ON-LOAN QPR midfielder Stefan Bailey's performance was one of the few positives to come out of Oxford United's disappointing 0-0 draw with Woking at the weekend.

He gave an authoritative display in his full home debut before getting a yellow card which understandably curbed his tigerish tackling.

Bailey felt the U's recovered well from the stunning start Woking had, when they had five good attempts on goal in the first five minutes, but that they should have gone on to win.

"We weren't out of the blocks as sharp as we should have been - and Billy (Turley) did well - but I thought we picked ourselves up, though not as much as we should have done," he said. "We should have been stronger.

"We played some good football but it just didn't go our way."

It was the first time at home this season that United had started with 4-4-2 but they didn't look comfortable in the early stages.

"A couple of players were kind of edgy about the positions they were playing in, " Bailey said, "and settled in slowly. Maybe that's why we had a shaky start . . . but that's what training's for."

The midfielder was being watched from the stand by his friend and Loftus Road colleague Dexter Blackstock, the former Oxford United striker, who is currently out injured.

Said Bailey: "Dexter really sold me the club. I came down and watched the Torquay game - the second half wasn't the best - but he did sell me the club.

"To be honest, I was looking for a higher-league club but I came down and saw the facilities and thought this club has got so much potential. So I just wanted to come down and help Oxford because I don't think they should be in this position and in this league. Hopefully, we can just improve."

While Bailey has been given permission by his club to play for Oxford United in the FA Cup, fellow loanee Jordan Rhodes has not.

But Jim Smith says he will contact Ipswich manager Jim Magilton this week to see if they are prepared to reverse that decision. Two Ipswich Town officials watched Saturday's game.

Meanwhile, Woking centre half Tom Hutchinson, the identical twin brother of U's midfielder Eddie, couldn't believe he didn't score in his side's storming start.

"I was just surprised at how much room I had with the first one. It was almost a bicycle kick and their keeper (Billy Turley) pulled off a great save.

"Then Kevin James hit the bar with a great free-kick and following up, i hit the bar again. We're just disappointed not to have scored and come away with all three points."