NATHAN Holland’s stoppage-time strike earned Oxford United a dramatic win over ten-man Portsmouth on a thrilling afternoon at the Kassam Stadium.

The winger fired in off the post in the 96th minute to decide a lively contest that included a 30-minute half-time break.

It was the second home game in a row that United fought back from 2-1 down to win late on, doing the same against Sheffield Wednesday, and came after the start of the second period was delayed by more than a quarter of an hour due to an ‘incident’.

The on-pitch action was no less dramatic as United’s biggest home crowd of the season saw five goals, 11 yellow cards and a 16th-minute sending-off for Pompey’s Joe Morrell.

Two goals in the first ten minutes set the tone, Luke McNally heading home his second of the season before Michael Jacobs equalised following a slick move.

Morrell was then sent off for a high challenge on Brannagan and the U’s dominated possession from then on, only for Ronan Curtis to give the visitors a shock lead early in the second half.

Pompey looked set to hold on for an improbable victory, only for Brannagan to fire into the far corner from 20 yards eight minutes from time for his fifth goal in a week.

The fourth official signalled ten minutes of stoppage-time and United poured forward in search of a winner, with Holland sealing victory from 20 yards to send his side fifth in Sky Bet League One.

Sam Long was unavailable due to a calf issue so Karl Robinson opted for a change of shape, with deadline-day signing Ciaron Brown making his debut in a back three.

Former Pompey players Ryan Williams and Steve Seddon started as wing-backs, with Marcus McGuane dropping to the bench.

Oisin Smyth was among the substitutes as he was involved in a matchday squad for the first time, while the visitors’ five changes included a return for Curtis up front.

The five-figure crowd was in expectant mood before kick-off and the action did not disappoint.

United were up and running inside six minutes as Billy Bodin laid on his third set-piece goal in four matches, the forward sending in an outswinging corner from the left that McNally headed home.

It was the perfect start for the hosts, but within a flash they were back on level terms.

Curtis appeared to be going nowhere when he received possession on the byline, but a clever backheel found Kieron Freeman in the penalty area.

The wing-back kept his cool to find Jacobs, returning to the starting XI today, to pass the ball into the empty net.

The breathless start continued as Pompey were reduced to ten men just 16 minutes in.

Morrell steamed into a challenge with Brannagan in the centre circle and went in late and high on the U’s midfielder, with referee Samuel Barrott taking his time before producing the red card.

Portsmouth went to 5-3-1 in response and United controlled possession for the rest of the half.

Their newfound threat from corners almost paid off again after 19 minutes, only for Freeman to brilliantly clear off the line when Bodin’s set-piece took a flick at the front post.

Williams was stationed right in front of the Pompey fans and getting plenty of stick, but he remained an excellent outlet for the U’s at wing back.

United worked it beautifully midway through the half as the Australian found Sykes, who teed up Bodin to shoot from 12 yards. Sean Raggett was in the right place to make the block.

Neither side was afraid to make a challenge and Jacobs was booked for a late tackle on McNally, before George Hirst was arguably lucky to escape a red card when he led with his arm in an aerial challenge with Elliott Moore.

Herbie Kane carved out a great chance for Brannagan ten minutes before the break with a lovely through ball around the corner, but Gavin Bazunu was out quickly to block at point-blank range.

Kane scuffed a volley wide shortly before the break, but United really should have gone in behind.

In a rare attack, Pompey worked the ball to the unmarked Hirst 15 yards out and Stevens made himself big to save with his legs.

It was all set up for a thrilling second half, but the 10,000-plus crowd had to wait more than 30 minutes for the game to restart due to an incident during the break.

United picked up where they left off when the match began again, only to leave themselves far too open on the counter-attack.

Curtis was screaming for the ball in acres of space and Jacobs obliged, with the Republic of Ireland international allowed plenty of time to side-foot past Stevens.

Visiting players threw themselves in the way of Bodin’s close-range shot as United looked for an instant response, before Brannagan cut in from the angle and forced Bazunu to push behind.

There was a flurry of substitutions as Holland and Sam Winnall replaced Brown and Williams respectively, while Freeman picked up an injury and came off for Clark Robertson.

United had so many forward players on the pitch and moved to an ultra-attacking system, with Steve Seddon one of the back three and Sykes and Holland pushing up on the flanks.

McNally and Holland had shots blocked in quick succession, before Kane’s looping volley from the edge of the box lacked the dip to beat Bazunu.

Just when United appeared to be losing their bite, Brannagan popped up with a peach of a goal.

The No 8 was urged to shoot as he received the ball 20 yards out and he did just that, firing a dipping effort into Bazunu’s far corner for his ninth of the season – and fifth in a week.

United were not done yet and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, Holland firing in off the post from long range to send the home fans wild.

Oxford United (3-5-1-1): Stevens, McNally, Moore, Brown (Holland 55), Williams (Winnall 64), Sykes, Kane, Brannagan, Seddon, Bodin (McGuane 87), Taylor.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Mousinho, Forde, Smyth.

Booked: Kane, Seddon, Moore, Brannagan.

Portsmouth (3-4-1-2): Bazunu, Carter, Raggett, Ogilvie, Freeman (Robertson 60), Thompson (Tunnicliffe), Morrell, Hume (Hackett 90+4), Jacobs, Curtis, Hirst (O’Brien 83).

Unused subs: Webber, Harness, Walker.

Booked: Jacobs, Hirst, Hume, Curtis, Bazunu, Tunnicliffe, Raggett.

Sent off: Morrell.

Referee: Samuel Barrott (West Riding).

Attendance: 10,373 (1,754 visitors).