A point was no good for either side as League Two promotion rivals Cheltenham and Oxford played out a goalless draw.

Marlon Pack went closest for the hosts, but his fierce free-kick came back off the woodwork, while Darryl Duffy's header was tipped over by Ryan Clarke.

Ben Burgess volleyed wide on his Robins debut, while James Constable headed over at the other end.

Luke Summerfield went close with two efforts for the home side, while the U's struggled to make an impression.

Cheltenham remain in sixth place on 65 points, while Oxford sit three points back with a game in hand in seventh.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Cheltenham manager Mark Yates told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:

"We've come off the back of four defeats and sometimes you need a small step before you take a big one.

"We've got seven games left and we're a point nearer where we want to be. We deserved three points. We didn't take our chances but the bottom is I'm delighted with the effort, the desire was there and if we play like that we'll be alright.

"Steve (MacLean) hasn't played much for a month and Ben (Burgess) tired towards the end, but it's a start for us. We had lots of chances and I'm not going to criticise players for missing chances. The crowd stuck with us even though it was 0-0. It's a small step and one we needed.

"We can only look after ourselves. We're still going for 21 points and the players deserve a massive pat on the back. There have been a few doubters - not on performances like that."

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Oxford:

"We rode our luck at times, we had to defend, but towards the end we came on strong so it was a real end-to-end game.

"It was always going to be like that. I didn't take any notice of current form, they're a good team with good players and a good manager. When we roll into town with 1,700 (supporters) it's always going to raise their desire and determination to get a result.

"It wasn't a great performance from us but it was a real gritty one. We're not under-estimating what a good point it is."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Cheltenham Town

  • 12 Butland
  • 06 Elliott
  • 15 Bennett
  • 19 Garbutt
  • 22 Jombati
  • 07 Pack
  • 16 Penn (Low - 86' )
  • 25 Summerfield
  • 09 Duffy (Mohamed - 79' )
  • 29 Burgess
  • 30 MacLean (Spencer - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Lowe
  • 08 Low
  • 20 McGlashan
  • 14 Spencer
  • 23 Mohamed

Oxford United

  • 01 Clarke
  • 02 Batt
  • 06 Wright
  • 16 Whing
  • 22 Worley
  • 14 Hall
  • 20 Leven Booked
  • 26 Davis
  • 09 Constable
  • 18 Morgan (Montano - 68' )
  • 23 Rendell (Johnson - 53' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Tonkin
  • 07 Chapman
  • 24 Wilson
  • 19 Johnson
  • 27 Montano
Ref: Tierney
Att: 4,365

Match Stats

Shots

15 8

On target

2 2

Corners

5 2

Fouls

15 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:14 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Peter Leven on Joshua Low. Free kick crossed by Luke Garbutt, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

90:00 +0:21

Shot from outside the area by Liam Davis misses to the left of the goal.

89:49

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven, clearance made by Alan Bennett.

86:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Oli Johnson by Steve Elliott. Peter Leven produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

85:28 Substitution

Substitution Joshua Low replaces Russell Penn.

81:08

Luke Garbutt challenges Cristian Montano unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Peter Leven.

80:32

A cross is delivered by Damian Batt, save made by Jack Butland.

79:02

Inswinging corner taken by Luke Garbutt.

78:05 Substitution

Substitution Kaid Mohamed comes on in place of Darryl Duffy.

75:11

Luke Summerfield takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

73:50

Asa Hall challenges Marlon Pack unfairly and gives away a free kick. Luke Garbutt restarts play with the free kick.

73:14

Luke Summerfield has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

71:59

Russell Penn challenges James Constable unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Leven shoots direct from the free kick.

71:13

Ben Burgess produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.

70:27

Peter Leven crosses the ball, Alan Bennett manages to make a clearance.

67:06

Free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

67:06 Substitution

Substitution James Spencer comes on in place of Steven MacLean.

67:06 Substitution

Substitution Cristian Montano joins the action as a substitute, replacing Dean Morgan.

67:06

Russell Penn is adjudged to have handled the ball.

