PAUL Powell, one of the Oxford United stars who has blossomed under new boss Malcolm Shotton, has signed a new two-year contract.

The Wallingford-born 19-year-old gave another impressive display as United earned a precious survival point with a 0-0 draw at Bradford on Saturday.

And afterwards Shotton said: "Paul Powell was excellent.

"He's certainly come on in the last month and we've just organised a two-year contract with the boy.

"I'm very pleased with his progression. He's got good pace, good ability and is going to be a good player."

Powell, who has come through the ranks at the Manor, was named United's Young Player of the Year in 1996.

He said: "I'm really pleased to get a two-year contract. It gives me a bit of security and I've already signed it.

"With a new manager coming in, you've always got a chance to impress and he's given younger players like myself more of a chance than I had in the system before.

"It's a big step-up from reserves to first team but this last month has gone well and every game I play gives me more confidence.

"I was put into the left back position (after Mike Ford went off injured) which is not my best position, but I'll play anywhere I'm wanted if it means a place in the team."

United defended very well in the second half against a Bradford team beaten just twice at home all season.

It proved to be a vital Division 1 draw as almost all the clubs below them picked up points. Shotton said: "That's probably the worst we've played since I've been here but we've kept a clean sheet and we've got a point.

"If someone had said to me before I took over that I was going to get three wins and a draw from five games, I'd have been absolutely delighted with it."

He added: "I thought our quality wasn't the best but we came away with a point.

"We could have snatched it, they could have snatched it, but we've put up the shutters and come away with a good point.

"I said to the boys in the dressing room that sometimes you don't play as well as you want to, but to keep a clean sheet away from home is not bad."

Bottom club Portsmouth's second successive win, 1-0 at Reading on Saturday, has condensed the bottom places and Oxford, though still in 16th place, are just four points off the relegation places and can not relax for a moment.

"I think it's going to go right to the last few games of the season," said Shotton.

"Everybody's taking points off everyone else, it's a very difficult league and there are some good teams below us.

"But our confidence is good. We probably need a couple more players but some of our younger players coming through are pushing some of the older ones, so it's going reasonably well."

Striker O'Neill Donaldson is eligible to play in one more match, against Ipswich at Portman Road tomorrow, before his month's loan from Sheffield Wednesday ends.

United will review Donaldson's position after Ipswich.

That's a game Shotton is particularly looking forward to as it pits him against George Burley, the manager at Ayr United when he was assistant boss.

"I know George and (his assistant) Dale Roberts - we were up there in Scotland together.

"It will be a good footballing game and Ipswich have now hit a rich vein of form."

They thrashed Norwich 5-0 in the East Anglian derby at the weekend.

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