MALCOLM Shotton may try to sign Paul Gerrard for a third month on loan after the Everton goalkeeper's brilliant late save against Sunderland on Saturday.

Gerrard made a flying leap to his left to keep out a curling effort from his former Oldham teammate Chris Makin as Oxford United held the Division 1 leaders to a 0-0 draw.

"It was a great save from Ged. We could try to get him for a third month but that's all. I've told Paul we'll be in touch," was all United boss Malcolm Shotton would say on the matter.

It was Gerrard's final match in his second month on loan, but with Shotton deciding not to take Swedish goalkeeper Paul Lundin last week, he must now see whether Walter Smith will allow Gerrard to stay on at the Manor - and be available for United's next game at QPR on Wednesday.

Makin, just about the only Sunderland player not to have scored this season, was cursing Gerrard's agility.

"I've had about a million shots now this year, I think I'm going to give up," he said. "I really thought I'd scored there, but he pulled off a great save.

"I haven't got a goal this season surprisingly, and if I come up against Paul Gerrard every week, I don't think I will score either." United's defence did well to keep a clean sheet against the highest goalscorers in the country.

"A 0-0 draw at home to the league leaders, certainties to go up to the Premier - we were happy with that," said man-of-the-match Paul Powell.

"You look at the record of Quinn and Phillips up front for them, to keep them and Dichio out and keep a clean sheet, that's what you've got to do if you want to stay in this division.

"We wanted to show Sunderland that we have improved after that 7-0 defeat and are not as bad as they maybe think we are, and the lads did themselves justice today."

Central defender Phil Gilchrist said: "The game opened up towards the end and then Sunderland's football came on but the game never really lit the fires. I don't think either side played particularly well but we probably had the better chances

"There possibly was an extra determination from us - not because of what happened at their place but because they're top of the league and we need points for survival.

"It was on Sky, and a good game for us to show we can match the best. We've done that recently (with Chelsea) and we did it again.

"We've tightened up a hell of a lot at the back. It was another clean sheet and if we can keep getting clean sheets between now and the end of the season we'll have no problems." Substitute Andy Thomson almost snatched victory for United in a frantic finish with a shot on the turn which came back off the inside of the woodwork.

Shotton reflected: "We hit the post, they had a few chances - both teams could have won it. Overall a draw's a fair result, I feel."

Meanwhile, weekend reports that Bradford had made a £1.2m bid for United's leading scorer Dean Windass were dismissed by Shotton, although it's understood there has been strong interest in the player from the Valley Parade club.

"I'd be disappointed if there wasn't interest in a player who has got 18 goals for a club down the bottom of the table," said United's manager. "But nobody has come through with a £1.2m bid to me."

Story date: Monday 01 March

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.