OXFORD United ended 2020 on the right end of a five-goal thriller – but they endured a nervy finish before taking the points.

Mide Shodipo’s penalty eight minutes from time seemed to put the U’s out of sight at 3-1, before Plymouth Argyle’s top scorer Luke Jephcott scored from the spot seconds later.

It came after goals from Josh Ruffels and Sam Long either side of the break saw United overturn Panutche Camara’s opener.

Plymouth threw everything at the U's in the final minutes, but the visitors held on to move into 2021 seven games unbeaten.

Alex Gorrin’s one-match ban meant U’s head coach Karl Robinson was always going to have to make at least one change, with Jamie Hanson deputising in the holding role.

More surprising were the absences of Matty Taylor and Jordan Obita, who dropped out for very different reasons: the former after picking up a dead leg against AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day, the latter because his partner was giving birth.

Dan Agyei led the line instead of Taylor, who dropped to the bench, while Shodipo replaced Obita on the left wing.

Sam Winnall was fit enough for a place among the substitutes, joining the returning Mark Sykes, with Cameron Brannagan set to be available against Burton Albion on Saturday.

United were playing in front of opposition fans for the first time since March and Plymouth gave the home support something to cheer 12 minutes in.

The hosts won the ball on the halfway line and Ryan Hardie played a one-two with Conor Grant to advance into the area.

His cut-back was perfect for the onrushing Camara and the midfielder fired home first-time from 12 yards.

It was the first league goal United had conceded since December 5 and they responded by switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Liam Kelly alongside Hanson at the base of the midfield.

This did not work immediately, as Hardie remained a menace, while Jack Stevens had to dive to his left to gather Grant’s low effort on the half hour.

Kelly then picked up his fifth booking of the season, ruling him out of the Burton game, for a foul during an Argyle counter-attack that the U’s only just scrambled away from danger.

But eight minutes before half-time United equalised with their first effort of the contest.

James Henry whipped a free-kick in from the left and Agyei forced the ball into the path of Ruffels, who bundled home from six yards.

The left-back almost scored from an identical chance five minutes later following Atkinson’s flick-on from Hanson’s set-piece, but his header was straight at Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper and Elliott Moore’s follow-up was hacked away.

United ended the half strongly and started the second period in a similar fashion, as Henry sliced a volley over the bar and had two efforts blocked inside the first ten minutes.

The right winger was one of the first players withdrawn on the hour, as he was replaced by Sean Clare and Anthony Forde came on for Kelly.

It did not herald a change of shape, with the U’s remaining on top – and they almost took the lead midway through the half.

United packed the six-yard box for Forde’s corner and Rob Atkinson headed the delivery into the ground, but Argyle captain Joe Edwards was on the line to nod away.

There was nothing the hosts could do about United’s second goal, though.

Clare received the ball on the right and advanced towards the byline, with Long making a striker’s run to nip in at the near post and poke the ball through Cooper’s legs.

Danny Mayor reminded United of Argyle’s threat when he blazed over from 15 yards shortly after, while Sykes came on for Hanson for his first involvement since November.

The U’s looked to have sealed victory eight minutes from time when Shodipo was brought down by Will Aimson inside the box.

The QPR loanee got off the ground to send Cooper the wrong way, but 120 seconds later Argyle reduced the deficit.

Substitute Byron Moore got the wrong side of Long, who brought down his opponent on the byline, with Jephcott slamming the penalty high into the net.

Plymouth pushed for an equaliser and Cooper came up for a corner in the dying seconds, but they could not even it up.

Plymouth Argyle (3-5-2): Cooper, Aimson, Canavan, Watts, Edwards (Fornah 90), Camara, Macleod (Telford 85), Mayor, Grant (Moore 68), Jephcott, Hardie (Nouble 73).

Unused subs: McCormick, Wootton, Reeves.

Booked: Jephcott, Macleod.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Long, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels, Hanson (Sykes 76), McGuane, Kelly (Forde 61), Henry (Clare 61), Agyei, Shodipo (Taylor 90).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Hall, Winnall.

Booked: Kelly, Clare, Moore, Long.

Referee: Kevin Johnson (Somerset) Attendance: 2,000.