All fools today

United remain unable to win on a Tuesday night at home in the league as second-bottom Carlisle United held them to a goalless draw tonight. In the first half the visitors looked good going forward but had no end product, and in the second half they had nothing at all. United had nothing all game, despite dominating possession in the second period. Oxford's first shot wasn't until midway through the second half when a tame Roy Hunter free kick trickled through to Matty Glennon in the Carlisle goal.

Ian Atkins made the revolutionary transition to 4-4-2 for this game, with Matt Bound being the defender to make way. Hunter came into midfield to replace the suspended Bobby Ford and Andy Scott moved to the left wing with Dominic Foley up front alongside Jefferson Louis. After half an hour Louis, whose poor form recently should have made him a doubtful starter, was replaced by Paul Powell, with Scott moving up alongside Foley. With a couple of minutes remaining Manny Omoyinmi came on for James Hunt.

Referee Joe Ross, taking his first Oxford game since the draw against Shrewsbury in October, was his usual entertaining self, although he appears to have mellowed recently. He had a fairly good game, although he showed yellow cards to Matt Robinson, who was lucky not to be shown red for a professional foul when he was the last man, Scott McNiven and Andy Crosby. The attendance was given as 5,044 and a match report can be found here.

United have moved up one place to ninth thanks to this point, and Oxford fans can now start looking up directions to Yeovil (apart from Yeovil, who already knows the way). Carlisle move up two places to leave Shrewsbury in the relegation zone above Exeter, although the Shrews do have a couple of games in hand. United fans will now be hoping that Boston can overcome Wrexham tomorrow night.