Chesterfield 2 (Cooper 45+4, Atkinson 90+1) Oxford United 1 (Mullins 1)

5:08pm Saturday 17th November 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

A 91st minute strike from Chris Atkinson settled a tight game as Oxford United left Chesterfield empty-handed.

Johnny Mullins had headed United into a first-minute lead and the visitors controlled the opening half hour.

But Chesterfield levelled deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half through Liam Cooper.

Both sides went for the victory after the break, but the U's conceded again in time added on, when Atkinson's shot found the corner.

It was rough on the visitors, who deserved at least a point.

United were forced to make three changes, with Tom Craddock (rib) and Liam Davis (hamstring) unavailable, while Sean Rigg could only make the bench after suffering with flu.

Alfie Potter came in to play up front and there were also recalls for Tony Capaldi and Jake Forster-Caskey.

The U's came flying out of the traps and opened the scoring after exactly 60 seconds.

Mullins rose highest to meet Peter Leven's corner and superbly steered his header into the top corner.

The visitors followed it up with a superb opening 20 minutes.

Composed in possession and carrying a cutting edge up front, their grip on the game irritated the home fans.

It took a magnificent save from Tommy Lee to keep the score down on seven minutes. The Spireites goalkeeper dived full stretch to keep out Forster-Caskey's header from Lee Cox's cross.

It took Chesterfield 24 minutes to muster a meaningful effort on goal, when Tendayi Darikwa's shot narrowly missed the top corner from 20 yards.

James Constable blazed a decent opening over after half an hour, but slowly the home side grew into the game, as Danny Whitaker began to pull the strings.

U's goalkeeper Ryan Clarke had to make a smart save to keep out a low shot from Atkinson, before the first half finished in controversial fashion.

First, United had two penalty shouts waved away in three minutes.

Constable was bundled over by Nathan Smith and with the next attack Leven was convinced his header was blocked by Atkinson's hand.

Chesterfield then drew level when Cooper lashed in a shot following a scramble at a corner.

But United were furious, as the goal came in the fourth minute of stoppage time, twice as long as the fourth official had indicated.

The visitors were on the back foot at the start of the second half.

Atkinson came within a whisker of putting Chesterfield in front on the hour, cutting in from the left and fizzing a shot just past the post.

U's boss Chris Wilder responded by making a bold double change, bringing on Jon-Paul Pittman and Rigg for Simon Heslop and Forster-Caskey.

In turn, Chesterfield brought on experienced strikers Marc Richards and Jack Lester.

The tempo increased as the time began to run out, with both sides doing everything to win the game.

Both United substitutes were quickly involved.

Rigg unlocked the hosts' defence with one jinking run, but his low cross evaded three yellow shirts in the box.

Pittman had sight of goal shortly afterwards, but instead of shooting first time he attempted to control a high ball and the chance vanished.

At the other end Nathan Smith shaved Clarke's crossbar with a rising shot five minutes from time.

The game looked to be heading for a stalemate, but United were again stung in stoppage time.

Atkinson provided the breakthrough, bursting into the box and sliding a shot past Clarke.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Whing, Mullins, Wright, Capaldi, Heslop (Pittman 61), Cox, Leven, Forster-Caskey (Rigg 61), Potter (Chapman 90), Constable.

Unused subs: Brown, Raynes, Marsh, O'Brien.

Chesterfield: Lee, Talbot, Hird, Cooper, Smith, Atkinson, Togwell, Darikwa, Whitaker (Boa Morte 82), Dickenson (Lester 74), Boden (Richards 67).

Unused subs: O'Donnell, Clay, Forbes, Ridehalgh.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 5,433 (426 visitors).

Comments(35)

Joe1 says...
5:16pm Sat 17 Nov 12

A goal from them at the end of each half. Where was our concentration?
We needed come away with at least one point.Shame, we just could not hold on. It seems to happen to us a lot.

Roll on Tuesady @ Barnet ,if we don't win that one, CW, should move on to new pastures.

"COME ON YOU YELLOWS"

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jbowling says...
5:57pm Sat 17 Nov 12

This is starting to become serious.

Come on Wilder fans let's join as one, get him out and get this club back on its feet.

