Oxford United manager Chris Wilder saluted his skipper after the talismanic centre forward took his season’s goals tally to 17.

James Constable’s double earned the U’s a 2-2 draw at Underhill on Monday against a Barnet side fighting for their npower League Two lives.

Twice the Bees stung United by going in front, but twice ‘Beano’ pegged them back, demonstrating once again what a classy finisher he is.

“I thought my captain was immense today,” Wilder said after United’s fourth draw in a row.

“It wasn’t a fantastic performance from us,” he added. “We put a lot of effort into Saturday’s match against Chesterfield and there were a lot of tired legs out there.

“We weren’t able to make many changes because of the injuries we’ve got. I was disappointed first half when I thought they were the better side, but we were better second half.

“I’ve got to congratulate Barnet because, in the position they’re in – when they’re fighting for their careers – and I thought they gave absolutely everything for their manager, and had a right go at it.”

Oxford showed they were still prepared to give everything they had, despite on the outside appearing not to have too much to play for.

But Wilder had insisted before the game that he would field his strongest side possible, and they would battle till the end, to protect the integrity of the league and in respect of other clubs near the bottom.

“I told them there would be five things they would have pinned up in their changing room – that we’re on our holidays, would possibly not fancy it, would have used up a lot of energy against Chesterfield, and a couple of others throw in,” he said.

“And we said at half-time, maybe some of those were true. But in the second half we were much better.”

It was a momentous day for United supporters, with Swindon Town’s relegation from League One confirmed by defeat against Sheffield Wednesday.

It means arch rivals Oxford and Swindon will face each other in league action next season for the first time in ten years.

Constable, who himself hails from Wiltshire, was delighted.

“It would just have been nicer had we gone on and got the three points, but we showed good character the way we came back,” he said.