OXFORD United will do battle tomorrow against one of the men who was so inspirational in helping them win promotion two seasons ago.

U’s boss Chris Wilder has lavished praise on former midfielder Dannie Bulman, now a pivotal figure for Crawley, ahead of the npower League Two clash.

And Wilder admitted that he was maybe too quick to let Bulman move to pastures new after Oxford’s promotion back into the Football League.

But he, along with all United supporters, will be hoping that the tigerish midfielder has a rare off day tomorrow.

Bulman made 48 league and cup appearances when Oxford won promotion out of the Conference, but eight games into last season, the 32-year-old moved back to Crawley, the club from which he joined the U’s.

“I have got to say, Bully was great for me here,” Wilder said.

“We made a decision pretty early last season about him.

“Josh Payne had come in and done great and Bully, at his age, wanted to play games, which I totally understand.

“Maybe I should have been a little bit selfish and kept him at the club for a little bit longer.

“But you have to make decisions like that, and I felt that he deserved the opportunity to play regular football.

“I could have kept him and quite possible should have done, but Josh was doing well and I knew that Paul McLaren would become available at Christmas time and he has proved to be a very good signing for us.”

Wilder says that it is all too easy for footballers to criticise former clubs and managers when they have left, but thinks that players should look to Bulman if they want to see how to handle themselves after a move.

“I am glad Dannie has done great at Crawley,” United’s boss said.

“Some players when they leave want to shout about this and that, comment on the chances they got or didn’t get at a football club.

“But Bully is a great professional who just goes about his business.

“Some players who are a bit naive and immature and haven’t been in the game for that long should learn from Bully because he has just got on with his job without having to say this and that.”

Bulman might well be remembered by United fans as one of the best players at the club never to score a goal.