Oxford United boss admits home form is a worry (From Oxford Mail)
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Oxford United boss admits home form is a worry
9:30am Monday 25th February 2013 in Oxford Utd
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
Chris Wilder on Saturday
CHRIS Wilder admitted Oxford United got what they deserved as a lack of invention proved costly in a goalless draw at home with York City.
The U’s struggled to create chances, as the dogged Minstermen defended well – but United have now not won at the Kassam Stadium since beating Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Visiting goalkeeper Michael Ingham only had one noteworthy save to make, diving to his left to divert a Josh Parker shot round a post.
Wilder ultimately had few complaints over the final score.
He said: “We’ve not done enough going forward for the ability we’ve got to deserve to win the game.
“Their keeper didn’t have much to do and it’s pretty unlike us.
“It’s easy to see there’s a lack of confidence out there.
“These players were decent players when they went to Bradford and Exeter and won, it’s just a massive struggle for us at the moment.
“I think it’s a psychological problem, it’s not about ability, because I see it in training and I’ve seen it at times this season and when players have played for other clubs.
“They’re just lacking a touch of belief at the moment.”
The United boss believes the poor playing surface at the Kassam Stadium is the root of the confidence problem for the side’s flair players.
But with conditions unlikely to improve much this season, he said the onus is on the players to take responsibility.
“Players have to be braver, because in times like this it’s easy for one player to duck out of it, then two players duck out of it and the game becomes a real struggle,” he said.
“When players aren’t on the top of their game it’s more of a reaction than an anticipation.
“Possibly they’re not as vocal and not as willing to all get on the ball.
“That’s human nature when things aren’t going for you – possibly sometimes the easy way out is not to get involved.
“I said to the players afterwards that can’t happen, because it’s a strong league and if you do that you give too much of an advantage to the opposition.”
One positive from the game was United fielded the same XI which started the 1-0 win at Plymouth Argyle a week earlier.
It was the first time since August the line-up had shown no changes.
Wilder said: “People do have injuries, but to get almost to March and it’s only the second time you’ve named an unchanged side is incredible.”
It gets no easier for United, who play the division’s top two this week, starting with a trip to leaders Gillingham tomorrow night.
- ACCORDING to reports, Wilder could be on the short-list to be the new boss at Blue Square Bet Premier side Luton Town, who are looking for a manager after Paul Buckle resigned last week.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (37)
11:22am Mon 25 Feb 13
BigAlBiker says...
Oh and if you can make room for Heslop, Montrose, Pitman, Raynes, Capaldi, Worley, Parker, Smalley, Richards, McCormick and Brown all the better.
11:27am Mon 25 Feb 13
Doctor69 says...
Put your hands up chris and admit you have blown the wage budget on a bunch of mediocre players who are now seeing out their contracts before moving on in the summer.
Lets hope the Luton reports are true, I will drive him there myself if it gets rid of him.
Wilder out.
11:34am Mon 25 Feb 13
adlibber says...
There is nothing in this team that offers an ounce of inspiration. we're very lucky that we picked up points earlier in the season otherwise I think relegation would have been a real possibility. Wilder going to Luton? Ha Ha well at least their moronic fans will deserve him.
Wilder has no dignity at all he's mercenary taking the money knowing he hasn't earned it.
York haven't won in 9 games even Wycombe put 4 past them and we can't score (again). players have failed because Manager&coaching staff offer no inspiration or ideas.
we have gone backwards.
12:56pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Manor Born says...
He would be a fool not to take the Luton job if it was offered to him because he's certainly not going to be here next season.
2:38pm Mon 25 Feb 13
dave from witney says...
4:07pm Mon 25 Feb 13
oldun says...
4:33pm Mon 25 Feb 13
davecuddoufc says...
5:57pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Southstandupper says...
6:10pm Mon 25 Feb 13
oldun says...
6:13pm Mon 25 Feb 13
oldun says...
6:23pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Merekat1 says...
He is so out of his depth at this level that I am not surprised of our plight.
I believe we are all sick and tired of his excuses and I for one will turn the radio off when he appears.
Like others have said, its a game of poker maybe twixt him and Lenagan for if he resigns he gets bugger all while if he is sacked I would think he will get compensation.
I might be wrong of course, but why else would this position be thrust upon us.
Managers know the score when they sign up.
6:38pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Coyyellows says...
7:40pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Doctor69 says...
What are your feelings on the current management, players and plight of oufc? Happy, enjoying it, satisfied?
8:03pm Mon 25 Feb 13
oldun says...
8:20pm Mon 25 Feb 13
BigAlBiker says...
