OXFORD United's fans created a new Conference record with an 11,065 Boxing Day gate against Woking - but the team no longer strikes fear into their opponents in the league.

And Jim Smith's side looks as though it is badly in need of freshening up during the January transfer window to be able to hold onto pole position.

They remain top despite being held to a 0-0 draw by the Cards - a third successive game without scoring - as second-placed Dagenham & Redbridge were also held goalless at home by Grays.

Smith admitted some of the finishing was "woeful" as players snatched at chances in front of goal in a second half the U's dominated.

"The second half was much better. Mind you, it couldn't have been any worse," he said.

United's manager had said earlier this month that he hoped to bring a quality midfielder in when the window opens, but he must be giving serious thought to whether a striker might not be a better option.

"We've got Marvin Robinson coming back in about two weeks' time. I can only bring one player in," he said.

"We had a lot of chances and the one pleasing thing is that when we were dominating that second half we started playing with confidence like we were doing at home earlier in the season.

"You obviously want to put on a good show when you have so many people coming along to watch, but at least the supporters will go home remembering a decent second-half performance from us."

Smith's introduction of Yemi Odubade and Eddie Hutchinson transformed the game, with Odubade, in particular, lifting the crowd.

"Yemi did well and caused them problems, but when he had one terrific run, he only needed to knock it square at the end and we had two or three ready to turn it in," he said.

"But he went for a shot himself. That was not very professional, but he's only young.

"In the first half both Steve Basham and Andy Burgess missed almost open goals.

"You can't buy Bash a goal at the moment."

The U's, and their supporters, were upset that West Midlands referee Oli Langford - who looked out of his depth throughout - failed to send off Woking keeper Shwan Jalal as he handled outside his area in stopping Odubade's chip, and then clattered into the substitute.

But that was late in the game.

The ref did make Woking pay for their constant time-wasting by playing six minutes of stoppage time at the end.

"Six minutes is quite a long time, but he'd have been better off booking the goalkeeper when he was time-wasting - and then he wouldn't have done it again," Smith said.

Woking boss Glenn Cockerill apologised for his players' time-wasting tactics, but he was delighted by the point his team earned, especially after he had berated them when they were beaten in the FA Trophy at Salisbury last week.

"I'd asked them to give 100 per cent and that's what they gave," Cockerill said.

"They reacted in the way I'd hoped after what was said at Salisbury.

"The last action of the game - with players throwing themselves in the way of shots - summed up our effort and determination.

"I thought goalkeeper Jalal and our centre backs, Tom Hutchinson and Gary McDonald, were outstanding."

United midfielder Eddie Hutchinson came off with a knock, and could be doubtful for Saturday's home game against Crawley.