Oxford United picked up a point with a 0-0 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers this evening at the Kassam Stadium.
In a decent game between two of the promotion-chasing sides, United had the better chances before the break but then had to show the other side of their game, defending resolutely as Wanderers, top at kick-off, took the game to them.
The game took a while to warm up on a feeezing night, and the opening half hour was particularly cagey as the sides probed for an opening rather than starting with all-out assault.
With Ruben Rodrigues suspended, Billy Bodin was moved to a more central role and Kyle Edwards returned on the left of the attack. United stepped things up as the half wore on, improving by the minute after a disappointing performance at Cheltenham in their previous outing.
The return of Elliott Moore helped with that, and two well-drilled defences dominated the early minutes with neither keeper having to make a save before United began to get on top and carved out three good chances.
On 38 minutes Mark Harris slipped Stan Mills clear in the right channel with keeper Nathan Baxter racing towards him. Mills shot low but Baxter beat it away. Moments later Cameron Brannagan sent in a swirling cross that clipped the top of the bar with Baxter beaten.
The best of the three efforts came in injury time when Brannagan caught everyone napping other than the frantically back-pedalling Baxter, who just about managed to tip a wicked free kick up and over as it dipped towards the top corner.
Bolton hadn’t mustered a shot on target and United’s remarkable record in front of the East Stand remains intact - no side has scored against them there this season.
Surely the leaders, fresh from scoring seven against Exeter at the weekend, would lift themselves after the break?
Indeed they did. United created two more early opportunities, with Bodin hitting a defender with the first and scuffing the second, but then Wanderers woke up. The lively Dion Charles forced James Beadle into his first save of the night after 58 minutes and the visitors started to apply pressure for the first time. Beadle did well to block a Jack Iredale effort on 64 and the left back then set up two more chances at the back post only for his teammates to miscue badly.
There were brave blocks and half chances as United defended for their lives and searched for a way to get the game out of their own half. Sub Josh Murphy helped with that, his pace stretching the tiring Trotters, and eventually the two sides had punched themselves out.
Honours even and a first point for Des Buckingham as United's Head Coach, earned the hard way.
United now switch their attention to the FA Cup when they welcome Grimsby Town on Saturday.
Att: 8,899 including 1,157 Away
Polythene UK Fifty/50 winning number wins £910.50
Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher, JasonPix and Rex Shutterstock