MATTY Taylor saluted Oxford United’s ability to overcome setbacks after his 90th-minute equaliser extended the side’s remarkable unbeaten run.

Karl Robinson’s men looked to be heading for a first defeat in two months as they trailed to Gareth Evans’s 58th-minute penalty at Portsmouth.

Josh Ruffels had also added to a long injury list by going off before half-time.

And with no other left back on the bench, it meant Sam Long switched sides to fill in while centre half Rob Dickie had to play at right back.

But United showed great fight to stay in the game, which paid off when Taylor popped up to make it 1-1 late on.

IN PICTURES: Portsmouth v Oxford Utd

It stretched the sequence to 12 games without defeat – the club’s longest in a single Football League season since 1994.

Taylor said: “The world is against us at the moment with loads of injuries and players in different positions.

“It was backs against the wall and it just shows you what a great squad we’ve got and our togetherness.

“I’m delighted to score again, but it’s more about the result and keeping the run going.

“I think that will be a massive point in the season.”

Taylor had endured a frustrating afternoon feeding off scraps at a stormy Fratton Park.

But when James Henry got the ball out wide in the final minute of normal time, the Bristol City loanee came alive.

He said: “The life of a striker can be frustrating at times.

“But the older I’ve got the more you keep persevering and making the right runs.

“Thankfully I was in the right place at the right time to get another one.

“I don’t know how he’s picked me out, with the wind as well.

“It was an amazing cross, but he does it every week for us.

“I was licking my lips when it rolled to him to be honest.”

It was a sixth goal in eight appearances for the striker and came in front of the packed away end.

And for Taylor, who started out at United before being released, it feels so sweet.

He said: “All I ever wanted to do when I was a young lad was play for Oxford United.

“Now I’m finally getting a proper chance and you can’t beat playing and scoring for your home club, because it gives you that extra incentive and buzz.”