Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff felt his team's performance at Oxford United looked more like the team that has earned success in the past couple of seasons.
Callum Wright's goal early in the second half saw the Robins lead at the Kassam Stadium in the first match of 2022 until Mark Sykes' late leveller, but despite conceding late on Duff was pleased with a good point against an Oxford team who have been hard to stop of late.
The point was also a positive reaction to the Boxing Day loss at home to Plymouth Argyle after an up and down week where COVID-19 cases led to Wednesday's visit to MK Dons being postponed with only 11 fit players available.
"I thought it was a good performance. I thought that looked like us. That's what we've looked like for the last two-and-a-half years," he said.
"We've come away from it. We've had a bit of a sticky run - there's no getting away from that - but we've come to a team that are a very good team. We've watched their last two or three home games and they've been dispatching, putting good numbers on and beating very good teams.
"I thought it was probably a fair result. I thought it was an even game. They had a lot of the ball but I can't really remember other than the penalty, which I'm not sure was a penalty, but Owen (Evans) has not really had a save to make. So lots of pressure and lots of half-chances. We had similar on the counter as well.
"I'm really pleased with how hard the ran together, how well they stuck together and earnt a well-earned point."
Watch the full post-match press conference with Duff above on iFollow and on the EFL iFollow app on your smartphone.
With games in 2022 now underway, next up it's a home fixture for the first time in the new year on Saturday 8 January when Burton Albion visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
Tickets for the game against Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink's side are on sale online and from the ticket office. Be sure to buy before midnight on Friday 7 August to save £2 on matchday prices.
