OXFORD United finished 2016 with an underwhelming goalless draw where for the second home game of the week they failed to convert their chances.

Walsall looked there for the taking, but although the hosts enjoyed most of the pressure, clear opportunities were at a premium.

Ryan Taylor had the ball in the net 15 minutes from time, but the offside flag cut short the celebrations - a decision U's boss Michael Appleton disputed.

Unlike the Boxing Day clash with Northampton Town, United were not stung by a late goal - thanks to two late saves by Simon Eastwood - but they will feel this was a case of two points dropped.

As expected, Appleton named the same XI for the fourth game running, while Walsall’s only change saw them hand a debut to 19-year-old centre back Kory Roberts.

Just 20 seconds were on the clock when U’s goalkeeper Eastwood was called into action, carefully watching Joe Edwards’s dipping volley from long-range.

Walsall stopper Neil Etheridge was also busy early on, gathering an awkward shot from Rob Hall which Kane Hemmings almost reached.

United looked to test out the teenage debutant Roberts and on the quarter-hour mark Chris Maguire got the better of him.

The Scot held off Roberts and exchanged passes with Marvin Johnson, but from 15 yards out his fierce shot was a yard over the crossbar.

Walsall were neat on the ball and looked to build from the back, without causing their hosts too many problems.

United had the upper hand for much of the half, but had little to show for it.

Midway through the half a corner was taken short and Alex MacDonald swung in a delicious cross with the outside of his boot. Chey Dunkley looked poised to head home, but a defender was just able to deflect the ball behind.

The U’s centre back was at the heart of the action again on 32 minutes.

After fouling Simeon Jackson, Dunkley was in the right place to volley the resulting free-kick clear when James O’Connor volleyed across goal.

United’s best spell of the half came just before the break.

Hemmings appeared to have unlocked the door in the 41st minute when he mugged Roberts, who was trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.

The U’s striker had time to pick out a teammate, but despite having two chances to cross he only found Walsall defenders.

Half-time did little to change the pattern of the game.

United, as they had done in the second half of the defeat to Northampton, continued to exert most of the pressure without success.

Maguire curled a free-kick wide, Ryan Ledson chipped off-target and Alex MacDonald saw a shot saved, all in the opening nine minutes of the half.

At the other end, Joe Edwards laid on a chance which Simeon Jackson fired over, before the midfielder tested Eastwood with a 25-yard volley.

Appleton turned to his bench and the substitutes almost came up trumps.

With 15 minutes remaining Tyler Roberts flicked on for Taylor to lob into the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Walsall came closest to nicking a late winner.

Eastwood made a superb one-handed save to spare Dunkley’s blushes when a cross hit the defender.

The goalkeeper also got down well to stop a shot from lively substitute Erhun Oztumer.

As the game hit 90 minutes the Saddlers broke again and only a fortunate deflection off Phil Edwards stopped Kieron Morris’s cross from leading to a tap-in for a teammate.

United forged one last chance when the ball fell to Lundstram in the box, but the skipper blazed well over with his left foot to ensure the spoils were shared.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Johnson, MacDonald (Rothwell 83), Lundstram, Ledson, Hall (T Roberts 72), Maguire, Hemmings (Taylor 56).

Unused subs: Buchel, Skarz, Raglan, Ruffels.

Walsall: Etheridge, McCarthy, O’Connor, Roberts, Laird, Edwards, Osbourne, Chambers, Cuvelier (Morris 72), Jackson (Makris 87), Bakayoko (Oztumer 72).

Unused subs: MacGillivray, Dobson, Kinsella, Moussa.

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Attendance: 8,340 (684 visitors).