CHRIS Wilder was brutally honest in his assessment of Oxford United’s opening npower League Two defeat at Rotherham on Saturday.

The U’s slipped to a 1-0 loss at the Don Valley Stadium, going down to a cracking goal from Lewis Grabban three minutes after half-time.

But it was the fact that United did not force home keeper Conrad Logan to make one save in the entire match that was the disappointing factor of the defeat.

“The quality in the final third of the pitch was certainly not good enough,” Wilder said.

“Our final ball into the box was poor, and when we did get the delivery right, we didn’t anticipate it.

“There was nothing between the teams apart from one moment when the lad has fired in a wonder goal and that has cost us.

“We know we can do much better than that, but it’s the first game of the season, Rotherham have said they believe they can win the league, and we have another 40-odd games to go.

“We don’t like losing at this football club so the defeat is hard to take, but we have to move on, pick ourselves up and make sure that the quality I know we have in the squad comes through in the next games.”

Oxford had two golden chances to go ahead in the early stages, but were left to reflect on the misses.

James Constable headed wide from eight yards when unmarked, and then when Asa Hall’s header came back off the inside of the post – United’s only effort on target – Michael Duberry hammered the rebound over the bar.

“We could have been 2-0 up and out of sight after about ten minutes,” Wilder added.

“They were two great chances and if they had gone in, things would have been very different.

“Rotherham came more into the game in the first half, but didn’t create anything and we were really comfortable.

“They then started the second-half better than us, got the wonder goal, and that was the difference.

“I don’t think that (Oxford keeper) Ryan Clarke has had a real save to make apart from at the end when we were going for it, but then neither has their keeper and that is particularly disappointing.

“The players know that it wasn’t good enough, but we’ll be OK – we’re not going to beat ourselves up after one defeat, we will pick everyone up and go again.”

United’s next game is at home to Cardiff in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, before they entertain Bradford in the league on Saturday.