Pompey boss Richie Barker is making no apologies for his team being involved in another goalless draw - saying the 0-0 draw was Oxford was a good result that keeps them going in the right direction.

It's two draws and a win now from Barker's first five games but a point away to one of the chief promotion chasers ranks as his best result yet as boss.

After new boys Nicky Shorey, Ryan Taylor and Daniel Alfei helped Pompey to a 0-0 draw, Barker said: Oxford have been a top four or top six team all season, they're good team, so this was a decent result for us. I'm pleased with the fact that we've now kept three clean sheets in four, and it's just one defeat in four. If we could carry that on to, say, one defeat in 10, then I think we could say that we've turned the corner.

"I'm extremely pleased with the workrate and the desire of my players. Away from home we did what was necessary. You have to remember that I inherited a club that had the worst defensive record in the entire Football league. I had to make sure we somehow become more difficult to beat.

"It's not the clean sheet that's the important thing, it's the manner of the clean sheet. Probably the best chance for either team fell to us, to Joe Devera. But it was one of those days when any scoring was most likely to come from a set piece.'

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stannorthlower added 20:40 - Jan 11 Happy with drawing games like this as long as we start winning more at home - starting next week. Must win that.
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Rosette added 10:22 - Jan 12 A successful team is built from the back. 3 clean sheets in 4 games is a great foundation for Barker to build on. We must beat Mansfield though.
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