18th place and 38 league places behind Swindon when this time last year we were level with them.t year.

Any man with personal pride would walk without being pushed.

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Brenda Jackson says...
6:22pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Not totally convinced that the manager is the only problem, yes i agree, it's time for a change though.

More concerned about the apparent apathy at the top, we're looking more and more like heading into a relegation dog fight than getting into the play offs- yet the Owner/s appear unconcerned and are keeping stum. Why?

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Beau champ mummy says...
6:45pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Brenda Jackson wrote:
Not totally convinced that the manager is the only problem, yes i agree, it's time for a change though.

More concerned about the apparent apathy at the top, we're looking more and more like heading into a relegation dog fight than getting into the play offs- yet the Owner/s appear unconcerned and are keeping stum. Why?
Because we r heading into admin fact

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Brian Gibbs says...
6:46pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Just back from the match and enough is enough we have lost again, this time to a poor Chesterfield side. Yes we should have had a penalty in the first half and Constable and Hesslop missed reasonable chances but I think it is time for CW to be replaced because:

a) I came to the conclusion last season at the Sheefield U td cup match, when we were humiliated, that CW does not have the tactical skills to manage in the Football League and today he brings on Chapman 2 minutes into added t ime and while we sort ourselves out they score.

b) There were two player in the team today who would not get into any other Division 3 side and I do not include Rynes.How can we expect promotion with players of this quality.

c) Managers deserve.time and CW has had 4 years and the team is not as good as last season. Good teams are effective because of the sum of the parts but the way we are playing things have to change or we are in trouble.

CW ha to go now.

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oldun says...
6:47pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Don't judge United on one game
We are 18th - be grateful that we are not in the bottom six, you whingers

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oldun says...
6:49pm Sat 17 Nov 12

How does Heslop fit into a 442?

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Eraser says...
7:42pm Sat 17 Nov 12

oldun wrote:
How does Heslop fit into a 442?
In the changing room prepaing the half time drinks

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spectacles testicals wallet watch says...
8:00pm Sat 17 Nov 12

jbowling wrote:
This is starting to become serious.

Come on Wilder fans let's join as one, get him out and get this club back on its feet.

18th place and 38 league places behind Swindon when this time last year we were level with them.t year.

Any man with personal pride would walk without being pushed.
Any man with an ounce of decency wouldnt be in charge of that shower outfit anyway.
I cant see how Wilder alone can be blamed virtually the same matchday squad as last season, you just missed out on the play offs during the run in.
Is it Wilder or is it your prima donas thinking theyre better than they are?
Yes you were level with us at this stage last season, youve beaten us 4 times on the trot (inc the FA Cup farse in 2002) which really you didnt deserve any of those victories but is it Wilder? I dont think you can lay the blame at his feet alone. You make enough chances, so your front line fail to convert how is that Wilder, you conceed at crucial times (lack of concentration or fatigue). Apart from more training sessions and strong words blame the boys up front not the easy option.
Cheers, and honest good luck from the other end of the 420

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Eraser says...
8:01pm Sat 17 Nov 12

I like CW and think he's done a lot for this club. However, clubs with a much smaller budget and fan base have excelled. We've picked up Mullins on loan which is superb, but he'll go back coz Evans will want him, and CW signed Raynes who causes the team to leaks goals like a collander. I'm fed up with the repetetive string of excuses. "Ref had a shocker" - "We should of been out of sight at half time" - "Injuries" etc etc. Never - "I'm crap at this tactical management and perhaps we need to add someone to the coaching staff who is not a defender" This has been going on since Feb this year
If IL doesn't change the manager before Januay then keep him - coz we'll need somone with Conference experience.

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spectacles testicals wallet watch says...
8:10pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Also, finally we will never know the truth who said no whether Paolo didnt like the lack of commitment or Beanno didnt like the training regime etc but am I glad we never got Constable, The guy obviously thinks he is the prodigal son maybe you should have allowed the move to Rovers in the close season, he isnt firing on one cylinder let alone all four, youve got some cracking players i think you only play him because you know you should have took the money and ran.
Anyway all the best

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learned says...
8:30pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Why do we always switch off just b4 half time and at the end of a game ??
We have been doing it for years....Whats wrong with all of the players ? And it would have been different if Constable had buried another chance from 6 yards when we were one up.