63:37

The assistant referee signals for offside against Ben Burgess. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

62:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Davis on Steven MacLean. Free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

62:24

Effort on goal by Ben Burgess from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

61:47

Corner from right by-line taken by Luke Garbutt.

61:23

Marlon Pack takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

58:00

Long range shot by Marlon Pack goes wide right of the goal.

54:58

Unfair challenge on Peter Leven by Alan Bennett results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Peter Leven.

54:21

James Constable fouled by Ben Burgess, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

53:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darryl Duffy by Liam Davis. Marlon Pack restarts play with the free kick.

52:26

Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

52:26 Substitution

Substitution (Oxford Utd) makes a substitution, with Oli Johnson coming on for Scott Rendell.

52:26

The referee blows for offside.

51:32

Harry Worley challenges Ben Burgess unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Luke Garbutt.

50:58

Darryl Duffy produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

49:48

Marlon Pack produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

47:53

Outswinging corner taken by Peter Leven from the left by-line.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:05 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

44:29

Peter Leven takes a shot. Blocked by Alan Bennett.

42:51

Luke Garbutt fouled by Damian Batt, the ref awards a free kick. Marlon Pack has an effort direct from the free kick,

39:32

Unfair challenge on Scott Rendell by Marlon Pack results in a free kick. Dean Morgan shoots direct from the free kick, blocked by Sido Jombati.

38:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Harry Worley by Darryl Duffy. Indirect free kick taken by Harry Worley.

38:15

The ball is crossed by Russell Penn, Effort on goal by Ben Burgess from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

35:42

Luke Summerfield has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

35:02

Foul by Asa Hall on Steven MacLean, free kick awarded. Marlon Pack takes the free kick.

33:02

Effort from just outside the area by Asa Hall goes over the target.

32:14

Ben Burgess challenges Peter Leven unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Peter Leven.

31:19

Handball by Steven MacLean. Ryan Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

30:34

Russell Penn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Davis. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

29:14

The ball is delivered by Marlon Pack, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance.

27:13

Andrew Whing fouled by Marlon Pack, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Peter Leven.

26:03

James Constable is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jack Butland.

25:02

The ball is delivered by Asa Hall, James Constable produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

24:15

Foul by Steven MacLean on Andrew Whing, free kick awarded. Damian Batt takes the indirect free kick.

23:11

Steve Elliott takes the free kick.

23:11 Booking

Booking Peter Leven booked.

22:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Bennett by Scott Rendell.

21:59

James Constable challenges Sido Jombati unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jack Butland takes the free kick.

20:32

Liam Davis fouled by Sido Jombati, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Peter Leven, clearance made by Russell Penn.

19:00

Damian Batt concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Burgess. Marlon Pack takes the free kick.

16:31

Unfair challenge on Russell Penn by Asa Hall results in a free kick. Marlon Pack restarts play with the free kick.

13:39

Russell Penn fouled by Scott Rendell, the ref awards a free kick. Luke Garbutt takes the indirect free kick.

11:42

Sido Jombati sends in a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Luke Summerfield misses to the left of the goal.

11:05

Dean Morgan takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

10:22

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Marlon Pack.

10:01

Darryl Duffy takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

9:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Peter Leven on Russell Penn. Steven MacLean takes the free kick.

9:01

Effort on goal by Luke Summerfield from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.

7:26

Effort from the edge of the penalty area by Darryl Duffy goes wide of the left-hand post.

6:53

James Constable concedes a free kick for a foul on Alan Bennett. Jack Butland takes the indirect free kick.

6:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alan Bennett on Ryan Clarke. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

5:32

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Marlon Pack from the left by-line, save by Ryan Clarke.

5:13

Darryl Duffy takes a shot. Harry Worley gets a block in.

5:01

Darryl Duffy produces a cross, Harry Worley manages to make a clearance.

3:03

Unfair challenge on Andrew Whing by Ben Burgess results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

2:26

Russell Penn fouled by Dean Morgan, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

1:23

Luke Summerfield challenges Andrew Whing unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Damian Batt.

0:24

Centre by Scott Rendell, save by Jack Butland.

0:00

The match begins.

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