Even the returning James Constable couldn't inspire Oxford United to the win they needed at Tamworth yesterday to reignite their title challenge.

Constable did make a difference, giving United's attack a much more menacing look, but for the second time this season they couldn't find a way past Danny Alcock.

The U's saw their winless run extend to four games and they are down in third place in the Blue Square Premier, one point behind Luton after their emphatic win at Ebbsfleet on Saturday, and three behind leaders Stevenage.

With their promotion rivals scoring plenty of goals, this was another frustrating afternoon for Oxford's followers, and increases the pressure on them now needing to win at Rushden on Wednesday.

United made a sleepy start with Tamworth almost scoring in the first 20 seconds.

After a delay to the kick-off, the Lambs broke down the right and Iyseden Christie, unmarked eight yards out, headed wide.

There were just a few passes between the restart and home striker Jerome Murdock entering the referee's notebook for a tackle that incensed the U's players, and James Constable possibly escaped a similar yellow card only because, in wearing the captain's armband, he was entitled to "discuss the matter" with the referee on behalf of his teammates.

A few minutes later Constable charged down the left with purpose, and won his team a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Suddenly, with the talismanic centre forward injecting urgency and menace, United looked threatening going forward again.

And it was after excellent play by Franny Green, followed by Anthony Tonkin's left-wing cross, that Constable had a half-chance. He turned it into a full chance with a brilliant left-foot volley, but keeper Danny Alcock was equal to it, pulling off a fine one-handed save to his left to keep the ball out of the net.

However, it wasn't all Oxford. Jake Wright needed to make a vital tackle to stop Christie breaking into the box, and Ryan Clarke made an outstanding save at full stretch to his right to paw out a Christie header.

At the other end, Franny Green was doing a lot of very good things, peeling away from Des Lyttle to get in headers, and linking intelligently with both Constable and Sam Deering.

It was Green's clever backheel which released Tonkin, and from his cutback, Constable had another shot blocked.

Rhys Day had a header from a corner disallowed for pushing, but they were getting closer.

United may have found it frustrating that they weren't breaking through, Tamworth again throwing themselves in the way with brave blocks, but at least it was a much better first-half performance from Chris Wilder's team.

Mark Creighton came on for the second half, with Wright seemingly having picked up an injury, and soon after the restart, Matt Green joined the action, taking over from Lewis Chalmers, who had been very quiet.

Much of the play was scrappy in the second half, and Tamworth started to have more of the play.

Substitute Michael Blackwood got around the back of the Oxford defence, with Deering left in his wake, but Clarke cut out his cross.

John Grant came on with 19 minutes to go, and almost scored with his first touch, a flicked header which bounced just past the right post.

Damian Batt was twice guilty of sloppy play which might have been punished.

But he did at least get back to cover to make a potentially goal-saving tackle when Seb Laske-Gaskin broke free near the end.

Alcock saved bravely from Constable at the finish, just after Deering really should have had a shot when he had a sighting of goal.

The second half was a poor spectacle, and while Oxford had been good in the first 45 minutes, they were back to average in the second.