7:40am Thursday 29th July 2010
By Mark Edwards
CHRIS Wilder says he and the Oxford United players are itching for the start of the new campaign after superb performances in their home pre-season games.
Tuesday’s unlucky defeat against a Manchester United XI and Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Championship side Leicester has shown Wilder that United are ready for the start of their League Two quest at Burton on August 7.
And the U’s boss says that it is just a matter of leaving no stone unturned in the build-up to their return to the Football League.
“Everyone is the same now – we can’t wait to get going,” he said.
“We’ll give everybody a run-out at Oxford City on Friday night, the players will all get 45 minutes there.
“And then it’s just fine-tuning certain things ahead of the season.”
Wilder admits that although there were so many positives in pre-season, there are more things to work on.
“The only disappointing thing for me was the goals we conceded against Leicester and Man Utd,” he said.
“They were organisational things – two free-kicks going straight in and another being turned in, albeit from someone offside.
“But we have done no work yet on set-pieces, defending them or attacking them, so there are reasons behind it.
“That’s something we’ll obviously look out before now and then and get right.”
United’s manager admitted he was stunned by the support his side have received in their last two games.
“I guess nothing should surprise us, because the fans have always been magnificent,” he said.
“But to have more than 6,000 on Tuesday night and nearly 3,000 for Saturday is just amazing.
“I’d like to think that those who came to see us have left with positive feelings about the season.”
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