Bradford C 0, Oxford Utd 0

SOME brilliant defending earned Oxford United a precious Division 1 point at the Pulse Stadium on Saturday.

After a sterile first half, the game opened up after the break and United's goal came under heavy pressure.

But, led by the outstanding Phil Gilchrist and with Les Robinson, Brian Wilsterman, Martin Gray and Paul Powell not far behind, the visitors manfully stood up to the onslaught.

Again working very hard, Uni-ted's players tackled, harried and blocked to deny Bradford shooting chances.

And when the home side did break past their last line of defence, either goalkeeper Phil Whitehead was there to pull off a vital stop or there was someone on the goalline to save the day.

Nigel Pepper and Robbie Blake were denied first by the keeper and then by Gray clearing off the line in an amazing frenzy of action in the 66th minute.

Then, after Whitehead had pushed over a well-struck 20-yard volley by Pepper, and the Brazilian Edinho had missed a golden chance after pushing Wilsterman off the ball, Bradford substitute John McGinlay could hardly believe his ill-luck as he failed to convert with two stabs at the ball on 82 minutes.

McGinlay was just five yards out as he met one of a succession of quality Peter Beagrie corners. But Mark Angel, standing guard at the near post, blocked the first and then, from McGinlay's follow-up, the ball appeared to lodge between Angel and the woodwork before the Oxford player scrambled it away.

Wilsterman was recalled to the centre of defence because on-loan Steve Davis had not recovered from a bout of flu. He was so furious with Edinho's push on him that he raced over to the referee and grabbed him by the arm. It was a foolish action which brought him a booking.

Yet Wilsterman's pace at the back had been important in keeping United's defence on top, and the Dutchman was within a foot of his first Oxford goal when he met a cross from O'Neill Donaldson which Gary Walsh just tipped over.

United had looked totally comfortable throughout a scrappy first half in which the sides' 4-4-2 formations cancelled each other out.

Oxford made the livelier start. Powell was put in and when he squared the ball low across the six-yard box, it was just beyond Donaldson's reach.

Kevin Francis worked himself a decent shooting chance on 21 minutes by winning a strong challenge against Eddie Youds. His drive brought a fumble by Walsh, but it lacked the power to beat him.

Bradford, beaten just twice at home this season, looked more effective on the counter-attack.

From one quick break, Beagrie sent over a telling cross which Robbie Blake met on the half-volley and Whitehead saved with his leg.

United nearly took the lead after half an hour as Joey Beauchamp's angled shot brought a good block from Walsh. Then Beauchamp chipped in another cross and which Donaldson almost bundled home.

The players came out for the second half with music ringing in their ears - not only from their managers after the dire first half, but from a marching brass band who were still playing and took such an age to leave the pitch that the start of the second period was delayed.

It wasn't long before Beagrie began to run the show with some clever skills and high-class crosses and corners, and United had to maintain a high level of concentration to keep City out.

Edinho blazed high and wide when Jamie Lawrence put him clear and the U's had an even bigger let-off from an imaginative Bradford free-kick conceded by Wilsterman just outside the box.

Wayne Jacobs took the kick and Beagrie swivelled round to thump the ball, which had rolled behind him, with venom.

It slammed against the upright with Whitehead well beaten before United managed to hack it clear.

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