Wilder: time for Oxford United to produce (From Oxford Mail)
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Wilder: time for Oxford United to produce
11:00am Friday 20th April 2012 in Oxford Utd
By David Pritchard
, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
Chris Wilder is desperate to see his side end a four-game winless run at Plymouth Argle tomorrow to improve their play-off prospects
AFTER watching his side fail to convert performances into results in recent games Oxford United manager Chris Wilder urged his side to make it count at Plymouth Argyle tomorrow.
United head to Devon on a run of four games without a win, their worst sequence since December.
Their position in the npower League Two play-off places is precarious, with just goal difference keeping Crewe Alexandra at bay.
But the U’s have the comfort of knowing wins in their final three games would claim a place in the play-offs, regardless of results elsewhere.
Wilder has been pleased with the displays, if not the results, during the blip and is calling for his side to combine both elements during a fortnight which will define the entire season.
He said: “We’ve got three big games coming up, there’s no hiding from that and it’s time for everybody to produce a performance and get a big result.
“We’re not chucking it away, we’ve still got a hell of a lot to fight for and as the players have shown me in the last three games we are in decent form.
“We’re not thinking about changing the shape of the team or massively changing the personnel.
“I don’t think there’s a lot wrong with the team at the moment, we just need to make sure we don’t give anything soft away and maybe be a touch more clinical in the final third.”
Tomorrow’s game offers a real opportunity to improve United’s position in the play-off race, with eighth-placed Crewe hosting Cheltenham Town in sixth.
Wilder is more concerned about how the U’s handle their own fixture after admitting the tension affected his side during the goalless draw with rivals Gillingham last Saturday.
There is plenty at stake again tomorrow, with Plymouth knowing a win would ensure they avoid relegation.
“We have to keep our nerve and stick together,” Wilder said.
“The squad, as I’ve always said, is good enough to get a result anywhere and we’ve got to go and prove that now.
“One of my criticisms this season is we’ve not won enough tight games from decent positions.
“We need to do that now in the last three games.”
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