League leaders Oxford United showed all their resilience as they came from behind in the second half to earn a valuable point at York.

The Minstermen dominated the game, and looked to be heading for victory when the dangerous Michael Rankine fired them in front after 71 minutes.

But ten minutes later, Simon Clist converted a cross behind the York defence from substitute Jack Midson.

York had James Meredith sent off a few moments later for his second yellow card of the match when he felled Matt Green.

United had to defend for their lives for long spells, but they did just that, several times making outstanding blocks.

York played with a purposefulness and belief and gave Chris Wilder's men one of their hardest games of the season.

But the visitors defended with fierce determination and resolve.

The point came at a cost for Oxford, however, with strikers Matt Green and James Constable picking up their fith yellow cards of the campaign, which means they will both be suspended for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie against Thurrock next Saturday.

York closed down very well all over the park, to deny Oxford any space in which to play.

Green was harshly booked just before half-time while top scorer Constable followed midway through the second half, both for just slightly mistimed challenges.

Constable had escaped with a lecture from the ref when he appeared to pull out of a challenge with keeper Michael Ingham, but the ref still called him over and spoke to him sternly.

And when, ten minutes later, he went in hard against Rankine, who crashed to the ground, this time the card came out.

Damian Batt for Adam Chapman at right back was United's only change.

Oxford, wearing all white, knew they would be in for a tough battle physically at the back, and Michael Rankine didn't take long to use his strength and power to cause them problems.

In the very first minute, after Matt Green had lost possession 40 yards upfield, the ball was played quickly forward and Rankine got the better of Mark Creighton but Steve Kinniburgh did just enough in his challenge, and Ryan Clarke saved bravely at the feet of the striker.

The league leaders continued to weather pressure and after Luke Foster had conceded a free-kick just outside the area, the kick was played short to Rankine, who drove his shot into the wall.

The visitors had barely had time to draw breath from that when Neil Barrett curled in another free-kick from the left and only some good defending by Steve Kinniburgh deflected the ball away for a corner.

So it came as a respite for United's defence when they mounted an attack. Simon Clist came in on the blindside of the home defence when Batt fired over a right-wing cross, and the ball deflected just wide off a panicky defender's shin.

There was a menace about York, however, when they attacked, and Clarke produced a great one-handed save to his right to paw away a powerful Rankine header.

Several U's players put themselves on the line by throwing themselves in the way of goalbound shots to prevent a goal. Foster, Kinniburgh and James Constable all did that.

When they had the ball, United kept the ball well with good spells of passing, though they seldom got close enough to Michael Ingham's goal to get a shot away.

Batt, relishing being back in the starting line-up, gave a strong showing and was involved in a lot of the action.

York too put together some slick moves, and it was not difficult to see why they had gone ten games unbeaten before last weekend.

The second half began with much of the same, City applying all the pressure and United having to work hard to keep them out.

Creighton's timely interception turned a downward header for a corner and the big centre half made another great block from Alex Lawless' shot.

Batt defended very well when he had to against Rankine.

It was after a double substitution by the U's, with Jack Midson and Chapman coming on for Jamie Cook and Adam Murray, that York scored.

They broke down the left and from Ferrell's left-wing centre, which bypassed Creighton, Rankine tucked the ball in from ten yards.

Bizarrely, City's Richard Brodie was then booked, seemingly for kicking the ball into the crowd when it was someone else.

Yet the visitors wouldn't lie down.

Batt's surging run down the right and deep cross gave Constable half a chance beyond the far post, but he couldn't connect on the volley.

On 81 minutes, though, Midson knocked the ball across the face of the goal from the right, and Clist side-footed in from close range after a great run.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Batt, Foster, Creighton, Kinniburgh, Bulman, Murray (Chapman 70), Clist, Green, Constable, Cook (Midson 70). Subs not used: Perry, Sandwith, Day. Booked: Green, Constable, Kinniburgh.

Referee: Mark Brown (Hull).

Att: 4,302 (778 from Oxford)