United collected their ninth home draw of the season with a disappointing 0-0 result against Burton. Both sides further cemented their play-off places, but if they are to meet later in the season then let's hope for a little more drama than was evident in a wind affected affair.

Jim Smith made changes to the team that drew against Dagenham on Monday.Martin Foster returned after suspension, Chris Hargreaves earned a recall after his second half performance on Monday in midfield, whilst Michael Corcoran replaced Phil Gilchrist in defence.Top scorer Rob Duffy was also recalled and started in attack.

There was a surprise straight from kick-off with Andy Burgess starting at left wing-back.However, with the visitors starting with one up front and five packed across the middle of the park, Burgess found himself pegged back for much of the time he was on the pitch rather than able to supplement the front three.

In truth, both teams struggled to adapt to the near gale that was blowing through the ground and for much of the first half the game turned into a near stalemate.

Chris Hargreaves tried to break the deadlock but he headed wide in the 17^th minute and then Burgess surged forward four minutes later, but saw his low skidding effort drift wide of the post as United looked dangerous for the first time.

United were lacking the passion that they had shown in the second half against Dagenham and were almost punished when John Brayford saw his header smash against the bar in the 32^nd minute when the United defence failed to defend from a corner, the closest either side came to a goal in the opening period.

The wind was still a massive factor, but Corcoran then showed that the best way to counter it was to keep the ball on the deck as he went on a mazy 36^th minute run which ended with Duffy's final shot deflected over the bar and then Chris Zebroski miss-kicked from six yards in injury time.

That was the last of the action in a disappointingly lacklustre first half showing from United and you did feel that there might be a few choice words from the manager at the break. Lord only knows what he'd have said if Alex Nicholls' shot two minutes into the second half had gone in rather than flash wide of Turley's right hand post, but Burton had started the second half well and The U's were struggling to find any rhythm, not helped by injuries: Burgess limped off five minutes before half time, Quinn failed to emerge for the second period and Johnson landed awkwardly on the hour and limped sadly away after just a fleeting appearance.

Burton meanwhile were creating the better chances and on 61 it took a fine block from Turley to deny Shaw as he found himself unmarked ten yards from goal. Without top scorer Daryl Clare,  Burton were lacking a cutting edge, The U's on the other hand were shot shy and finding it hard to get the front three of Zebroski, Duffy and Odubade into telling positions. The game at Burton had been a pleasure to watch, but this was hard work, with a swirling wind making it very hard to construct anything attractive on the eye.

It made for a frustrating afternoon all round, with neither keeper really overtested, and despite plenty of honest effort and endeavour, very little to warm the hearts or set the pulses racing.

Report Chris Williams and Julian Hitchman, pics Steve Daniels