OXFORD United stopped the rot but left their fans disgruntled at the Manor on Saturday.

Malcolm Shotton's team broke their dismal run of three straight defeats and stemmed the goals against with their first clean sheet of the season as they drew 0-0 with Grimsby.

But the entertainment level was poor and as an attacking force, United were virtually non-existent, failing to manage a single effort on goal.

Centre back Phil Whelan, one of the few who could feel pleased with his performance, tried to be positive by highlighting the improved showing at the back. It was the first game this season in which United hadn't conceded at least two goals.

"Two points from four games is not the start we wanted, but that's our first clean sheet and it's something to build on," he said.

Shotton admitted: "We did well to keep a clean sheet but not so well going forward."

His assistant, Mark Harrison, conceded the club's problems up front were a worry, but they were working with what they had and there is little chance to change personnel until Kevin Francis recovers from his injury and illness. "We felt we should have done more coming forward but were strong at the back," he said.

"We'd worked on getting crosses into the box but we're not linking up with our front two. The ball's not sticking there and when we try to put it up, we haven't got the height or the right quality of crosses."

"We're disappointed by the result, make no bones about it, but we're positive with what we've got," he added. And he urged fans not to expect too much.

"Clubs don't want to let players go out on loan at this stage of the season and we haven't got any money to buy players, so we're battling with what we've got.

"We're a small club. We only had 5,000 at the game which sh0ows that, and the fans' expectations at the end of last season were possibly too high."

It needed three good saves by Phil Whitehead to earn United a point, although the match might have been very different had Nicky Banger puit away a decent chance in only ther second minute.

"We just need a goal," said Harrison. "If that one from Nicky goes in, it's a totally different game."

Whelan was full of praise for keeper Whitehead.

"He's made two very good saves, one that he got his toes to in the first half and one in the second. He's been playing well for us all season and is quite bubbly, so he's a good character to have in the dressing room."

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