OXFORD United’s players have been given today off to recover from what manager Chris Wilder described as the “hardest week” of his time in charge.

But United’s boss admitted a lot of it was self-inflicted after seeing his side again have to play the majority of a match a man short following another early sending-off in their 2-1 defeat at Bradford on Saturday.

The defeat was only the U’s second since November, and came after they were forced to play for 50 minutes with ten men after Damian Batt was dismissed for two bookable offences.

It was the last thing United needed on the back of a tough 2-2 draw at Shrewsbury in midweek, which had come on the back of a draining 2-0 derby win against Swindon the weekend before.

The U’s also had a man sent off against the Robins, meaning they have played for more than two hours across the three games with a man disadvantage.

Wilder said: “It’s possibly been the hardest week the players have had since I’ve been here in terms of the mental and physical aspect of the Swindon game and everything involved with that.

“Then the Tuesday night disappointment in the 95th minute with the boy whacking a 35-yarder in and (on Saturday) having a man sent off.”

Batt’s red card came courtesy of two challenges on tricky winger Kyel Reid.

And Wilder had little sympathy for the defender.

“It was a poor decision from Damian, he came in and apologised and rightly so,” he said.

“Reid’s a good player and you’re going to have to do a job on him and be patient.

“It’s reckless and with the second one he puts himself in a situation – especially here when there are 10,000 people baying for every decision – where he’s going to get sent off.

“I had a few words with Damian, and if I was a fellow player I’d be a bit stronger than a few words.”

Ultimately, the U’s manager had few complaints about the final result.

He said: “I thought they started loads better than us – I would’ve been disappointed if I’d started at home like that and not been one or two up.

“I thought they were excellent.”