Dull in Hull

For the second time this season United and Hull were unable to score against each other as the two sides fought out a goalless draw on Humberside today. Dave Savage came closest for Oxford, shooting over after being set up by Lee Steele, while Jamie Forrester hit the bar for the home side.

Scott McNiven was pronounced well enough to play following an illness and he rejoined the side at the expense of Roy Hunter. Lee Steele made his first start for United, with Andy Scott relegated to the substitute's bench. Jamie Hunt played despite a fractured toe and Andy Crosby was also able to play despite a family crisis. Scott came on for Steve Basham just after the hour mark and Jefferson Louis replaced Steele in injury time.

Referee Graham Salisbury chose to book McNiven, and he also showed yellow to Hull's Justin Whittle who fouled Steele when the striker was clean through. The attendance of 17,404 was boosted by 3,000 free tickets to assorted Humberside females, but was nevertheless the highest crowd in the bottom two divisions. A match report, penned by Jon Brown, can be found here.

This point sees United fall out of the play-off zone, dropping to eighth on goal difference. Hull climb one place to twelfth. Second placed Rushden were crushed 3-0 at Wrexham, who move above Oxford to sixth, while Bournemouth moved back to third courtesy of beating Darlington 2-0. Lincoln climbed to fourth on the back of their 1-0 win at Southend. Scunthorpe's 1-1 draw at home to second bottom Macclesfield sees the Iron remain one place above the Us.

Torquay dropped to ninth after being held 0-0 at home by Swansea, who are now fourth from bottom, but York climbed up to tenth, one of four other clubs level on points with Oxford, after beating Cambridge 3-1, their second goal being scored by Lee Nogan. Kidderminster are eleventh after their game against Rochdale was postponed.

Bottom of the league Exeter City drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient while third bottom Carlisle also picked up a point after a goalless draw at Boston. Bristol Rovers remain just one point, and four places, above Exeter after they too were held 0-0 by United's next opponents, Shrewsbury Town.