A third clean sheet in succession was one of the few good things to come out of this poor quality game for Oxford United.

It was a contest of few highlights, spoiled by a gusting wind, and it became very heated near the end when Cambridge players dived in with some reckless tackles.

Captain Paul Carden was booked for diving in late on Damian Batt, Rory McAuley followed a few seconds later for an over-the-top challenge on Kevin Sandwith, and Brian Saah was fortunate to escape without a card for some siliarly dangerous play.

It was the visitors who went closest to registering on the electronic scoreboard, as they twice hit the woodwork.

For Oxford, too often the final pass or final attempt on goal lacked precision.

Only when Sam Deering came on was there a bit more quality going forward.

But with Luton winning emphatically against Histon, Chris Wilder's men dropped further behind the second-placed Hatters, and their lack of goals recently is a concern.

Simon Clist returned after injury and there was a place at left back for Kevin Sandwith, with Anthony Tonkin unable to face his former club after tweaking his knee in training.

Matt Green got the nod ahead of James Constable up front, and it was Green who had the first real opening for the home team when he ran through on goal only for Brian Saah to make an excellent interception, knocking the ball out for a corner when it wouldn't come down for Green.

Moments earlier, the U's had a let-off when Scott Neilson took advantage of Ryan Clarke being left in no-man's land to poke a shot past him and against the left post from seven yards.

But it was a cagey first half an hour, with some good football being played but not a massive amount of goalmouth action.

Adam Chapman received plenty of applause for a low 35-yard drive, which he hit very sweetly, and which skimmed over the turf and wide. The applause was because he had been prepared to have a shot from distance.

Chapman was unfortunate not to score on 30 minutes. He met Damian Batt's right-wing cross with a volley down ino the ground, and it bounced up high for keeper Simon Brown to save with an outstretched hand.

Dannie Bulman hasn't yet scored for Oxford United and his shooting often leaves much to be desired.

It was from one of his attempted shots, following a half-cleared Oxford corner, that Cambridge really should have taken the lead on a swift counter-attack.

The ball was played out to Scott Neilson, in a great position, but it was a poor first touch and then Jake Wright, having sprinted back 50 yards, made a terrific block.

There was a lack of quality, partly explained by a strong wind, and it was evident at the start of the second half when James Constable gave the ball away with poor control, and then when Cambridge broke to the other end, they made a complete mess of their shots, the last by Simon Russell sliced embarrasingly wide.

But Cambridge hit the woodwork for the second time with a looping effort by Crow from 16 yards, the ball hitting the top of the crossbar with Clarke well beaten.

Constable did better by flicking the ball over his head for Matt Green, who drove over the bar on the turn from 15 yards.

Sam Deering came on after an hour, and from one of his first involvements in the action, took a difficult high ball down with a brilliant first touch. He then darted towards goal and squared it to Constable, but he couldn't get a meaningful shot in.

Jack Midson didn't have much joy when he came on, and Constable sent a shot flashing wide eight minutes from time.

Oxford Utd: Clarke 6, Batt 6, Creighton 6, Wright 7, Sandwith 6, F Green 6, Bulman 6, Chapman 7*, Clist 7 (Deering 7, 62), M Green 6 (Midson 6, 70), Constable 6. Subs not used: Turley, Day, Chalmers. Booked: none.

Cambridge Utd: Brown 7, Gleeson 7, Coulson 8, Saah 7, Palmer 6, Russell 7, Carden 7, McAuley 6, Neilson 6, Crow 7 (Marriott 78), Phillips 6 (Willock 78). Subs not used: Potter, Murray, Reason. Booked: Crow, Carden, McAuley Referee: Wayne Barrett (Worcs) 8.