The Tykes saw Jack Shepherd sent off inside 10 minutes but still managed to draw first blood through Vimal Yoganathan.

Aaron Ramsey's side responded in the second half, Mark Harris drawing level with his sixth goal of the season.

A late scare saw Cumming sent off, however, coming off his line to put in a strong tackle on Rylan Brownlie.

Shepherd's dismissal came inside 10 minutes at Oakwell, the centre back seeing red for a late and aggressive tackle on Louie Sibley on the right wing.

With a man advantage, Oxford put on pressure and saw attempts from Tyler Goodrham and Siriki Dembele blocked at close quarters in the box before Cieran Slicker saved Mark Harris' bending effort.

Barnsley responded well to their setback though, Cameron McGeehan dragging a shot wide before having a big chance cleared off the line by Michal Helik after Sam Long lost the ball in his own box.

Sibley and Kai Andrews saw long-range attempts blocked before Luca Connell pulled one wide.

The hosts then took the lead, a quick break from Reyes Cleary leading to Jubril Okedina squaring the ball to Yoganathan in the box who swept past Jamie Cumming.

The Tykes continued to threaten the goal before a shank wide from centre back Long in the opposing penalty area.

Half time introduction Aidomo Emakhu added threat to the frontline with a shot saved and blocked, the latter leading to fellow sub Peter Kioso's attempt cleared off the line.

Harris headed wide, Goodrham rifled the crossbar and Sibley dragged wide, before Jack Currie saw a shot blocked, the U's throwing everything at an equaliser.

And they found one, Emakhu beating his man and squaring the ball for Harris who tucked away his sixth goal of the season and second in as many games.

Emakhu drew a good save from Slicker shortly after before having a weaker shot aimed straight at the goalkeeper.

An avalanche of Oxford pressure resulted in few attempts truly testing the Reds shot-stopper before Gatlin O'Donkor headed just over and onto the roof of the net.

The hosts began to threaten on the counter then, Cumming saving well to deny Brownlie in the box.

Joy turned to despair for Cumming though, the keeper sent off for a challenge out wide on Brownlie who had burst forward, coming far off his line.

Two well hit digs from Currie and Mo Missanga were thwarted before a final effort from Brownlie was blocked, condemning the two sides to a draw.

Tykes: Slicker, Kay, Larkeche, Gale, Shepherd, Adeyemo (Okedina 12), McGeehan, Cleary, Kelly, Yoganathan, Connell

Yellows: Cumming, Spencer (Kioso 46), Helik, Long, Currie, Andrews, Sibley (O'Donkor 57), Lynch (Emakhu 46), Goodrham (Missanga 77), Dembele, Harris

Bookings: McGeehan, Kelly; Spencer, Long

Red cards: Shepherd; Cumming