LATICS moved another point closer to safety with a hard-fought draw at the Kassam Stadium in a game not without its controversy.

Athletic had two strong penalty appeals waved away while the home fans were left baying for a red card after a high challenge from Wilfried Moimbe left Todd Kane in a heap.

Richie Wellens made two changes to the side with Jack Byrne – instrumental in Monday’s win against Blackpool – winning a recall. Tope Obadeyi – another who did well as a substitute last week – was also given a starting berth.

Ben Pringle and Duckens Nazon were dropped to the bench where rookie Tom Hamer provided defensive cover. He would feature sooner than expected.

There was no place in the squad again for Anthony Gerrard (calf), Brian Wilson or Craig Davies (both groin) – all of whom have skippered the side in recent weeks. Eoin Doyle took the armband.

In a tight opening, Athletic were dealt an early blow when Kean Bryan – guilty of some hesitant defending from the word go – was forced off with a hamstring injury after 18 minutes. He could now miss the rest of the season, Wellens revealed after the game.

It was Bryan’s mistake which led to the first chance after only five minutes when he gifted the ball to James Henry on the edge of the box. Luckily for Latics, the U’s midfielder was caught by surprise, didn’t know whether to cross or shoot, and in the end, did neither.

The absence of Wilson and Gerrard meant 18-year-old Hamer would partner fellow youngster George Edmundson – just 20 himself – at centre back for the majority of the match. It was certainly a young defensive rearguard but it didn’t show. Hamer, in particular, belied his tender years with a commanding performance. Wellens will certainly have no qualms about throwing him in on Wednesday for the visit of Walsall should the need arise.

In a half bereft of chances, the home side shaded it in terms of possession but looked powder-puff in front of goal.

Athletic slowly grew into the contest and were denied what looked like a certain penalty on 25 minutes when Wilfried Moimbe burst into the box from left back only to be shoved to the ground. Referee Eddie Ilderton didn’t want to know.

Latics’ best chance of the first period came during four minutes of stoppage time when Byrne’s fierce drive was cleared off the line as Wellens’ men finished the half in the ascendency.

With neither ’keeper called into serious action, the game was becoming disjointed and niggly until, with 62 minutes on the clock, Johny Placide made a terrific save to deny Rob Dickie from close range after Henry’s free kick picked out the centre back.

The set piece had been awarded moments earlier following a high challenge on Kane by Moimbe. An honest attempt to win the ball it may have been but the home fans, strangely, wanted more than just the yellow card which was dished out as the atmosphere cranked up a notch.

More controversy followed on 73 minutes when Rob Hunt was bundled over inside the area in a near-replica of what happened to Moimbe in the first half. If anything, it was even more of a stone-waller. Again, nothing doing, much to the displeasure of the travelling fans.

Substitute Nazon forced a corner with a rasping shot at the death but Latics couldn’t find a breakthrough.

LATICS (4-2-3-1): Placide 7, Hunt 7, Edmundson 7, Bryan 6 (HAMER 18, 8) Moimbe 7; Fane 6, Gardner 7; Obadeyi 6 (Nazon 67, 6), Byrne 6, McEleney 6; Doyle 6 (Amadi-Holloway 88). Subs (not used): De la Paz, Nepomuceno, Pringle, Benteke. Booked: Fane, Moimbe.

OXFORD (4-2-3-1): Eastwood, Kane, Mousinho, Dickie, Ruffels (Buckley-Ricketts 28 (Thomas 46)); Ledson, Brannagan; Rothwell, Henry, Ricardinho; Obika. Subs (not used): Shearer, Martin, Mehmeti, Smith-Brown, Napa.

Attendance: 7,096 (492 away)