TWO excellent debut displays gave Oxford United encouragement that they can turn the corner and soon end their winless spell.

Although Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Cambridge means their poor run now stretches to ten Nationwide Conference matches without a victory, the team performance at least was back on track after Monday's wretched Rushden showing.

The U's came from behind to earn a point, with Eddie Anaclet notching his first goal for the club, and they deserved to win the match.

And centre back Mickey Corcoran and midfielder Martin Foster, loan captures from Cardiff and Halifax, were both very impressive.

"Bringing in Fozzie in midfield will make us a better team," said manager Jim Smith.

"He was good and he rarely gives the ball away. You can see him and Carl Pettefer doing good things together and dominating the midfield."

The only mistake Northern Ireland Under 21 international Corcoran made all match was to let Andy Duncan dart in front of him to head Cambridge in front, but it was otherwise an accomplished first senior performance.

"I thought young Michael did very well," Smith said. "He looks as though he's going to be a talent, that's for sure. He just got caught on the corner."

With Pettefer still injured, Chris Hargreaves was back in midfield after turning down the chance last week to move to Kidderminster.

And the former Brentford man put in a typical grafting performance.

"He always does," said United's manager. "You can never say that he ever gives less than 110 per cent, it's just that the quality is lacking at times.

"We needed some energy in midfield and he always gives you that."

Smith changed systems to 4-4-2 and the players seemed to respond to it.

"The formation suited the players we had out there and it was the way we wanted to play," Smith said.

"The play was good. It was a good performance, just not a good result.

"Monday night was one of only three bad performances all season.

"We have failed to win games because of our own fault, not what any other team has done. Except for Monday and Gravesend away, we should have won 90 per cent of our games.

"We deserved more from this game, but we're delighted at the end of the day to come back and get a draw.

"We've got to push on from here, that's vital now."