Proving a point

United reversed their pitiful display on Saturday by producing a much more cohesive and passionate performance at Gigg Lane this evening which saw them come from behind to grab a point. Bury took the lead after 23 minutes when Pavel Abbott pounced on a rebound from an Andy Woodman save. Twelve minutes later Scott McNiven scored his first goal for United, sidefooting home from 18 yards. United had to survive a few scares, but came more into the game and had a good shout for a penalty turned down in the second half.

Ian Atkins made one change from Saturday's debacle, bringing Andy Scott into attack to replace Jefferson Louis. A double substitution saw Scott and Steve Basham go off with Louis and new loan signing from Watford Dominic Foley coming on.

Referee Alan Kaye, taking charge of his first Oxford game of the season, booked Bobby Ford for time wasting. The attendance was a pitiful 2,578. Match report here.

United have slipped down to tenth following this draw and tonight's other results, while Bury are now 8th. Lincoln beat Kidderminster 1-0 to move into seventh place and Torquay grabbed a last minute winner as they beat Shrewsbury 3-2 to take them up to ninth. At least Bournemouth lost, 2-1 at Cambridge, so they remain in third place but only three points above United having played a game more. Last night Paul Simpson scored the opening goal in the 3-3 draw between Rushden and Rochdale.

New number two

Kevan Broadhurst looks set to become Ian Atkins' new assistant manager. Broadhurst, who was with Atkins at Northampton, observed a United training session, taken by Atkins and David Oldfield, yesterday. He travelled up to Bury with the Oxford squad today and sat beside Atkins in the dugout. He was manager of Northampton from September 2001 until his sacking in January this year.