Point gained for Wellens' men

Athletic boss Richie Wellens admitted he was satisfied with a point following a nervy goalless draw at Oxford United.

The point gained means Athletic are now two clear of the Sky Bet League One drop zone ahead of Wednesday's game in hand at home against fellow strugglers Walsall.

Wellens said: "If you'd have offered me a point before the game I would probably have been OK with it.

"We didn't really have any clear chances, but we had so many opportunities and Jack Byrne has had one cleared off the line.

"I'm disappointed the referee didn't give us a penalty.

"For the first 20 minutes Oxford were the better team and started better than us.

"We created no really clear-cut chances, but there were a couple of penalty shouts in there.

"I didn't see the first one, but everyone who has seen it says the second one was a clear-cut penalty."

Athletic had to reshuffle with Tom Hamer coming on to take over at centre back when Kean Bryan went off injured on 18 minutes.

And Wellens enthused about Hamer's showing.

"When you come on in that situation and you're only 18 years old, you either sink or swim, and Tom did brilliantly," Wellens said.

"To me Tom Hamer's got every chance of going to the top, and even one day playing in the Premier League.

"Probably not as a centre back, but at right back.

"Our young centre backs defended the goal line liked really experienced defenders."

There were few scoring chances at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford midfielder James Henry charged down a defensive clearance but was then wasteful in front of goal.

The home side had a let-off when Todd Kane appeared to push Wilfried Moimbe in the back as the Athletic full-back ran into the box, but the referee let it go.

And only a clearance off the line by defender Kane denied Jack Byrne when he fired in a shot in first-half stoppage-time as the visitors ended the first half strongly.

Oxford had an effort blocked on the line in the second half when Rob Dickie's header was stopped before a mad scramble ended with Wes Thomas hooking a shot over.

The first save for either goalkeeper came five minutes from time when Athletic's Johny Placide held a drive from Ryan Ledson.