WHEN a team dominates a game without winning, it is difficult to know how to feel.

There was not much wrong with Oxford United’s performance against Gillingham and it was an improvement on last weekend’s defeat at Cheltenham Town.

But when the one glaring weakness is taking chances – something that has become a weekly occurrence – you can only be so positive.

The U’s looked much more threatening than against Cheltenham and two people were key: Herbie Kane and Matty Taylor.

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United's No 9 has been feeding off scraps recently, so it was pleasing to see his teammate pushing high and always looking to release him.

The goal was a signal of intent as Kane found Taylor with a first-time ball, which was much harder to execute than it looked.

You would not think the striker has been starved of service by the composure he showed to finish.

Taylor will score goals if United keep giving him the ball in and around the penalty box, which is also down to him staying in those areas and not drifting wide or deep.

Kane's vision could be crucial to the striker's tally this season and you sense yesterday will not be the last time he partners Cameron Brannagan in the advanced midfield roles.

Ratings: Every Oxford United player marked out of 10

The issue then is where to play James Henry, who seemed less effective on the right wing but equally gave United a little extra balance.

Gillingham did not get a sniff in the first 25 minutes and a U’s side in better form would probably have added another before their opponents gained a foothold.

Like Cheltenham last week, the visitors made their best spell count and United may feel they should have closed Alex MacDonald down quicker for the equaliser.

The U's remained in near total control, but are still yet to score the final goal in a Sky Bet League One game this season - a strange quirk that sums up their struggles at breaking teams down.

The arrivals of Mark Sykes and Billy Bodin saw United switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Kane and Brannagan as the midfield two.

It would be interesting to see the U's start in that formation in games where they are likely to have a lot of the ball, probably at home.

Attention now turns to Accrington Stanley on Tuesday, as United aim to avoid a winless September.

It feels like this month has dragged for the U's, which may be due to the poor results and lack of midweek matches.

A promising display against Wycombe Wanderers was followed by last weekend's disappointment against Cheltenham - a repeat would be a frustrating end to a difficult month.