By Jon Murray MICKEY Lewis said it was a measure of how far Oxford United have come in the last six weeks that the players felt down after picking up only a point at Chesterfield.

Saturday's dour 0-0 draw against the bottom club extended the U's unbeaten run to six games.

And Lewis said: "The most pleasing thing for me is that the players are so disappointed only to have come away with a draw. But it's another clean sheet and at times we played some good football.

"We've got to have a bit more of a killer instinct," he said. "But I said to the players I'm pleased with the way we've played and that we have stayed unbeaten.

"The teams we're playing against are having to chase and chase because of the way we play and it's telling in the last ten minutes or so. If you're chasing them around, the more tired they get.

"I feel, in general, we've been the stronger team in the second half of most of the games we've played." Midfielder Paul Tait reflected: "We've kept the unbeaten run going, it wasn't a pretty game.

"Chesterfield are bottom of the league and haven't won in 15 games, so we knew it was going to be really difficult. They chased and harried and they're scrapping for their lives at the moment. But they just launched the ball and squeezed, they didn't try and play.

"We had the better chances. We didn't play well but we haven't got beat. A couple of months ago we would probably have lost it in the last five minutes.

"I didn't think we were in serious trouble at all. We're looking a lot more solid, we just need to win our home games now."

There were several outstanding performances in United's defence, with experienced duo Steve Davis and Phil Whelan doing particuarly well.

And Lewis, whose appointment as first-team coach until the end of the season was confirmed last Thursday, admitted that being spoilt for choice with players was making his job hard. "A few of the players are starting to give me problems now," he said.

"Steve and Phil both did well. Matty Murphy has been superb and we've pushed him up front. I'd much rather have him in midfield but there's so many players playing well, it's hard."

Steve Anthrobus pushed his claims for a recall with another good showing when coming on as a sub, and Lewis is considering whether to being him back up front against his old club Shrewsbury Town in tomorrow night's FA Cup second round replay at the Manor.

Left wing-back Neil McGowan picked up a groin injury which makes him doubtful for the Cup tie, which could open the door for Paul Powell to come back.

Shrewsbury, who beat Hull City 3-0 on Saturday, will be without Steve Kerrigan, who got both their goals in the original 2-2 draw at Gay Meadow.

Lewis added: "We've done ever so well away from home this season and we need to start winning at home."

NOTTINGHAM Forest's home FA Cup third-round tie against the winners of the Oxford United or Shrewsbury Town replay has been brought forward a day to Friday, December 10.

ANDRE Arendse's South Africa gained their first ever victory over a European nation when they beat Sweden 1-0 in a friendly thanks to a goal from Siyabonga Nomvete.

Story date: Monday 29 November

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