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bigchet says...
8:34pm Sat 17 Nov 12

i note that the stfc fans have come out of the woodwork after todays result v chesterfield, conveniently forgetting that they were humbled by the same club at wembley no point blaming the ref for today though ,as we switched off and they plainly had not, and to concede in the final minute of each half beggars belief, and i dread to think what we will be like when mullins goes back to rotherham..

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Flipmode says...
9:29pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Chesterfield scored 4 mins o the 2 minscof extra time. Jokes on us

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Flipmode says...
9:32pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Flipmode wrote:
Chesterfield scored 4 mins o the 2 minscof extra time. Jokes on us
Chesterfield scored in the 4th min of the 2 mins of added time.... Raaaaaaarrrrgh

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dorsetbob says...
11:43pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Maybe we should have a fitness coach we cant be fit , oh sorry already have one sorry IL lousey manager admit your wrong and get rid

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RocketMan says...
12:13am Sun 18 Nov 12

Well, what can you say? Manager the problem? Team the problem? Shoot the messenger! Shoot the manager! Don't blame the team? Apparently, all over the opposition, yet hardly any goals to show for it? Then guess what? Turned over again in the closing minutes! How many times do we have to hear this? When are we going to have players who can make decisions and score goals in the final third???? Perhaps we do need an attacking coach, rather than one who nurses the injuries?
It is times members of the team, stand up and are counted! Since continuation of this form will have us fighting against relegation.
Remember, previously we could play okay, then we sold Moody, could not find the net there on and went down! We are better than that! This counts for nothing without proving it where it matters.......on the pitch!

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philwhiteheadisgod says...
8:27am Sun 18 Nov 12

Well here we are again blaming the same old crap! It's is getting so boring. Ireally hate football sometimes. Even if we had gone in at half time in front, I am convinced we would not have got all three points. With each chance missed the team seem to loose confidence. Also, we never seem to make the right pass or move from attacking positions. I mean the likes of Rigg and JPP, Potter cutting into the box, it goes in front or behind players, no one seems to look for or get any space in the area - take a gamble.

I just don't know what to think. I am all for a change but just don't think it will happen. We are obviously skint and cannot afford it. We have got one hell of a battle on our hands and I for one am dreading the thought of games against the likes of Hyde and Tamworth. The season is over in terms of promotion so we must cosolidate and hope we remain in L2 and think about a management change at the end of the season.

Lets hope Wycombe, Barnet and Aldershot don't suddenly turn in some form! those games are already shaping up as 6 pointers.

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oldun says...
9:09am Sun 18 Nov 12

Four consec wins might lift us into the top half. Come on you yellows

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Brenda Jackson says...
9:22am Sun 18 Nov 12



Yeeeaahh, and not forgetting we're on course for Wembley as well- half a dozen or so consec wins is all that is stopping us!!

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A Scroat says...
11:09am Sun 18 Nov 12

We can still reach the playoffs but it does look difficult now with Conference strikers and a very average defence. The manager picks the team and he has the option to clear out the deadwood and bring in replacements. He just keeps picking players who cannot compete in this low league.

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bigchet says...
11:16am Sun 18 Nov 12

get very frustrated and angry at the lack of goals despite majority of possession in games, jc gets most of the blame but unless craddock is alongside him he lacks support and the midfield seem clueless in front of goal and balls into the box seem hit and hope and lack quality. we are going to have to improve dramatically to attain a midtable position this season and if not careful will be dragged into a relegation dogfight. would like to see marsh given chance with jc if craddock still unfit.

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foxvox says...
11:49am Sun 18 Nov 12

We already are in a relegation fight, there's almost half a season gone and we are nowhere. I too would like to see Marsh given a chance, if only to see if he can cross a ball, nobody else can. The defence is the problem at the moment though, a constantly changing back four and a midfield who don't help out, I've lost count of the times Heslop has given the ball away and Leven is just lazy - or, giving him the benefit of the doubt , not match fit. I'd echo bigchet's comment about the midfield being clueless in front of goal too, they can't cope with a packed defence. That's the story of this league, players are fit, get back then break quickly, we don't, most of our possession is at the back and by the time we've got the ball to the forwards they are surrounded.

