High-flying Cambridge extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a goalless draw at Walsall.

The stalemate keeps the U's in the automatic promotion places in third.

Walsall stay 10th, two points off the play-off spots, despite an eighth home game without a win - a run dating back to Boxing Day.

Cambridge fashioned the first chance as Sullay Kaikai's shot from Dominic Ball's cross was smartly saved by Saddlers goalkeeper Myles Roberts.

But while endeavour was high in the first half, quality was not, with Walsall's Daniel Kanu and Cambridge pair Kaikai and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu ballooning decent openings well over.

Cambridge almost took the lead just before half-time but Ben Knight's close-range header was superbly blocked by Walsall defender Mason Hancock.

Walsall went even closer to the opener on the hour when U's keeper Jake Eastwood tipped Charlie Lakin's inswinging corner onto his own crossbar.

Saddlers defender Aden Flint's far-post header was then cleared off the line by James Gibbons but Walsall could not find a winner, although they did snap a four-game home losing streak.