Oxford have now won just one of their last 10 Sky Bet Championship games and such form has them sitting second from bottom in the table.

But United’s display of resilience to keep out strong automatic promotion contenders has heartened Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield, whose side could easily have gone ahead in the first half.

In the end Middlesbrough, who recorded almost 75 per cent of the possession but wasted numerous good positions to open the scoring, earned a point that strengthened their grip on promotion.

Hellberg, knowing Millwall and Ipswich below them both lost, said: “Everyone needs a lift. The performance was good enough to win, we always want to win so it is frustrating when we don’t.

“But we have to remember this group has taken 19 points from the last 24 and we showed again today we are a good team. There is still a lot of positive energy in the group.

“To not score from all those chances I am a bit frustrated, but the lads did everything they could, the stadium did everything it could. At the end of the day we should have scored a goal, they could have scored in the first half.

“Oxford defended a lot and played to their strengths, tried to take points from us and credit to the opposition for that. Having those chances, 25 or 26 of them, the frustration was more for us than anything else.

“The first half was not as good. The second half was as good as it could be against a low block to create those chances. You just have to score.”

Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming had to make a strong save to deny Middlesbrough striker Tommy Conway with his right leg midway through the second half.

Middlesbrough spent much of the second half probing and pressing in the final third only for Oxford to thwart their advances.

Oxford could easily have opened the scoring before half-time. Stanley Mills unleashed a thunderous drive against the crossbar from 22 yards, while Myles Peart-Harris also hit the foot of the post before the break from close range.

Oxford boss Bloomfield said: “It is a really proud point. We were up against elite opposition. Middlesbrough, we watched at Coventry on Monday, and we knew we would be in for a tough afternoon if we weren’t on it and astute.

“Obviously we had to soak up pressure in the second half. The manager here has done a terrific job, they are so cohesive in possession.

“We have to understand our strengths if we go toe to toe with them, and their cohesiveness. We knew we had to have our game plan and the lads stuck to that and executed it.

“We have belief that is growing, if you said to me at the start of the day against top opposition that we’d hit the bar, the post and get a point then I’d be happy.”