OXFORD United were left to rue a failure to make the most of their chances as a fiery clash with Wycombe Wanderers finished goalless.

The visitors dominated either side of half-time, but could not find a way past goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, who made one jaw-dropping save to turn a Ricky Holmes shot on to the crossbar.

It came after the game had been stopped for almost ten minutes to deal with a neck injury to Cameron Brannagan, who was stretchered off.

Wycombe clung on for dear life to stay in the game, which saw six players booked, and thought they had won it late on through Adebayo Akinfenwa, only for their celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag.

United, roared on by a sold-out away end, came flying out of the traps and in the second minute Shandon Baptiste and James Henry almost bundled their way through.

Wycombe were on the back foot and were forced to make a defensive change in the eighth minute, when Anthony Stewart picked up an injury clearing his lines.

There was a much longer stoppage on the quarter-hour mark, though.

From the game’s first corner Randell Williams got free at the back post and thumped a header which hit the top of the crossbar and went over.

When the dust settled, United’s two Camerons – Norman and Brannagan – were left prone on the turf.

While Norman was soon back on his feet, there was immediate concern for Brannagan, who stayed lying face down.

A stretcher quickly appeared and boss Karl Robinson walked on to offer his support as half a dozen medical staff spent almost ten minutes attending to Brannagan, who had a neck brace and appeared to require oxygen.

All four sides of Adams Park rose to applaud the midfielder off, before the game resumed.

United did well to shake off the worrying sight of their teammate coming off and went on to create enough chances to win the game before half-time.

Baptiste fired just wide after a 40-yard run which began with a glorious turn, while Ryan Allsop parried a vicious shot from Gavin Whyte, whose header on the rebound was also saved.

The 6ft 3in goalkeeper then needed every inch of his frame in the 38th minute to make a breathtaking finger-tip save. Ricky Holmes must have thought he had scored with a rising drive from the edge of the box after dispossessing Dominic Gape, but it was turned on to the crossbar.

Whyte was denied again after cutting inside on to his left foot, while Baptiste had another shot off target as Wycombe clung on.

The hosts will have been delighted to reach the break still on level terms, but they were living dangerously again when play restarted.

Curtis Nelson, who had lost the captaincy before the game, reacted well and headed just wide from a 48th-minute corner.

The one-way traffic continued with a flurry of corners, while Holmes had one shot blocked and another saved.

Wycombe needed to change the game, so brought Adebayo Akinfenwa on for Mackail-Smith.

Gradually the hosts got a foothold in the contest, which became increasingly bad-tempered as the half wore on.

Having taken 70 minutes to produce a yellow card, referee David Webb was busy and showed half a dozen cautions in quick succession.

It included three for a melee sparked by a challenge from Baptiste. He went in the book, as did John Mousinho and Jason McCarthy.

But the referee did not blow his whistle when United had what looked a strong claim for a penalty six minutes from time when Sam Smith was sent sprawling by Sido Jombati.

Robinson fumed on the touchline, but the officials came to United’s rescue five minutes later.

Adams Park celebrated when Akinfenwa headed in Jacobson’s free-kick, but the offside flag got the visitors off the hook.

Wycombe Wand (4-5-1): Allsop, McCarthy, Stewart (Harriman 8), Jombati, Jacobson, Gape, Williams (Cowan-Hall 83), Bloomfield, Morris, Onyedinma, Mackail-Smith (Akinfenwa 61).

Unused subs: Ma-Kalambay, Saunders, Kashket, Thompson.

Booked: Jacobson, Jombati, McCarthy, Gape.

Oxford Utd (4-2-3-1): Mitchell, Norman, Nelson, Mousinho, Garbutt, Brannagan (Ruffels 25), Baptiste, Whyte, Henry (Browne 63), Holmes, Obika (Smith 76).

Unused subs: Shearer, Raglan, Long, Dickie.

Booked: Baptiste, Mousinho.

Referee: David Webb.

Attendance: 6,879 (1,816 visitors).