Hull City 0 Oxford United 0

Last updated : 08 March 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Oxford suffocated Hull with a stubborn defensive display that earned the visitors a vital point in their quest for promotion.

Hull, who went into the game after two consecutive away wins, harboured hope of a morale-boosting victory and they have now gone over two months since their last win at the KC Stadium.

And another huge 17,000 plus crowd were again frustrated.

Hull boss Peter Taylor said: "I was very pleased with the performance and I don't think we could have done much more.

"Oxford are a very organised team and they are very difficult to break down and I couldn't have asked for too much more from my players." Oxford manager Ian Atkins defended his side's defensive game plan by saying: "We are the second highest scorers in this division, and this is our first goalless draw away from home this season.

"It has been a tough week for us but we defended well and showed a lot of character." Hull started brightly and forced five quick-fire corners in the opening minutes but failed to test keeper Andy Woodman with any of them.

In a poor first-half spectacle Hull came the closest to opening the scoring when Richie Appleby released Jamie Forrester who fired wide.

In the second half Hull came out with all guns blazing, but Stuart Elliott snatched at a left-foot chance when he was put clean through, and moments later substitute Martin Reeves' cross was headed straight at Woodman by Jon Walters.

Dave Savage lobbed over with Oxford's only real chance of the game from close range, but it was Forrester who was left cursing his luck when a thumping left-footed drive rebounded off the crossbar.