JACK Stevens was Oxford United’s hero as he saved Ronnie Schwartz’s stoppage-time penalty on an emotional afternoon at the Kassam Stadium.

The goalkeeper threw himself to his left to tip the substitute’s spot-kick over the bar after Alex Gorrin had brought down Jayden Stockley.

Stevens had been the U’s saviour on debut when Charlton last visited the Kassam Stadium in April 2019 and it proved a memorable end to a poignant day.

The Sky Bet League One game was almost an afterthought following the death of ex-U’s player and manager Micky Lewis yesterday and wreaths were laid in the centre circle before kick-off in his honour.

Anthony Forde’s fierce effort against the post just after the hour mark was the closest United came, as they stay tenth in the table.

Injuries to Sam Long and Elliot Lee meant Karl Robinson was forced into two changes, with the duo replaced by Jamie Hanson and Liam Kelly respectively.

Less predictable, though, was a completely different front three to the one that started against Peterborough United on Tuesday.

Dan Agyei was flanked by Forde and Mide Shodipo, with Matty Taylor, Brandon Barker and Mark Sykes dropping to the bench, where they were joined by youngster Leon Chambers-Parillon due to United’s injury troubles.

After 13 minutes it looked like the U’s busy treatment room could be about to get more crowded as Stevens and Josh Ruffels collided under pressure from Chuks Aneke.

The left back went down clutching his shoulder, but after receiving treatment was alright to carry on.

Instead, it was Charlton who were forced into a change three minutes later, when right back Adam Matthews sustained a knock and was replaced by Chris Gunter.

The defensive dithering was catching, with Agyei only able to blaze high and wide when centre backs Jason Pearce and Akin Famewo got in each other’s way on the edge of the box.

Charlton began to look more threatening and Jake Forster-Caskey shot wide from a tight angle midway through the half, before United’s best chance yet.

Ruffels made a nuisance of himself in the box and the ball sat up for Shodipo 12 yards out, but the winger’s effort deflected wide of the far post.

Forster-Caskey headed over from eight yards just after the 30-minute mark as the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the half, but Agyei’s pace continued to worry the Charlton back line.

United finished the half strongly as Cameron Brannagan cut inside to shoot straight at Ben Amos and Ruffels volleyed wide of the near post, before Aneke was booked for leading with an arm on Rob Atkinson at the start of stoppage-time.

The striker was replaced at the break by Jayden Stockley, who headed Gunter’s cross over the bar ten minutes into the second period.

Agyei continued to look bright, with only the end product sometimes lacking, and he won a free-kick 25 yards out that Forde curled over moments later.

The Irishman went much closer just after the hour mark, receiving the ball from Agyei 20 yards out and waiting for Kelly’s run to free up some space.

Forde touched it out of his feet and smashed a blistering drive that bounced off the near post, with Charlton countering and Liam Millar curling just wide at the other end.

Robinson sent on Brandon Barker for Kelly, before visiting boss Lee Bowyer made his final three changes with Schwartz, Andrew Shinnie and Diallang Jaiyesimi replacing Conor Washington, Matthew Smith and Ben Watson.

It remained a tight affair as the game entered its final ten minutes and Taylor and Sykes replaced Forde and Agyei in a bid to break the deadlock.

United continued to work hard without finding the opening, with Chambers-Parillon coming on for Hanson for his league debut in the final minute.

The U’s thought they had lost it in the final minute when Gorrin tripped Stockley, but Stevens saved the day.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Hanson (Chambers-Parillon 90), Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels, Kelly (Barker 67), Gorrin, Brannagan, Forde (Sykes 81), Agyei (Taylor 81), Shodipo.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Grayson, Hall.

Booked: Charlton Athletic (4-3-3): Amos, Matthews (Gunter 17), Fawemo, Pearce, Maatsen, Forster-Caskey, Watson (Shinnie 78), Smith (Jaiyesimi 78), Millar, Aneke (Stockley 46), Washington (Schwartz 78).

Unused subs: Oshilaja, Harness.

Booked: Millar, Aneke, Watson.

Referee: Tom Nield (West Yorkshire).