LUKE McNally scored a dramatic late header as Oxford United snatched a point against Ipswich Town to continue their play-off pursuit.

Bersant Celina’s breakaway goal had put the visitors in front on 70 minutes, before McNally had the last say.

Kosovo international Celina was a danger throughout, alongside Wes Burns on the right for the away side, with United never quite getting to grips with the pair.

However, McNally’s late thumping header from Herbie Kane’s corner saw the U’s grab an invaluable point against a side who have fading play-off hopes of their own.

The late goal from McNally ensured a three-point buffer inside the play-off places for United, although they did slip fourth to fifth after Plymouth Argyle thumped Accrington Stanley 4-0.

Ipswich meanwhile stay ninth, six points behind Sunderland in sixth, with the dropped two points against the U’s possibly of great cost at the end of the season.

Karl Robinson made three changes from the 2-1 win at Shrewsbury Town, as in came Sam Long, Ciaron Brown and Billy Bodin for John Mousinho, Steve Seddon and Nathan Holland.

In a cagey opening 45 minutes, United had the first opportunity of note and it fell to Gavin Whyte with seven minutes on the clock.

Cameron Brannagan played the Cardiff City loanee through on goal, but his effort lacked composure, and was hit low and straight at Christian Walton between the Ipswich posts.

Five minutes later, Whyte had another chance. This time, Bodin played in Whyte, but the outcome was the same – another low effort which Walton was able to easily scoop up.

The visitors began to get into dangerous positions for the first time with a third of the opening period played.

The impressive Celina beat McNally too easily on the right, but his cross evaded a teammate, and then Burns got past Ryan Williams at the byline, with Simon Eastwood forced to paw away the cross.

On 27 minutes, a chance fell for Williams inside the penalty box.

It was good play by Brannagan initially, who then played the ball across to Mark Sykes on the right.

United’s No 10 cut inside and hit a shot, which was deflected and fell to Williams, but the Australian hit his shot into the turf and wide of the post.

Seven minutes later, Matty Taylor won a header in the penalty box and flicked the ball into the path of Whyte who scooped a difficult volley high and wide.

With 37 minutes on the clock, the U’s broke from an Ipswich corner and Bodin hit a cross-shot from the right which floated over Walton’s back post.

Burns was dangerous for the visitors on the right and in the final minutes of the half, took control of proceedings.

He first curled an effort with the outside of his boot towards goal, which Sykes deflected wide for a corner, and then played in Conor Chaplin who was in an offside position.

United were lucky not to go behind early in the second half as Joe Pigott found himself with space in the six-yard box, but with his back to goal, he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and the U’s were able to clear.

Burns continued to be a thorn in the U’s defence and on 65 minutes, the former Fleetwood Town man hit a fierce effort from outside the box, but it was straight into the hands of Eastwood.

Four minutes later, United were dealt a huge let-off. Celina broke down the left and bent a shot towards the far post but Eastwood pushed it up into the air with United eventually able to clear.

Moments later, Celina did score though. The away side broke down the right hand side at pace and with blue shirts queuing up in the middle of the goal, Celina passed into an empty net from Burns’ cross.

Celina continued to be a nuisance for the U’s defence, drifting in from the left and playing the ball to Tyreeq Bakinson, who smashed an effort just wide of the post on 75 minutes.

The U’s snatched a draw at the death though when McNally powered in Kane’s corner.

Eastwood ventured forward for the set piece, and was just in front of McNally, who met the corner with a towering header, to send the biggest crowd of the season at the Kassam Stadium (11,029) into raptures.

Oxford United (3-4-1-2): Eastwood; McNally, Long, Brown (Holland 84); Sykes, Brannagan, Kane, Williams; Bodin (McGuane 68); Whyte (Winnall 88), Taylor.

Unused subs: Stevens, Mousinho, Seddon, Forde.

Booked: Williams

Ipswich Town (3-4-2-1): Walton; Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess; Burns, Bakinson, Carroll (Morsy 53), Thompson; Chaplin, Celina (Aluko 84); Pigott (Bonne 53).

Unused subs: Hladky, Baggott, Penney, Norwood.

Booked: Burns, Bonne

Referee: Marc Edwards (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 11,029 (1,787 away)