Oxford United made it four games unbeaten, and the same on the road, as they ground out a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury this evening.

Cameron Brannagan's first-half goal was cancelled out by a Matt Pennington header after the break and although United will be pleased with a point, they will be more concerned to see striker Kyle Joseph stretchered off with a nasty-looking injury in the first half.

United took the lead after having to withstand early pressure, Elliott Moore and Simon Eastwood doing well to prevent an opening goal for the Shrews, but a succession of petty stoppages slowed the game and allowed United to gain a foothold.

On 15 minutes they were ahead. Djavan Anderson, ever willing to join the attack, put in the most inviting of crosses which home keeper Marko Marosi did well to deal with by punching clear. Not far enough though. Brannagan seized on the second ball and rifled home his now customary goal against the Shrews, albeit via a big deflection off the shin of Chey Dunkley.

The game now slowed even further as tackles began to fly in. Brannagan was booked for a fifth time this season and faces a suspension, Joseph was sadly stretchered off with his head in his hands after half an hour after a full-blooded challenge from Tom Flanagan. Brannagan will miss one game, hopefully the damage to Joseph doesn't lead to a much longer spell on the sidelines...

The second half saw a game of football break out and Shrewsbury come at the U's. Marcus Browne put an early chance wide at one end, but Eastwood saved well from Luke Leahy at the other and then on 65 once again underlined his importance with a superb close-range save from the same player.

It was a temporary reprieve. From the corner Dunkley made a nuisance of himself at the back post, the ball went back across goal and Pennington looped a header up and over the stranded keeper to level at 1-1.

Eastwood made another good save from Dunkley as Salop set pieces began to rain in on the beleagured U's, who simply couldn't get out of their half at that stage. They again weathered that and created their own spell of pressure. Sub Gatlin O'Donkor forced Marosi into two smart saves after the keeper had spilled a Brannagan shot, and two injury-time free kicks ramped up the pressure on the home side without overly worrying Marosi.

The last nine meetings between the teams have now seen United win seven and draw two; they have become Shrewsbury's bogey side. Tonight there was none of the late drama that often accompanies this fixture.

Good. Another point on the road, another small step forward will do.

Let's chase that big step on Saturday at home to Port Vale.

Att: 5,158

Away: 341

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds, stats by OPTA