Oxford United battle for 0-0 draw against Bradford in League One

It was the first goalless affair in the Aaron Ramsey era for the Yellows who were the better side in the first half.

Chances for the likes of Gatlin O’Donkor went begging before the Bantams dominated the second half but failed to beat Jamie Cumming in goal.

The draw does see the U’s extend their League One unbeaten run to seven games as they remain seventh in the division, three points behind third-placed Bradford with two games in hand.

Oxford began the game positively, Tyler Goodrham flicking the ball to O’Donkor whose shot in the box was saved by Jon McCracken.

Early corner kicks resulted in a Goodrham effort deflected wide before Ciaron Brown’s header was cleared by a Bantams defender.

A competitive match-up ensued with some good football being played by the U’s whilst limiting Bradford’s attacks down the right flank.

Gatlin O’Donkor is brought down for Oxford United (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Shots from range came in from City’s Callum Connolly and Oxford’s Cameron Brannagan and Kai Andrews which were shanked wide and blocked, before a good chance for O’Donkor saw the striker fire just over the crossbar from inside the box.

Michael Duff’s men had a first real opening with Antoni Sarcevic seeing a shot blocked, the ball falling to Kayden Jackson in the box under pressure from Brannagan, Cumming doing well to get down and save at close range.

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A volley from the Yellows captain looped over after a deflection before a snap shot from Goodrham was blocked.

Less than 10 minutes into the second half, O’Donkor missed a huge chance to give United the lead, heading wide whilst unmarked after Kai Andrews found him with a cross.

The Bantams then began to dominate, Cumming saving well twice in quick succession, stopping a low shot at his near post before saving again at close range from George Lapslie’s effort.

Again, Cumming held a low shot from Kayden Jackson before Lapslie headed wide and Corey O’Keeffe was blocked by Brodie Spencer.

Jackson poked wide from close range not long later as Oxford tried to get out of their own half.

The Bantams kept coming though, looking the more likely to snatch a winning goal.

Oxford United head coach Aaron Ramsey (Image: Darrell Fisher)

The visitors got forward but struggled to threaten the goal as the U’s looked to find a late second wind.

Yellows: Cumming, Spencer, Helik, Brown, Currie (Kioso 63), Brannagan (Sibley 81), Andrews, Missanga (Emakhu 62), Goodrham (Harris 62), Dembele, O’Donkor (Lynch 76)

Bantams: McCracken, Touray, Connolly, Sarcevic, Baldwin, Pratt, Jackson (Phillips 80), Swan (Powell 57), O’Keeffe, Pennington, Lapslie (Morgan 81)

Bookings: Connolly, Pratt