a professional foul.Steve Basham did well to flick the ball into the path of Marvin Robinson who was sprinting clear on goal when Smith pulled the big striker to the ground.It was the correct decision by referee Craig Evans and was actually a mirror image of Barry Quinn's sending off earlier this season at Dagenham and Redbridge.

With Grays a man down, it was Oxford who were pushing forward but at this early stage of the match, Gray's were managing to keep things even.That was until the 20^th minute when United took the lead with a fantastic goal.With the away side a man down, Barry Quinn found the time and space to find Rufus Brevett, flying down the left wing with a pin-point ball.The United wing-back then showed all his class to play in a superb ball into the box, where he found Steve Basham fifteen yards out from goal.Basham then did brilliantly to power a header past Ashley Bayes to score his 49th goal for United.

It could have been more, with Burgess seeing a shot fly wide of the post in the 26^th minute although United were given a warning just two minutes later when Aaron McLean miss-controlled the ball in the United box when it would have been easier to score for the away side.

The warning didn't seem to do the job though as in the 38^th minute, the away side equalized.The ball was played into the path of the dangerous McLean on the edge of the box. The striker then showed great strength and skill to spin Chris Willmott and fire in an unstoppable shot past Billy Turley to level the scores.

It was a poor goal to concede, but United almost hit back straight away as Basham fired a shot just wide from twenty-five yards just three minutes from the break.Eddie Hutchinson then saw his header saved well from Bayes in injury time as United pushed for the second goal.But that was as close as they came in the first half, and you did get the feeling that there might be a few choice words from the manager at half-time.

The second half saw the introduction of Yemi Odubade, with Quinn sacrificed to allow a three man front line, and it nearly worked after a further three minutes as Robinson's powerful header from Brevett's cross was tipped over by keeper Bayes. United were showing more resolve and Odubade almost scored on 52 minutes when he dragged his shot just wide from twelve yards.

Hutchinson headed over on 57 and Basham fired over two minutes later, although Grays were always lovely on the break and Turley needed to save well from McLean again on the hour.

United were off colour, but were still creating chances. Robinson almost converted a cross from Anaclet on 76 minutes, Willmott saw a shot beaten away on 80, and the crowd were doing all they could to urge their team to find a winner from somewhere.

Grays were hanging on for all they were worth, and for the second time in a week it was tense as we went into the final stages.

United stay top, and unbeaten, but credit to Grays for the way they played. You can't win them all?

Report Julian Hitchman and Chris Williams. Pictures Steve Daniels