GOALKEEPER Ryan Clarke praised the Oxford United defence after another away-day clean sheet at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

But the U’s No 1 admitted the team were slighty frustrated they didn’t pick up another three points on their travels after the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Clarke was returning to his hometown club for the first time since leaving them in 2006 and helped ensure that United maintained their impressive run of having conceded just one goal away from home in three months.

It was a difficult afternoon for both teams, with the game only going ahead after surviving an inspection because of heavy rain that left an already cut-up pitch covered in pudd-les.

But Clarke was happy with United’s performance, and another shut-out.

“The lads in front of me were brilliant today, like they have been for most of the season,” the keeper said.

“Considering the conditions, I thought both sides tried to play football.”

He added: “I got a good reception from the home fans – it’s been a while since I’ve been back.

“But to come here and get a result is the main thing though and it’s a good point for us, but maybe we could have nicked it.

“Bristol Rovers are a good club and have a reputation for having some decent goalkeepers – obviously – but it shows have well we played when their goalkeeper is named man-of-the-match – although they might just have done that to wind me up.

“Even though the pitch was really poor and we were facing a team on the crest of a wave with a new manager, this might prove to be a big point for us.

“We are a hard team to beat at the moment having lost just one in our last 11 and we have to keep it like that.

“We’ve got the second or third best defence in the league and we have been strong this season in that respect.”

Boss Chris Wilder added: “I thought it was a real good game and I thought we shaded it against a good side – it was an entertaining 0-0 draw.

“The performance was good and our desire to get something out of that game, be it a win or if not then a draw, was top-notch.”