OXFORD United held Port Vale to a fourth consecutive draw under new head coach Liam Manning.

The goalless affair at Vale Park was light on chances, although it was the hosts who came closest when Tom Conlon hit the crossbar in the second half.

United though are now winless in 13 Sky Bet League One games.

Manning made two changes to the side which got a draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

With Elliott Moore unavailable due to concussion, Stephan Negru came in for his first U’s start, while Gatlin O’Donkor replaced Yanic Wildschut.

Cameron Brannagan captained United in Moore’s absence.

The first half lacked activity in the final third, with several stoppages for players hitting the turf and receiving treatment.

In fact, there were no shots on target in the opening 45 minutes with sights of goal at a premium.

After 12 minutes, Gavin Massey found space in the right channel of the penalty area but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Ellis Harrison then nodded wide a difficult chance from another Vale corner.

Both sides had opportunities to try and go in front via set pieces but more often than not, a defender was first to the ball and the danger passed.

With nine minutes to go in the first half, space opened up for Marcus Browne but the U’s man pinged his 25-yard effort comfortably over Aidan Stone’s goal.

At the other end, Ciaron Brown got his body in the way of a David Worrall shot from the edge of the box.

Vale then picked up three yellow cards in quick succession before the half-time break as Massey, Nathan Smith and Mal Benning were all cautioned by referee Martin Woods.

Harrison headed behind Browne’s right-wing free kick in the first of five additional minutes, before Brannagan slid in on James Wilson to deny the Vale striker in the penalty box.

The second half began with a bang as Tom Pett saw his low 20-yard strike tipped behind by Simon Eastwood within 30 seconds of the restart.

Pett was involved again seven minutes later when he received a short corner and flashed an effort from the edge of the box the wrong side of Eastwood’s near post.

Browne then led a United counter-attack down the left and charged into the area, however his rising shot was held at the near post by Stone.

The U’s were afforded a shooting opportunity from a free kick won by Josh Murphy, who was fouled by Pett in a central position 25 yards from goal.

Brannagan’s set piece though was well held by Stone.

Manning made his first change just after the hour mark when Wildschut replaced Browne, with the former going out to the left and Murphy moving in behind O’Donkor.

Vale captain Conlon then came the closest to an opener when he swivelled in the penalty area and sent a right-footed shot onto the crossbar.

O’Donkor was then denied by a well-timed block at the near post, before Eastwood made a brilliant save to keep out a Conlon effort which looked like it was going into the top corner.

Conlon then saw an overhead kick from a corner drift wide.

The home side were very much the team on top at this point, with Eastwood thwarting Harrison at his near post, before making another great save to palm behind a Dennis Politic shot from the edge of the area.

United then took control of the closing stages as Joseph fired an effort across goal, with a home defender clearing the ball close to the line.

Negru then headed straight at Stone from a Brannagan cross.

In stoppage time, Politic was shown a straight red card after going up for an aerial challenge with Negru and seemingly catching the young defender in the face with an elbow.

Port Vale (3-4-3): Stone; Forrester, Smith, Donnelly; Worrall, Pett, Conlon, Benning; Massey (Plant 69), Wilson (Politic 69), Harrison.

Unused subs: Proctor, Holden, Agyakwa, Butterworth, Robinson.

Booked: Massey, Smith, Benning, Pett, Worrall.

Sent off: Politic.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Eastwood; Long, Negru (Smith 90+7), Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Joseph, Browne (Wildschut 62), Murphy (Fleming 71); O’Donkor.

Unused subs: McGinty, Golding, Smyth, Goodrham.

Booked: McGuane, Joseph.

Sent off: None.

Referee: Martin Woods (Lancashire)

Attendance: 6,662 (away 975)