Wilder, Melville and Lewis put out out.
8:25pm Mon 25 Feb 13
BigAlBiker says...
There, hopefully that might satisfy "some" of us here.
Oh I nearly forgot, Wlder, Melville and Lewis out out out.
8:32pm Mon 25 Feb 13
oldun says...
8:52pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Coyyellows says...
And if your that big a man , wait at the ground and tell wilder and them players you slate too there faces , Instead of hiding behind a computer and doing it ! They normally get to the ground @1.15 on a match day big man !
9:28pm Mon 25 Feb 13
BigAlBiker says...
So you see I don't always "hide" behind a keyboard, I do actually front the man, even when we played reserve games at Didcot I sat by Mr Wlder and " discussed" how we were doing, but,I suspect you we're not one of the 63 paying spectators when we played Southend reserves one cold night.
9:53pm Mon 25 Feb 13
Coyyellows says...
9:54pm Mon 25 Feb 13
35 year fan says...
11:36pm Mon 25 Feb 13
greengarden says...
I'm not a Wilder fan, but people need to wake up and accept we will seriously struggle to find or attract any top talent. I truly fear for future of oxf utd as a professional club. We desperately need leadership from the board right now and it's clearly not forthcoming, Wilder is caught up in this same mess.
7:11am Tue 26 Feb 13
Southstandupper says...
As for Wilders same old stories when things go wrong it is a football thing, ever listened to Ferguson when things go against Man United???? Never the team or individual players are blamed only the officials or the pitch, so you see football managers will always use the same excuses. Same now for Wenger and just about every manager whos team fails to win.
Yet to read from the Wilder out brigade who they would seriously like to take over as manager in out current situation? Bear in mind we have a peanut budget, and will only rely on free transfers.
Yes oldun Greaves did well and I remember Brighton very well but remember the players like Berry, Lowe, Kingston, and Greaves first signing? the crocked Malcolm Page on a free from Birmingham no world beaters there like now,yet we all believed maybe it was good there were no computers availbale then for us to rant on otherwise we would have even less fans now.
8:18am Tue 26 Feb 13
adlibber says...
I must be missing the brilliant winning streak we're on where we've shot up the table into an automatic promotion spot, we're averaging 9000 fans a game and scoring a boatload of goals??
I'd like to live in your world chaps but at some point you have to move out of your head and into fresh air.
Wilder is empty as are the stands.
CoyYellows=Wilder troll - there seems to be a few of them.
8:22am Tue 26 Feb 13
BigAlBiker says...
8:25am Tue 26 Feb 13
BigAlBiker says...
But what i do know is that Heslop wants out, how do i know, well he told a friend of mine himself just last week, he had no idea my friend (female) was a supporter and he just blurted it out that he was fed up with all of it and wants to leave, i for one am not stopping him.
9:13am Tue 26 Feb 13
Manor Born says...
The problem is not lack of budget, it is more than adequate for a so-called promotion chasing team. The problem is Wilder has wasted that budget on sicknotes and mediocrity. There are plenty of managers who would love the opportunity to manage at Oxford, some of them will be even bigger donkeys than the current one, some will be too expensive, but the club is going backwards under Wilder now. He has taken us as far as he can. He needs a fresh challenge just as we need a new broom. Do you really trust Wilder to bring in anyone other than third rate donkeys or constantly injured so-called superstars?
9:22am Tue 26 Feb 13
Doctor69 says...
9:29am Tue 26 Feb 13
Southstandupper says...
10:32am Tue 26 Feb 13
oldun says...
11:18am Tue 26 Feb 13
Manor Born says...
He turned them around.
There are plenty of clubs around who don't own their grounds, but that doesn't stop them from attracting managers - Barnet, swindon, Leeds - even Portsmouth have managed to do it in recent years.
12:44pm Tue 26 Feb 13
oldun says...
1:43pm Tue 26 Feb 13
Southstandupper says...
1:52pm Tue 26 Feb 13
adlibber says...
3:11pm Tue 26 Feb 13
oldun says...
4:03pm Tue 26 Feb 13
oldun says...
5:44pm Tue 26 Feb 13
moonlight shadow says...
Now i know we are a million miles from liverpool in football ability terms but
If only we had players of that mindset at Oxford. Once we did in Joey Beachamp and others. But now, as has been said they do not seem to have the stomach for a push to the playoffs.
Most genuine fans would run through a brick wall for the club. We need players with that same comittment.
As I have posted on another thread (the Oxford v York mathch report) youth is the only way long term.
Sadly I do not have the answer short term.