West Brom and Carlos Corberan left to rue late "regret" at late Oxford sting

The Baggies dropped two points at the Kassam Stadium to go four without a win having led for large parts through Karlan Grant's fine strike on half hour.

But substitute Dane Scarlett headed in after a Will Vaulks long throw was flicked on two minutes into stoppage time at the end of a frustrating second period.

Part of Corberan's annoyance was how his side were guilty at handing possession to Oxford – via a sloppy throw-in from Torbjorn Heggem in an attacking position of their own – shortly before the Yellows bagged for a share of the spoils.

"The feeling is exactly that one, that we have lost two points for different reasons," said Corberan after his side sacrificed top spot with the late goal against in the early kick-off.

"The more obvious one was the game management in the last moments of the game. I think in these moments the only way you have to protect the result, when you have tried to create but couldn't, is to extend more attacks to try to create and not to give the ball to the goalkeeper.

"There was one key action we didn't manage well – not only the goal action. There was a moment we played from the back, did an action from (John) Swift and Grant and got a throw in the attacking half. In this action we gave the ball directly to the keeper and they create an attack of 30 seconds in our half.

"This is one thing I regret. We should have managed better the last minutes, not only in the actions of the goal – when you defend a long throw in the box anything can happen – but the way to manage a game in extra time is to create more attacks in the attacking half, or extending your attacks, to defend by having the ball.

"It doesn't mean we did everything perfect, In the second half until the 15th or 20th minute we didn't manage to attack well or put the ball in the attacking half, but from there the team was better and probably had a lack of determination or impact in the box, we had possibilities in the first half with (Tom) Fellows and (Grady) Diangana, in the second half we had possibilities too but we couldn't score the second goal which would have given us a better result."

Albion were good value for the slender lead at half-time after looking dangerous from the 20th minute.

Corberan was unhappy with the start his side made to the second period but felt the minutes from the hour onwards were some of his side's best of the game as they found a way to make inroads on the Yellows' backline.

But all too often Albion's final cross, cut-back, pass or shot was intercepted or blocked with goalkeeper Jamie Cumming untested.

Alex Palmer was not busy down the other end, until he picked Scarlett's header out of his net.

Corberan shuffled his pack with 20 minutes left as Fellows and Diangana were sacrificed for Jed Wallace and John Swift. With seven minutes remaining Corberan withdrew striker Josh Maja and midfielder Uros Racic, who both had strong games.

The head coach admitted the duo were tired when asked to explain. He said: "I saw Diangana fatigued and thought the instinct of Swift would have more control of the ball in the attacking half.

"I saw Maja fatigued and thought with Jed Wallace's movement in behind challenging the defence he could impact and help the team to protect.

"On the left I thought Grant was doing a very good job and needed more a change on the right that is why Johnston came on. In general I didn't even change the shape because didn't feel the team needed to change the shape. We were not suffering.

"The best moments of the team – without being massively excellent – were after the first (10 or 15) minutes of the second half and the thing we can correct more is the game management in the extra time."

On the impact of the changes, Corberan added: "I don't think now you can say that the changes didn't help. With the changes we were no better or no worse.

"I think we would probably find the same game. In the last minutes they will take risks, try to attack more, create chances for the draw, but there was only a cross (Darnell) Furlong cleared. We didn't suffer more than in other moments. Just a couple of wrong decisions that we should have made better to win."