It would seem only a matter of time before Exeter City start climbing clear of the relegation places in npower League One – providing they start to translate chances into goals.

The Grecians kept their third successive clean-sheet and extended their unbeaten run to four games with Saturday's battling goalless draw against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

Yet it must also be pointed out that City have scored just three goals in the last five games and this was their second successive game without finding the net.

Manager Paul Tisdale will rightfully take heart from the chances his side are creating – a fact borne out by Oldham goalkeeper Alex Cisak being named man of the match. Richard Logan, Richard Duffy, Jake Taylor and Daniel Nardiello were all denied by the Latics' custodian as the Grecians gave as good as they got.

Tisdale's side have drawn four of their last seven games and are three points clear of the drop zone. But, having been turned into a team hard to beat, they must now use that as a platform to start turning draws into victories.

Troy Archibald-Henville and Richard Duffy combined well at the heart of the City defence, while Steve Tully and Scott Golbourne defended admirably against a side who posed more of an attacking threat after the break.

Goalkeeper Artur Krysiak enhanced his growing reputation with a commanding display between the sticks.

Tisdale refused to abandon his attacking philosophy as he stuck with his preferred 4-3-3 formation. The policy almost reaped dividends midway through the first half when Richard Logan was presented with a glorious chance.

Richard Duffy struck a sweet effort from the edge of the box that was pushed away by Cisak straight into the path of Logan. But the City striker did not get the desired contact on the rebound and the 'keeper completed the salvage operation.

Chris Taylor climbed above Jake Taylor and headed over the crossbar after latching on to Filipe Morais's cross as Oldham flashed a sign of their attacking intent.

Tom Adeyemi blasted a shot marginally past a post before Krysiak produced a cracking save to foil James Wesolowski. The Polish shot-stopper flung out a hand to push the Australian midfielder's piledriver on to the crossbar. It would prove the save of the match.

Tisdale's game-plan was to get through to half-time unscathed and then pile on the pressure after the break.

Initially the signs looked promising as Jake Taylor forced Cisak into a smart save with his outstretched leg at the start of the second period. But it was Oldham who wrestled back the initiative and began to commit numbers forward.

Krysiak guarded his near-post well to push away Morais's free-kick and Josh Parker's shot sailed over after Richard Duffy and Steve Tully got involved in a mix-up.

A wayward pass from James Dunne presented Chris Taylor with a gilt-edged opportunity as the home midfielder powered into the penalty area, before lashing a shot narrowly past the far post.

The tide then turned in City's favour as Nardiello started giving Kieran Lee a torrid time down the left – a theme that almost yielded the breakthrough. First he weaved his way into the box and hit a shot straight at Cisak and then pulled the ball back for O'Flynn, whose shot was blocked by Chris Taylor.

But it was Oldham who almost nicked it at the end, Matt Smith heading wastefully over before Kryisak plunged to his right to deny Morais.

Oldham Athletic: Cisak, Lee, Black, Tarkowski, M'Voto, Morais, Taylor, Adeyemi, Wesolowski (Parker 36), Simpson (Scapuzzi 58), Kuqi (Smith 75). Substitutes (not used): Bouzanis (gk), Mellor.

Exeter City: Krysiak, Tully, Golbourne, Archibald-Henville, Duffy, Bennett, Noble, Dunne, Taylor, Bauza (Nardiello 56), Logan (O'Flynn 72). Substitutes (not used): Pidgeley (gk), Coles, Jones.

Booked: Noble, Tully.

Referee: A Madley (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 3,587.