Oxford United still 'in good nick'

9:30am Saturday 7th April 2012 in U's News Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Adam Chapman buries his head in his shirt after seeing his second-half penalty saved Adam Chapman buries his head in his shirt after seeing his second-half penalty saved

CHRIS Wilder was encouraged with Oxford United’s performance despite the agony of seeing his side go down to a last-gasp defeat at Northampton Town last night.

Brett Williams’s 91st-minute strike gave the Cobblers a 2-1 win at the end of a high- octane nPower League Two game at Sixfields.

It was tough to take for the U’s, who had looked set to go on and win the game after Cristian Montano’s strike early in the second half, with Adam Chapman having a penalty saved.

Despite suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time since November, Wilder was upbeat over the display, which was a vast improvement on last weekend’s home defeat to Morecambe.

He said: “We’re really disappointed with the result, but I’ve got to say I’m pretty pleased with the way we played.

“They really came at us and to concede after 50 seconds was disappointing.

But the reaction from the players after that, I thought there was only going to be one winner but we’ve been done on the break by a sucker-punch.

“We lose a game, but we’re in decent nick.”

The defeat came at a heavier cost to United, with Michael Duberry sent off late on and Peter Leven sent to hospital with a leg injury following a fair but firm tackle in the first half.

It was too early to tell last night, but the Scot’s reaction after the challenge indicated a serious problem, which could rule him out for the rest of the season.

Wilder thought the performance from his side deserved maximum points.

But he felt the main lesson was the value in seeing out a game to claim a point – as play-off rivals Crewe Alexandra and Gillingham had done earlier in the day.

He said: “Going into the last five minutes, if we can’t win then we need to take something from the game and that’s been the message to the players.

“That’s what has disappointed me, we should have had three points with the quality of the play, but we’d have taken one.

“The other teams have played away from home with tough games, like this one, and taken a point.

“If we had taken a point out of it we’d have moved on and we have to learn that when these situations happen we don’t switch off – which we’ve done.”

Comments (17)

11:17am Sat 7 Apr 12

DuberryandBeanofan says...

Good Luck to Peter Leven, hope he gets back to fitness soon and stays with the U's this summer. We can't win them all but at least we are still in that last play off place, big games for us now are Southend, Torquay and Gillingham. Gutted with the result last night. Come on you yellows!
Good Luck to Peter Leven, hope he gets back to fitness soon and stays with the U's this summer. We can't win them all but at least we are still in that last play off place, big games for us now are Southend, Torquay and Gillingham. Gutted with the result last night. Come on you yellows! DuberryandBeanofan

3:12pm Sat 7 Apr 12

monday morning QB says...

@Where is the update on Leven's condition? How long does it take to post on the ofiicial web site? Pathetic PR ... again!
@Where is the update on Leven's condition? How long does it take to post on the ofiicial web site? Pathetic PR ... again! monday morning QB

4:21pm Sat 7 Apr 12

dave from witney says...

The only positive to come out of last night was that at least we performed for best part of an hour. But you have to weigh that against the old story...stikers who cannot finish and a lack of disipline by certain players. I know that most footballers have ability in their feet and nothing between their ears, but Dubery making that tackle a minute before the end when on a yellow was crazy. Sheer frustration you have to assume, but very poor judgement.
The only positive to come out of last night was that at least we performed for best part of an hour. But you have to weigh that against the old story...stikers who cannot finish and a lack of disipline by certain players. I know that most footballers have ability in their feet and nothing between their ears, but Dubery making that tackle a minute before the end when on a yellow was crazy. Sheer frustration you have to assume, but very poor judgement. dave from witney

8:09pm Sat 7 Apr 12

Megastar07 says...

It will be tough now
It will be tough now Megastar07

8:56pm Sat 7 Apr 12

HardwickeRed says...

Sorry.....I just cant stop laughing, priceless. Shadow dwellers
Sorry.....I just cant stop laughing, priceless. Shadow dwellers HardwickeRed

9:43pm Sat 7 Apr 12

Simple man says...

I couldn't stop laughing after we beat you for the second time this season with 10 men and injury depleated team, but don't keep bleating about it. And can honestly say I've never bothered to look at the Swindon websites, and even more bother to comment. Keep up the good PR work you sad tosser....

PS, Exactly how big do you think your "shadow" is? That's the funniest thing that deserves a laugh.
I couldn't stop laughing after we beat you for the second time this season with 10 men and injury depleated team, but don't keep bleating about it. And can honestly say I've never bothered to look at the Swindon websites, and even more bother to comment. Keep up the good PR work you sad tosser.... PS, Exactly how big do you think your "shadow" is? That's the funniest thing that deserves a laugh. Simple man

11:09pm Sat 7 Apr 12

London_Ox says...

Chris who are you kidding.. We are powder puff in the striker department.. In your tenue you haven't quite mastered the art of signing some coverted strikers.. We will fall short this season.. Need to uncover pure forward talents and get the wallet out.. We are OXFORD UNITED.. look at Reading.. like for like club.. *issing over us..
Chris who are you kidding.. We are powder puff in the striker department.. In your tenue you haven't quite mastered the art of signing some coverted strikers.. We will fall short this season.. Need to uncover pure forward talents and get the wallet out.. We are OXFORD UNITED.. look at Reading.. like for like club.. *issing over us.. London_Ox

11:41pm Sat 7 Apr 12

Wilesy says...

