A BUMPY playing surface at Whaddon Road ruled out any prospect of Oxford United playing attractively, according to skipper Jake Wright, writes DAVID PRITCHARD.

The visitors did not hit the heights of previous games in the 0-0 draw at Cheltenham Town on Saturday, but showed an appetite to knuckle down and take something from the game.

Wright fully expected the Robins’ fast start and was pleased with the display, even if it was not easy on the eye at times.

He said: “They knew what the pitch was going to be like so it wasn’t a day to be playing football, it was a day for getting the ball forward, winning the knockdowns and playing from there.

“They did it really well for the first 20 minutes, but we knew they would beca-use they’ve lost their last few games.”

Although it was not an afternoon for flair players, Wright relished the challenge against a physical forward paring of Ben Burgess and Darryl Duffy.

He said: “It was one of those days where the defenders come and say ‘listen, we’ll get the result today, boys’.

“The players like (Peter) Leven, Asa (Hall) and Beano (James Constable) want to play, but it’s difficult in these conditions.

“Everyone dug in to get a result and a clean sheet is really good for the back five.

“I enjoy getting stuck in like that, I’d rather that than have nothing to do.

“We’re coming up to the end of the season, so we’re really happy with that.”