Cambridge United produced a much improved and resolute home performance picking up a point in a goalless draw against Swindon Town, which moved United onto the brink of League Two safety.
Colin Calderwood elected to make a pair of changes to his side as David Amoo and Jabo Ibehre stepped into the starting eleven for United.
The Robins fired an early warning to the U’s when Kyle Bennett burst up the middle of United’s midfield before checking his run and rolling a pass into the path of Kaiyne Woolery, but the winger smashed his effort over the top from the angle.
Dimitar Mitov ensured the score line remained unblemished ten minutes later, when the Bulgarian intensely watched a swerving shot from Woolery once more 25 yards out to get both gloves on the strike.
United’s first chance of the half fell on 31 minutes when a pair of precise passes from Reggie Lambe and Jevani Brown fed Jabo Ibehre inside the Robins area, but Luke McCormick was down quickly to claw away the striker’s attempt.
A powerful header across goal from George Taft almost unlocked the opener minutes later, but the ball was hooked off the line by Michael Doughty and that was as close as either side came to scoring in the first 45 minutes.
United returned after the break and enjoyed a real purple patch right up to the hour mark with a succession of corners turning the screw on the visitors, whilst both Amoo and Brown tested McCormick with shots on target.
The game levelled out as both sides switched personnel and freshened for the final quarter of the game, which saw Hayden Coulson and Paul Lewis take to the field for the U’s.
A clipped cross from Brown looked to have put it on a plate for Ibehre at the back post with 11 minutes to play but a last ditch interception from Kyle Knoyle beat the striker to the ball before he had the chance to poke it home.
Mitov, who was on hand on every occasion the U’s required him throughout the contest, produced a stunning save in the final five minutes to protect the clean sheet and preserve their point, tipping Michael Doughty’s pristinely struck free kick wide when it looked destined for the top corner.
The result leaves the U;s needing just one point heading into Easter Monday’s clash at Forest Green to secure their position in League Two.
Cambridge United: Mitov, Halliday, Taft, Taylor, Dunk, Deegan, Lambe (John, 85 mins), Amoo (Coulson, 63 mins), Brown, Hepburn-Murphy (Lewis, 63 mins), Ibehre
Bookings:
Swindon Town: McCormick, Knoyle, Doughty, Anderson (Richards, 76 mins), House (Robinson, 61 mins), Woolery, Conroy, Koiki, Rose (Dunne, 61 mins), Woolfenden, Bennett
Bookings:
Attendance: 4,380 (574)
Man of the Match: Gary Deegan