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philwhiteheadisgod says...
1:11pm Sun 18 Nov 12

I think CW will be forced into giving Marsh a chance with just SR, JPP, JC and AP. He sound very low about the injuries on R.OX after the game and the realisation that there is no chance of a loan. We could always stick raynes up there along side Beano.

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Joe1 says...
2:34pm Sun 18 Nov 12

One of our main problems is, without Craddock our forwards are poor, can't score/finish. When will the ownwer spend on a GOOD forward to play alongside of Craddock?
Then we might start scoring & able to move up the table.

"COME ON YOU YELLOWS"

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The Manager says...
4:03pm Sun 18 Nov 12

The one problem that seems exist with any new players coming is the bare facts that the manager has mad quite a few bad signings in his time here at Oxford . There are a few that have been signed played two or three games and then vanished off the radar never to wear an Oxford shirt again. If you were the Chairman would you want to keep supplying Wilder with money. The loan signings last season were poor apart from three who we did not keep. Before the injuries came last season the squad was not that good struggling to win games at home, now with all the players or most of them about to return from injuries do you see any improvement and the answer is no. So the chairman has a massive question to ask and that is what should he do. Problem is from the outside looking in it does not appear to bother him. Why? My concern is he does not engage with the fans so what is going on with our club. One thing I am sure of is that Wilder has to go he signed all these players that are here now and therefore has bear the consequences of poor results as all managers do. People keep shouting on this site about backing the manager ,four thousand season tickets were sold over the summer that was backing the manager but they can only take so much before the straw breaks the camel's back . Wilder resign now.

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northampton yellow says...
4:59pm Sun 18 Nov 12

THE FACTS;

1= IL dont care
2= cw dont have a clue
3= players dont give a dame
4=supporters losing faith
5=gates falling
6= conference calling
7=no money not even for loaning
8=loan players will be going back
9=yellows season is done and no coming back
10= its christmas and wilder should get the sack
11=THEN HOPEFULLY THE YELLOWS WILL BE BACK""""""""""""

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Beau champ mummy says...
6:40pm Sun 18 Nov 12

northampton yellow wrote:
THE FACTS;

1= IL dont care
2= cw dont have a clue
3= players dont give a dame
4=supporters losing faith
5=gates falling
6= conference calling
7=no money not even for loaning
8=loan players will be going back
9=yellows season is done and no coming back
10= its christmas and wilder should get the sack
11=THEN HOPEFULLY THE YELLOWS WILL BE BACK"""""""""""
"
Hear hear we r a laughing stock

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adlibber says...
7:52pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Still waiting to see headline that starts with Oxford Utd parted company with their manager today... Don't like to see anyone lose their job but Wilder has had enough time and he's failed to progress - I'd send a few players packing too. We are rubbish.

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oldun says...
8:30pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Into the top half with four consec wins - surely - will we get twelve points from the next four games ?

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oldun says...
8:30pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Into the top half with four consec wins - surely - will we get twelve points from the next four games ?

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Brenda Jackson says...
7:35am Mon 19 Nov 12

No.

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Brenda Jackson says...
7:38am Mon 19 Nov 12

And, No.

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northampton yellow says...
1:41pm Mon 19 Nov 12

i think these pro wilder fans should take a reality check on what they want conference football again which would properly send the club into admin as IL will just walk away or league football and i know which one i would prefer and its not the conference ,and aslso they must be happy as to where we lie in the table at the min.

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oldun says...
1:46pm Mon 19 Nov 12

northampton yellow wrote:
i think these pro wilder fans should take a reality check on what they want conference football again which would properly send the club into admin as IL will just walk away or league football and i know which one i would prefer and its not the conference ,and aslso they must be happy as to where we lie in the table at the min.
They can only be 'wind up ' merchants. 18th in Div 4 speaks for itself - we must not settle for what is unacceptable for United - only Luton are greater underachievers than us - but that could change

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