Oxford United's blip in form is fast becoming a slump, as the side drew 0-0 at home to Woking[@opponent]Woking[/@opponent] this afternoon, to clock up their third consecutive game without scoring[@news]617[/@news], and to leave the large crowd with no joy to relieve their Christmas hangovers. Woking were nothing special, but the Yellows struggled to break them down, and even when they did make chances they failed to take them. The first half was a dull affair, with only John Dempster, who was otherwise fairly woeful, having a speculative shot before Andy Burgess shot just wide on the stroke of half time.

United almost took the lead seconds into the second half, when Shwan Jalal reacted quickly to tip an Eddie Hutchinson header over the bar. Hutch had another header go just wide minutes later, and Oxford were looking good. Yemi Odubade then had two good chances, the first self-created with a storming run and a shot that Jalal was able to deflect wide, although Yemi should arguably have crossed for the unmarked Rob Duffy. Next, the diminutive striker had a free header six yards out, that he could only head tamely into Jalal's arms. Yemi was then taken out by the onrushing keeper, and that was the end of his threat. Billy Turley had one save to make, from Jamie Taylor, before Duffy headed narrowly wide in injury time.

As suspected, Jim Smith made a few changes to the side that also drew 0-0 at Lewes. He reverted to his favoured 3-5-2 formation, and reintroduced Burgess and Carl Pettefer to midfield, with Hutch and Chris Hargreaves on the bench. Steve Basham also returned to the starting line-up, with Yemi making way. The final change was Matt Day starting, replacing Gavin Johnson. Smith made a double substitution at half time, bringing on Hutch for the disappointing Dempster, and Yemi for Bash, who had received a knock earlier. In injury time Hutch himself went off, having also been clattered, with Hargreaves playing the final few minutes.

Today's referee was Oliver Langford, who appeared overawed at officiating in front of a large crowd, and who had a rather abysmal game, making several clearly incorrect decisions, and missing a lot of rather blatant fouls. He booked Duffy for a 50-50 challenge on Jalal. The attendance not only broke, but smashed the Conference record, with 11,065 in attendance, of whom a massive 275 came from Woking. Hopefully a match report will appear in a day or two.

Fortunately, United's stutter is being matched by Dagenham & Redbridge, who were also held 0-0 at home, by Grays Athletic, so Oxford remain two points clear at the top. Weymouth have moved back into third place, after beating Exeter 2-1, leaving the Grecians in ninth, and the Terras six points behind the Us. Burton Albion are fifth, one point behind York, after winning 1-0 at Tamworth. United's opponents on Saturday, Crawley Town, lost 1-0 at Gravesend to drop back into the relegation zone, fourth from bottom.