Oxford carried their FA Cup fighting spirit into their survival battle to take a useful point off play-off hopefuls Wolves at Molineux.

It was a result which kept Malcolm Shotton's side's recovery in motion but did nothing for Wolves' prospects of reaching the top six.

And the 20,000-plus home crowd voiced their feelings at the final whistle with a chorus of boos.

It had all started so brightly for Wolves, who were positive and urgent in the opening half as they had nearly all the play and chances.

They should have had their task made easier after only three minutes when Oxford central defender Phil Gilchrist clearly barged Carl Robinson off the ball on the edge of the area just as the Welshman was facing a one-on-one situation with keeper Paul Gerrard.

But referee Alan Butler gave the defender only a yellow card, not a red one, and Steve Sedgley's resulting free kick was deflected wide.

Robinson then scooped a good chance off target while Havard Flo met the same fate when he dragged wide after a through ball by Michael Gilkes.

Robbie Keane squandered a golden opportunity to open the scoring when he latched onto a through ball by skipper Keith Curle and fired inches wide of the far post with only Gerrard to beat from a slight angle.

But after Dean Windass had lashed wide with Oxford's first effort at goal, Keane superbly made amends in the 37th minute.

The Irish teenager raced onto a fine through-ball by Simon Osborn, nicked the ball round the advancing Gerrard and turned to fire home left-footed in off the covering Paul Powell.

Oxford undeservedly levelled only three minutes later when a right wing cross brought a slow response from Wolves' defence and Kevin Francis and Matt Murphy worked the ball back for Windass to drive in right-footed from 16 yards for his 16th goal of the season.

The second half was a non-event apart from two more Oxford bookings - for Nicky Banger and substitute Brian Wilsterman - and an early toe-poked shot by Osborn which was well-saved by Gerrard.

Wolves became more and more bereft of ideas and barely troubled the visitors defence again as they made it four draws in five home League games.

With more ambition, Oxford might even have snatched victory but a glancing header by Francis skidded just wide and Windass saw a close-range header blocked by Curle.

Teams:

Wolverhampton: Stowell, Atkins, Muscat, Sedgley, Richards, Curle, Gilkes (Simpson 67), Robinson (Connolly 88), Flo, Keane, Osborn.

Subs Not Used: Niestroj.

Goals: Keane 36.

Oxford Utd: Gerrard, Robinson, Powell, Gray, Watson (Wilsterman 45), Gilchrist, Banger (Remy 59), Murphy, Francis, Windass, Beauchamp.

Subs Not Used: Weatherstone.

Booked: Gilchrist, Banger, Wilsterman.

Goals: Windass 39.

Att: 20,811

Ref: A Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield).