OXFORD United hit the woodwork three times and missed a penalty as they finished pre-season with a strong display but a goalless draw with Coventry City.

Aside from a failure to convert chances, the only other concern for United was the loss of Ryan Taylor to a rolled ankle.

On paper, Coventry posed by far the toughest opposition in the U's pre-season schedule, but the League One side were run ragged at times.

The best chance fell to Danny Hylton, who blazed an ugly penalty well off target after Kemar Roofe was fouled in the box.

Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge made several good saves and when he was beaten - by shots from Danny Rose, Patrick Hoban and Josh Ruffels - the woodwork came to his rescue.

As expected, United boss Michael Appleton named an unchanged XI from the 2-0 win at Eastleigh a week earlier.

The pitch replacement at the Kassam Stadium meant the fixture was switched to Nuneaton Town's Liberty Way.

Given the location, it was not surprising Coventry's fans made up the majority of the crowd and their side was the first to threaten.

James Maddison weaved his way into the box on four minutes and it took an excellent tackle from Rose to snuff out the danger.

It turned out to be a rare moment of defensive danger for the U's before the break.

Appleton's side looked sharp in possession from the first whistle and Liam Sercombe forced Burge into a save with a low shot.

The one concern was the sight of Taylor limping off a few minutes after sustaining a heavy challenge from Reda Johnson on his left ankle.

It was hard to tell how serious the injury was, but given the occasion there was no sense in taking a risk and Patrick Hoban came on in his place.

The change had little effect on United, who worked hard to win the ball high up the pitch when Coventry were in possession and they largely succeeded in limiting the Sky Blues.

It took time to turn the promising moments into chances, but two glorious openings arrived in quick succession in the half-hour mark.

Rose, lively again, smashed a 25-yard shot which took a deflection and hit the crossbar, where Hylton nodded in the rebound, but it was quickly disallowed for offside.

Coventry survived the scare, but they should have fallen behind three minutes later.

United countered after defending a corner and Hoban's interception set up a three-on-one attack.

Rose and Sercombe set up Roofe eight yards out, but instead of shooting he delayed and Romain Vincelot slid in to clear the danger.

Coventry steadied the ship up to half-time, but it took a wonderful save from Burge to keep the game scoreless a minute after the restart.

Hoban bought himself space 20 yards out and struck a terrific low shot, which the goalkeeper just got a fingertip on to divert it on to the post, before gathering the rebound.

The Sky Blues, who lost Danny Swanson to a knock just before the break, were forced into another reshuffle when Chris Stokes went off after a tackle on Hylton.

His replacement was Ryan Haines, whose first act was to foul Kemar Roofe in full flow in the box.

Hylton stepped up from 12 yards, only to blast his effort horribly high and wide, almost clearing the stand which housed Coventry fans.

Sam Slocombe had a quiet afternoon, but was tested twice in just over a minute around the hour, making smart saves from Maddison and Adam Armstrong.

The respite for Coventry's defence was only brief and midway through the half they rode their luck again.

Burge parried unconvincingly to keep out a shot from MacDonald and seconds later a right-footed effort from substitute Josh Ruffels struck the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

The Sky Blues stopper also denied Roofe, who was put through one-on-one by MacDonald with the final clear chance.

Oxford Utd: Slocombe, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, Roofe, Sercombe, Rose, MacDonald, Hylton, Taylor.

Subs used: Hoban (Taylor 18), Ruffels (Sercombe 51), O'Dowda (Hylton 64), Long (Baldock 79), Ashby (Rose 79), Roberts (Roofe 79).

Unused subs: Crocombe, Collins, Dunkley.

Coventry City: Burge, Willis (Dion Kelly Williams 84), Ricketts, Johnson, Stokes (Haines 51), Maddison (Lawton 84), Vincelot (Phillips 77), Fleck (Finch 82), Swanson (Devon Kelly Williams 43), Lameiras (Tudgay 64), Armstrong (Stevenson 82).

Unused subs: Martin, Charles-Cook.

Referee: John Busby.

Attendance: 878.