A DOGGED Oxford United held high-flying Peterborough United to a goalless draw on the road.

The game was in short supply of chances, with Liam Manning’s side managing to keep out one of the highest-scoring teams in Sky Bet League One.

Although the point is certainly a positive one, especially away from home, it extends United’s winless run to 12 games.

Manning made just two changes to the side which drew 1-1 at Morecambe in his first game in charge, as Josh Murphy and Kyle Joseph came into the starting line-up in place of Oisin Smyth and Gatlin O’Donkor, who both dropped to the bench.

The opening 45 minutes were light on action in the final third, but it was the hosts who had the first sight of goal.

A clever free kick was played short to Oliver Norburn by Harrison Burrows, but he fired over from the edge of the penalty area with 10 minutes on the clock.

Two minutes later, Ephron Mason-Clark dug out a cross from the left, with Jonson Clarke-Harris firing a first-time effort into the midriff of Simon Eastwood.

Just before the 20-minute mark, Norburn let fly with an audacious volley which whistled just wide of the post from 25 yards.

The visitors’ first real attack saw Marcus Browne send in a wicked, low free kick from the right-hand side but Stuart Findlay couldn’t stretch enough to get a toe on it from inside the six-yard box.

With half an hour played, Manning’s side had the best chance of the first half.

Browne led a swift counter-attack and charged down the centre of the pitch, before then playing the ball to Yanic Wildschut in the left channel.

United’s No 30 made his way into the penalty box but was thwarted by Will Norris in the Posh goal.

Shortly before half-time, Cameron Brannagan produced an outstanding block to throw himself in the way of a Joe Ward shot from inside the area.

A couple of resulting corners came to nothing, as the half drew to a close.

The home side started the second half on the front foot, with a Jack Taylor effort from the edge of box drawing a straightforward save out of Eastwood amid a couple of set pieces.

At the other end, Browne won a corner after his shot from the angle of the six-yard box deflected off Ward, however the set piece came to nothing.

Manning waited until just before the midway point of the second half to make his first change, as Smyth replaced Murphy.

The change saw a switch in positions, with Browne moving up front, supported by Smyth in the No 10 role behind him.

Joseph moved out to the right, while Wildschut remained on the left.

Both sides struggled to find a clinical edge in front of goal though, with the league’s top scorer Clarke-Harris sending an acrobatic overhead kick wide of the post.

Browne did have the ball in the net for United after being slipped in by Wildschut, but he was flagged offside.

O’Donkor replaced Browne late on as Manning’s side secured a gritty point against the Posh.

Peterborough United (4-2-3-1): Norris; Thompson (Butler 71), Kent, Edwards, Ogbeta; Norburn, Taylor; Ward (Tshimanga 79), Burrows (Poku 61); Mason-Clark; Clarke-Harris.

Unused subs: Blackmore, Knight, Jones, Kyprianou.

Booked: None.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Eastwood; Long, Moore, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Murphy (Smyth 65), Browne (O’Donkor 83), Wildschut; Joseph (Fleming 90+3).

Unused subs: McGinty, Negru, Goodrham, Smith.

Booked: Joseph.

Referee: Thomas Kirk (Greater Manchester)

Attendance: 11,199 (847 away)