CHRIS Wilder rued a lack of spark in the final third as Oxford United shared a goalless draw with Exeter City.

The U’s were in charge for much of the game at a drenched Kassam Stadium last night, but could not convert pressure into a goal.

It was their second 0-0 in four days following a stalemate at Accrington Stanley on Saturday, but the point kept United fourth in the Sky Bet League Two table, just behind Exeter.

Wilder was satisfied with the performance, and felt only a finishing touch was missing.

The U’s manager, who was taking charge of his 250th game for the club, said: “We’ve played decent stuff, we’ve passed it about and controlled the majority of the game.

“You have to get the balance right, if you start chucking men forward against Exeter, you’ll get done on the break.

“We just needed that bit of magic in and around the final third and we couldn’t find it.”

The game ended on a low note for the home side, who had Dave Kitson sent off for a second bookable offence.

After picking up a yellow card in the first half for what an accumulation of fouls, he received another for a trip in stoppage time.

Wilder questioned both decisions, but admitted it had detracted from an otherwise solid evening from his side.

He said: “I’m disappointed with Dave’s sending off.

“Tommy Doherty had four or five fouls in the first half and the referee pointed to them around the pitch and then he did that to Dave Kitson, when he hadn’t committed a foul in the whole first half.

“It’s taken a little bit of the gloss off what I think is a pretty decent performance against a good side.”