Oxford Utd 0, Bolton 0

By JON MURRAY

IF there is to be an Oxford United renaissance under new owner Firoz Kassam, outplaying one of the strongest teams in the division was not a bad way to start.

The pity was, for Kassam and United, that, at a time when results matter more than performances, there was nothing more than a point to show for it.

This was largely down to Bolton's debutant goalkeeper Steve Banks who pulled off two brilliant saves, while United also missed three other gilt-edged chances to turn their dominance into goals.

As is often the case in goalless draws, it was a story of two keepers.

Both were making their debuts. But whereas Banks had one of his busiest afternoons of the season, Oxford's 33-year-old Swede Paul Lundin might as well have got out a deckchair.

Bolton managed just two corners in the whole game and took 72 minutes to muster a shot on target.

And when at last they did perk up near the end, the two strikes on goal they did manage, from Eidar Gudjohnsen and Dean Holdsworth, would hardly have increased the heartbeat of Lundin, who looked authoritative throughout. Seldom can a player have attained cult status when having so little to do. Yet Lundin managed that with the United fans because of his prodigious clearances from one end of the pitch to the other.

Many found the head of Kevin Francis to turn, in an instant, defence into attack, and his distribution could prove a major asset to Malcolm Shotton's team in the final few games.

After introducing himself formally to the media at a lunchtime press conference, Kassam went on to the pitch before kick-off and was given a tremendous reception. It was clear from his body language that publicity-seeking and he were not common bedfellows, but boosting the fans' morale went with the job. Kassam accepted it with humility.Robert Maxwell he is not. To some supporters, though, he is the new Messiah and such a responsibility seemed to weigh heavily. "I will do my bit," he told the press. "It's up to the players, to do their bit."

And to be fair to them, they did, playing with confidence after beating Sheffield United, passing the ball around and showing a greater desire than their opponents.

They were just let down on the quality front in front of goal, or with the final cross. The first chance to go begging came in the sixth minute, when Andy Thomson took the ball wide of the keeper but then lost his balance and sliced wide.

Three minutes later, Banks produced a great reaction save to push a downward header from Matt Murphy over the bar. The U's looked bright, Bolton disjointed, but despite enjoying a huge share of possession as they attacked towards the London Road, they couldn't stick the ball in the net.

Paul Tait rounded former United full back Jimmy Phillips to get in a cross which Francis met with a firm header at the back post - but Banks brilliantly pushed the effort against a post. It came back out to Thomson who could not force it over the line as Bolton dived in the way to block. The U's were unlucky again when Mark Watson got up well to send in a header at a Paul Powell corner just before the interval, only to see it drift agonisingly a yard wide of the far post.

Colin Todd no doubt said some strong words to his players at half-time, for Wanderers showed greater urgency in the second half and committed players forward.Holdsworth created room for a shot after good build-up play from Per Frandsen and Michael Johansen, but hit it wide. At the other end, South African Mark Fish just got his head in the way to divert a Powell cross which would otherwise have been buried by Francis. United's frustration increased as Thomson flashed a shot across goal after a skilful flicked pass by Francis, who was looking much more like his old self.One of the St John Ambulance brigade stretcher-bearers provided some much-needed light relief. In his desperation to reach an injured player he stumbled and his hat came off, provoking an enormous cheer from the crowd. Up he got, but he then stumbled a second time, lost his hat again, and was left with Easter egg on his face.

The game petered out but in injury time Banger had his path to goal blocked by two defenders. Over he went, but no penalty was given.

Story date: Monday 05 April

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