TYLER Goodrham netted a late screamer to rescue a point for Oxford United on the same day his partner is due to give birth to their first child.

It had been a flat performance for the majority by United in the Sky Bet Championship clash at home to Millwall, but Goodrham’s sweet strike with five minutes to go earned the U’s a point.

Japhet Tanganga headed the Lions into the lead just before three minutes were added on at the end of the first half, and it looked as though United would suffer a fourth defeat on the bounce.

However, Goodrham salvaged a point when he came inside from the right and thundered a cracking effort with his left foot 25 yards from goal.

Des Buckingham made two changes to the side which lost at Sheffield United in midweek, as skipper Elliott Moore returned from suspension, plus Matt Phillips started for the first time since returning from an almost three-month injury layoff.

The duo came in for Hidde ter Avest and Ruben Rodrigues, who both dropped to the bench. Marselino Ferdinan dropped out of the squad after picking up a hamstring problem.

The U’s started brightly off, as Moore headed off target from a Goodrham free kick with three minutes on the clock, while Dane Scarlett led a one-man counter-attack just before the quarter of an hour mark.

Greg Leigh played a ball down the left channel, with Scarlett battling his way to 25 yards out, where his shot took a slight nick and flew low into the gloves of Lukas Jensen.

A loose pass from Joe Bryan then presented United with a sight of goal, as Goodrham capitalised on the mistake and bought himself space 25 yards from goal, with his strike bringing a strong save from Jensen in the Lions goal.

The second half of the opening 45 minutes belonged to Millwall though, who slowly but surely ramped up the pressure.

The Lions regularly found themselves in promising areas down the sides of the penalty box, however the U’s defence kept defending well and clearing their lines.

Millwall’s pressure eventually paid off though just before three minutes of stoppage time were signalled.

Bryan swung in a corner from the Millwall left and Tanganga was at the back post to head home.

Buckingham made a switch at the break, introducing Idris El Mizouni for Will Vaulks. The move saw Cameron Brannagan move into the deep midfield role, with El Mizouni left of him and Goodrham to the right.

Brannagan pinged a few balls into promising areas from his deeper position, but United still struggled to find their rhythm in the final third.

Just after an hour had been played, Buckingham made a double substitution to try and rectify that, as Rodrigues and Mark Harris replaced Przemyslaw Placheta and Scarlett respectively.

But the U’s were still failing to find the spark required, and Buckingham introduced Owen Dale for Phillips with just over quarter of an hour to go.

Buckingham made his final switch with six minutes left on the clock, as Will Goodwin replaced Greg Leigh, a move which saw United revert to a back three.

Goodwin had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when he and the rest of the U’s team was celebrating with Goodrham.

The 21-year-old, who is expecting the birth of his baby daughter this weekend, came in from the right-hand side onto his left foot and unleashed an absolute cracker which flew into the back of the net from 25 yards.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Cumming; Long, Moore, Brown, Leigh; Goodrham, Vaulks (El Mizouni 46), Brannagan; Phillips (Dale 73), Scarlett (Harris 61), Placheta (Rodrigues 61).

Unused subs: Ingram, Thorniley, ter Avest, McEachran, Goodwin.

Booked: None.

Millwall (4-2-3-1): Jensen; Leonard, Hutchinson (Wallace 80), Tanganga, Bryan; De Norre, Saville; Esse, Honeyman, Azeez (Langstaff 90+1); Coburn (Bradshaw 46).

Unused subs: Roberts, McNamara, Wallace, Mitchell, Wintle, Emakhu, Ivanovic.

Booked: Tanganga, Leonard, Bryan, Saville.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria)

Attendance: 10,990 (TBC visitors)