The Potters’ attempts to escape the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone are being hampered by their lack of goals, as they have drawn three of their last four league games since Robins took over at the beginning of January.

They failed to score for the fifth time in seven home games. Robins is hopeful that the loan signing of Ali Al-Hamadi from Ipswich on Friday would increase their attacking threat.

His new teammates hardly seemed interested in ruining Oxford’s eight-game unbeaten league run under Gary Rowett, especially with the Iraqi forward watching from the stands.

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We had the chance to play through and around them, and I felt we performed rather well in that regard, Robins stated.

However, we are somewhat let down in the latter third since we have to sprint and move the ball fast during that time.

Higher up the field, the ball is taken away from you and the opportunities are less the longer you have the ball in the middle of the pitch.

There are things that make you frustrated, but there are also things that show that it is beginning to happen when we finally arrive and then miss the chance to shoot down.

However, decision-making and game comprehension are inherently flawed, so it’s still a long way off.

“These aren’t justifications; this is what I’m witnessing, one of the shortcomings that we’re currently facing, but you’re going through a phase.”

Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson put Oxford captain Cameron Brannagan’s attempt in the 13th minute behind him, and Jamie Cumming, his opposite number, stopped Andrew Moran later in the first half.

Five minutes after the restart, Siriki Dembele gave the visitors a fantastic chance to score when he passed in Tom Bradshaw. Johansson hurried off his line to make a fine save.

With seven minutes remaining, Johansson nearly gave Oxford the victory when Ole Romeny dispossessed him while attempting to shepherd the ball out for a throw-in. Romeny then struck the bar from a close angle.

“I thought it was a pretty even encounter,” Oxford manager Rowett said.

Naturally, you half-think, ‘Is this the moment where we take it and we pinch the points?’ when Ole gets the ball down in the corner and the goal appears to be open.

Although he hit the bar and couldn’t quite complete, which occurs occasionally, I wouldn’t have been leaving with the opinion that we earned all three points.

“We probably had a little more possession, a little more chances, and a little better chances, but I don’t think it was enough to make either team feel like they should have won at all.”

It’s not to be sniffed at, but as the away team, you’re a little happier when that occurs because we’ve won four straight at home and you just want to pick up points away from home.