MARK Sykes continued his rich vein of form to rescue a draw for Oxford United against Cheltenham Town.

The 24-year-old scored his fourth goal in five games with eight minutes left of the Sky Bet League One clash, as the U’s claimed a point following an underwhelming display.

United were electrifying in their 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday, but could not carry that intensity into the new year on a frustrating afternoon.

They should have taken the lead after Cheltenham goalkeeper Owen Evans upended Matty Taylor in the first half, but United’s top-scorer smashed the penalty straight at the stopper.

Callum Wright made him pay when he put the visitors ahead three minutes into the second half after the U’s failed to clear a corner.

The hosts looked set to start 2022 with a defeat, but Sykes slid in at the back post late on to ensure they end the day fifth in League One.

United’s starting line-up showed just one change to the win over Wimbledon, with Gavin Whyte only a substitute due to a tight hamstring.

Marcus McGuane replaced the Northern Ireland international as Sykes moved over to the right wing.

Anthony Forde was unavailable for personal reasons so John Mousinho completed the bench, while Nathan Holland was still not fit enough to make the squad.

Former U’s players Charlie Raglan and Liam Sercombe started for Cheltenham, who were missing Chris Hussey, Ellis Chapman and Grant Horton due to Covid.

The visitors were fresher after postponing Wednesday’s trip to MK Dons, but that did not explain United’s sluggishness in possession.

There was a subdued atmosphere in the stands and the U’s did not do much to raise the volume in the first half, losing possession too often and moving the ball too slowly.

Cheltenham threatened very little at the other end, although Simon Eastwood had to stand tall to block Lewis Freestone’s effort from a tight angle early on.

McGuane did his best to up the pace in the 17th minute, bursting forward from midfield to find Sykes, before the former Barcelona man and Cameron Brannagan went close with quickfire shots from range seconds later.

It did not spark the U’s into life and they struggled to breach Cheltenham’s back five, despite controlling possession.

A golden chance came just before the half-hour mark when Taylor got a toe to McGuane’s pass and went down under Evans’ challenge, although it looked like the goalkeeper got the ball.

United’s in-form striker took the penalty himself, but fired straight at the stopper who gambled by standing his ground.

A frustrating few minutes continued with a booking for Sykes, before the same player lifted a shot over the bar from ten yards after Brannagan found him with the cut-back.

Taylor was denied again, this time by the offside flag, when he beat Evans after a ricochet fell his way six minutes before the break.

The game needed a goal and it got one less than three minutes into the second half, although it was not a thing of beauty.

Sykes met Alfie May’s corner at the near post but his clearance struck a visiting player and bobbled across the six-yard box, with Wright on hand to convert from close range.

United had a strong penalty shout turned down moments later when Sykes was bundled over by Sean Long, before a second goal was disallowed.

Evans spilled Brannagan’s shot and saved Taylor’s follow-up, but the striker was flagged offside as Sam Long put the ball in the net.

More United moves broke down through sloppy play, while Cheltenham were happy to slow the game down whenever they got the chance.

Whyte replaced McGuane on the hour mark, with Sykes dropping into midfield, before Sam Winnall came on for Ryan Williams.

The striker joined Taylor up front with Whyte in behind, with Freestone and Evans then booked for persistent time-wasting.

Eastwood pushed Sercombe’s low drive wide at the other end, as Cheltenham brought on Elliot Bonds and Will Boyle for Wright and Mattie Pollock.

United continued to make hard work of it, only for Sykes to level with eight minutes left.

Whyte had been lively since coming on and flashed the ball across the six-yard box, with his teammate sliding in at the back post to score his eighth goal of the season.

United pushed for a winner and Taylor and Steve Seddon just failed to get on the end of Sam Long’s 89th-minute cross, but they had to settle for a point.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Long, Moore, Thorniley, Seddon, McGuane (Whyte 61), Kane, Brannagan, Sykes, Taylor, Williams (Winnall 69).

Unused subs: Stevens, McNally, Mousinho, Davis, Bodin.

Booked: Sykes.

Cheltenham Town (3-5-2): Evans, Pollock (Boyle 76), Raglan, Long, Blair, Thomas, Wright (Bonds 73), Sercombe, Freestone, Joseph (Williams 87), May.

Unused subs: Flinders, Barkers, Crowley, Norton.

Booked: Thomas, Blair, Freestone, Evans, Raglan.

Referee: Carl Brook (Sussex).

Attendance: 8,351 (508 visitors).