FOOTBALL Caretaker boss Rix still looking for first victory STERILE U'S 10omutd1 UNDER PRESSURE: Steve Basham gives Boston keeper Paul Bastock a hard time 10omutd2 GETTING TO GRIPS: Recalled Scott McNiven tangles with Boston's Dean Cropper Oxford United 0, Boston United 0

Graham Rix is still waiting for his first win as Oxford United's new boss after yesterday's uninspiring goalless draw at the Kassam Stadium.

For all their commendable efforts to pass the ball, the U's lacked a cutting edge up front and never really looked like scoring.

And it leaves their play-off prospects hanging by a thread.

The happiest man in the ground was probably the watching Northampton Town boss Colin Calderwood, who will no doubt believe his team can overhaul Oxford in the remaining five games provided they get something from their "toughie" against Hull today.

In this sterile encounter, United created several chances in the first half but petered out in the second, when they failed to muster a single shot on target.

Rix made five changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Andy Woodman, Scott McNiven, Danny Brown, Richard Walker and Courtney Pitt.

The changes at goalkeeper and left back were because Simon Cox and Matt Robinson had injuries, while Walker came in for Paul Wanless to provide Steve Basham with more support.

McNiven and Brown both began the game well, with Brown - starting a match for the first time in six months and operating at left back for the first time - sending over two quality crosses.

Having Woodman throw the ball out to Brown helped Oxford to retain possession, but their attacks were in fits and starts, with Pitt getting little change out of Lee Beevers.

Boston, whose mini-revival had seen them climb to 11th in the table, created the best early scoring chances.

West Ham loanee David Noble's 25-yard free-kick took a deflection off a United defender, but it was still a comfortable save for Woodman.

Then, after Pitt had given away a free-kick with a reckless challenge, Pilgrims centre back Paul Ellender was allowed a free header eight yards out from Tom Bennett's free-kick.

The effort flashed a yard wide of the post - a let-off for the U's.

But the home side responded with two promising moves.

Andy Crosby headed back from the bye-line Chris Hackett's high miscued shot and Walker was close to turning it in, Ellender just managing to divert the ball for a corner.

Boston had a height advantage over Oxford and they nearly struck before half-time when Dene Cropper met a left-wing cross with a firm header, but Woodman got down to his left to save.

Attacking towards the Oxford Mail Stand in the second half, the U's began brightly.

Hackett, put in by Basham 15 yards out, should have shot but played the ball square, and when it came back to him, he scooped a difficult chance over the bar.

Whitehead produced two good corners, the second of which Jon Ashton headed over, but too many of his free-kicks were wayward. Those intended as crosses were often cut out by the first defender and those meant as shots were hopelessly overhit.

The game had a real end-of-season feel about it and that seemed strange, considering how much was at stake for Oxford.

Every time they put together moves to create good positions from which to cross, the crosses were comfortably defended.

They missed someone with aerial presence up front like Julian Alsop. But he, it seems, is completely out of the picture.

Rix tried to make something happen by bringing on Mark Rawle for Pitt, Matt Bound at left back to push Brown further forward, and then Lee Steele.

But they could have gone on playing all Easter and wouldn't have scored.

UNITED'S Under 19s were beaten 1-0 at home by Portsmouth in a hard-fought Umbro Isotonic Youth Alliance Merit Division 2 game yesterday.

Goalkeeper Bradie Clarke did well.

Pompey's winning goal came after 70 minutes.