OXFORD United slipped to third in the table after they were unable to find a way past an inspired Yeovil Town defensive line.

The home side had the best of the early chances, hitting the woodwork, but they spent most of the final 50 minutes on the back foot.

While United had no problem creating chances, a combination of poor finishing and Yeovil putting their bodies on the line somehow kept them out.

Glovers goalkeeper Artur Krysiak was the star man, making two outstanding double saves.

On the one occasion he was beaten, a staggering goal-saving clearance from Jakub Sokolik denied Jake Wright from close range.

The draw saw United leapfrogged in the Sky Bet League Two table by Northampton Town, while leaders Plymouth Argyle also won.

Michael Appleton made just two changes for their second game in 48 hours.

An injury ruled out Chris Maguire, while Chey Dunkley's erratic Boxing Day performance saw him drop to the bench, as Callum O'Dowda and Johnny Mullins stepped up.

Yeovil began the day in the bottom two, but were positive from the outset with a 4-3-3 formation.

A bright start was almost rewarded with a goal in the 18th minute.

Josh Sheehan had already fired a sighter just wide and made the most of space 25 yards out to unleash a fierce shot which rattled the crossbar.

United goalkeeper Sam Slocombe watched on helplessly, but stood up well four minutes later to deny Shaun Jeffers's left-footed shot.

Aside from Kemar Roofe effort fired straight at Krysiak, United struggled to create openings early on, despite seeing plenty of the ball.

Midway through the half they began to find their feet, when a wicked cross from Alex MacDonald was headed wide by O'Dowda under pressure from eight yards.

Krysiak turned another Roofe effort round the post, but ten minutes before the break United lost Mullins to what looked like a foot injury sustained by a Zoko challenge.

Dunkley came off the bench and quickly made an important clearance at the back post.

Another lengthy stoppage, this time to Ryan Dickson, led to six minutes added on at the end of the half.

United used them to good effect, carving out three openings.

Ryan Taylor had a shot saved, while Roofe swept a Liam Sercombe cross wide, but the pick of the bunch fell to O'Dowda.

A ricochet on the edge of the box fell kindly for the winger, who had lots of time to consider the chance as he ran on to the loose ball, only to blaze off target from 20 yards as two defenders closed him down.

The opportunities flowed at the start of the second half, too.

Krysiak made a brilliant double save to deny Roofe and then Taylor on the rebound.

The tall striker came agonisingly close a minute later, flicking a header which slid past the far post.

Yeovil were committed at the back, none more so than in the 62nd minute.

Dunkley headed a Lundstram pass across goal, where Jake Wright looked certain to score his first United goal, only for Sokolik to hook a clearance to safety.

The pressure steadily grew and Krysiak starred again with two brave blocks in an almighty scramble.

Yeovil rarely got out of their half, but 15 minutes from time substitute Alex Lacey fired a golden chance over after Nathan Smith's high ball fell kindly.

United quickly went back to hammering on the Glovers' defensive door, but frustratingly could not finish 2015 with a goal in front of an impressive away turnout.

Yeovil Tn (4-3-3): Krysiak, Roberts, Ward, Sokolik (Lacey 69), Dickson (Smith HT), Sheehan, Tozer, Dolan, Compton (Allen 73), Jeffers, Zoko.

Unused subs: Weale, Laird, Beck, Maghoma.

Booked: None.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Slocombe, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, MacDonald, Sercombe, Lundstram, O'Dowda, Roofe, Taylor.

Subs used: Dunkley (Mullins 35), Hoban (O'Dowda 79), Unused subs: Buchel, Evans, Ruffels, Rose, Hylton.

Booked: None.

Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 4,661 (1,061 visitors).