Oxford United manager Chris Wilder is urging his team to show more consistency.

The U’s have blown hot and cold over the last few months, with winning runs, losing runs, and a mix of exciting performances and no-shows, with the last two games being the perfect example.

But now, having banished last Saturday’s poor display against Southend at the Kassam Stadium with an exhilarating 4-3 win at Torquay, Wilder is hoping the team can push on in the second half of the season.

Monday’s victory at Plainmoor lifted United back into the top half of npower League Two, into 12th place.

Oxford are now just four points off the play-off places, and ten off relegation – meaning people are certainly looking up rather than down.

Wilder said victories at table-topping Chesterfield and at Torquay shows what the team are capable of.

“Consistency has always been the big thing for us,” he said.

“We went to West Ham and put a great display on, we’ve gone to the best team in the league (Chesterfield), who I think will romp it. And we’ve gone to Wycombe, Burton – difficult places – and Cheltenham, who are on a good run, and drawn.

“We need to show that consistency in level of performance individually and collectively.

“We know we’ve got the organisation, and desire as a group, and the desire to do well.

“We just need to be consistent. Last week was a prime example.

“We were really poor and could offer no excuses on the Saturday, but very decent two days later.”

Oxford prevented Torquay doing the double over them. Vengeance will again be on their mind the next two Saturdays against Aldershot and Bradford.