Ricardo Pereira snatches 10-man Leicester a point at Oxford

Substitute Ricardo Pereira struck a fine second-half equaliser as 10-man Leicester denied Oxford a first Championship win of the season in an eventful 2-2 draw at the Kassam Stadium.

The Foxes had to play three quarters of the match a man down after Aaron Ramsey was sent off in the 24th minute.

Will Lankshear fired Oxford into an early lead, which was soon cancelled out by Jordan Ayew.

An own goal from Boubakary Soumare at a corner then gave Gary Rowett’s side a 2-1 lead at the break, only for half-time sub Pereira to fire home an equaliser 10 minutes after the restart.

This was the first meeting between the teams since another 2-2 draw back in April 1994.

And the U’s got just the start they were looking for this time around as Spurs loanee Lankshear slotted in from Michal Helik’s pullback in the ninth minute after goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk could only parry Matt Phillips’ fierce drive.

But the Foxes were back level just four minutes later as Ayew capitalised on a wayward pass from Cameron Brannagan to cut in from the right and drill a shot under Jamie Cumming from eight yards.

However, Oxford were looking threatening going forward, and winger Przemek Placheta was very unlucky to see his superb 25-yard shot over City’s keeper come back off the crossbar.

The game continued to be open and the chances kept on coming – Ramsey forcing a good save out of Cumming with an angled 25-yard drive midway through the half.

Yet less than a minute later and Ramsey was shown a straight red card by referee Ben Toner for scything down Phillips near the touchline.

Bulgaria international Filip Krastev, making his Oxford debut, had a shot deflect wide after a neat one-two with Phillips.

With the extra man, the home side were enjoying good possession, but Leicester still looked dangerous on the break and Stephy Mavididi raced 70 yards through on goal, only for Cumming to save his close-range shot.

Oxford regained the lead a minute before half-time when Ben Davies’ header at a corner deflected into the net off Soumare’s head.

Pereira had replaced Mavididi for the second half, which was just 10 minutes old when the Portuguese took a pass on the right from Abdul Fatawu and finished with a clinical low shot past Cumming.

Both sides went looking for a winner after that but failed to make the most of opportunities.