Swindon fan in peace. Talk here about Oxford's misfiring strikers, I thought Asa Hall was knocking them in, and what has happened to Constable has he gone off the boil?
Swindon fan in peace. Talk here about Oxford's misfiring strikers, I thought Asa Hall was knocking them in, and what has happened to Constable has he gone off the boil? Wilesy

12:03am Sun 8 Apr 12

Hinkseybabe says...

Hope the U's can still go up. Well at least one Oxford boy has a reason to celebrate tnight - well done Garry Parker, Celtic first team coach, Champions!
Hope the U's can still go up. Well at least one Oxford boy has a reason to celebrate tnight - well done Garry Parker, Celtic first team coach, Champions! Hinkseybabe

7:51am Sun 8 Apr 12

adlibber says...

Wilder saying the club is in good nick after two limp defeats to fairly average teams is a sign of desperation. He has no plan B and despite players injuries he can't keep using that as an excuse. I think Wilder's inability to adapt will cost us a play off spot and he really needs to look at how he judges a player when signing them. We've become stagnant and boring under Wilder. If by a bizarre twist of fatre we hang on in the play offs and then confound science by winning at Wembley I'll tip my hat to Wilder and apologise publicly for misjudging. However, if we limp out of a play off spot and nestle in mid table mediocrity the Wilder should pack his bag.
Wilder saying the club is in good nick after two limp defeats to fairly average teams is a sign of desperation. He has no plan B and despite players injuries he can't keep using that as an excuse. I think Wilder's inability to adapt will cost us a play off spot and he really needs to look at how he judges a player when signing them. We've become stagnant and boring under Wilder. If by a bizarre twist of fatre we hang on in the play offs and then confound science by winning at Wembley I'll tip my hat to Wilder and apologise publicly for misjudging. However, if we limp out of a play off spot and nestle in mid table mediocrity the Wilder should pack his bag. adlibber

10:04am Sun 8 Apr 12

foxvox says...

Wilesy wrote:
Swindon fan in peace. Talk here about Oxford's misfiring strikers, I thought Asa Hall was knocking them in, and what has happened to Constable has he gone off the boil?
Unfortunately Constable isn't a League 1 striker, 15 is his maximum at this level, double that in the BSP. Hall has stopped scoring because he now thinks he's a striker instead of getting on with the midfield job he was doing well. Good luck in League 1, hope to see you the season after, you'll go up as deserved Champions. At some stage in the next year you'll lose PDC to West Ham, that will be your testing time.
[quote][p][bold]Wilesy[/bold] wrote: Swindon fan in peace. Talk here about Oxford's misfiring strikers, I thought Asa Hall was knocking them in, and what has happened to Constable has he gone off the boil?[/p][/quote]Unfortunately Constable isn't a League 1 striker, 15 is his maximum at this level, double that in the BSP. Hall has stopped scoring because he now thinks he's a striker instead of getting on with the midfield job he was doing well. Good luck in League 1, hope to see you the season after, you'll go up as deserved Champions. At some stage in the next year you'll lose PDC to West Ham, that will be your testing time. foxvox

8:04pm Sun 8 Apr 12

A Scroat says...

We need forwards who can score in Div 2, forget Div 1 if Wilder cannot get rid of predictability which lower sides can read in a couple of minutes.
We need forwards who can score in Div 2, forget Div 1 if Wilder cannot get rid of predictability which lower sides can read in a couple of minutes. A Scroat

10:18pm Sun 8 Apr 12

Wilesy says...

foxvox wrote:
Wilesy wrote:
Swindon fan in peace. Talk here about Oxford's misfiring strikers, I thought Asa Hall was knocking them in, and what has happened to Constable has he gone off the boil?
Unfortunately Constable isn't a League 1 striker, 15 is his maximum at this level, double that in the BSP. Hall has stopped scoring because he now thinks he's a striker instead of getting on with the midfield job he was doing well. Good luck in League 1, hope to see you the season after, you'll go up as deserved Champions. At some stage in the next year you'll lose PDC to West Ham, that will be your testing time.
We shall see, might even see you next season depending on how the play-offs go, although I think whoever finishes fourth this year whould be favourite. PDC will probably go to West Ham, their fans certainly want him, but that vacancy comes up frequently and he has said he will be here for a while yet.
[quote][p][bold]foxvox[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Wilesy[/bold] wrote: Swindon fan in peace. Talk here about Oxford's misfiring strikers, I thought Asa Hall was knocking them in, and what has happened to Constable has he gone off the boil?[/p][/quote]Unfortunately Constable isn't a League 1 striker, 15 is his maximum at this level, double that in the BSP. Hall has stopped scoring because he now thinks he's a striker instead of getting on with the midfield job he was doing well. Good luck in League 1, hope to see you the season after, you'll go up as deserved Champions. At some stage in the next year you'll lose PDC to West Ham, that will be your testing time.[/p][/quote]We shall see, might even see you next season depending on how the play-offs go, although I think whoever finishes fourth this year whould be favourite. PDC will probably go to West Ham, their fans certainly want him, but that vacancy comes up frequently and he has said he will be here for a while yet. Wilesy

11:43pm Sun 8 Apr 12

RocketMan says...

Connot believe some of these contributions. You would think Wilder has done nothing, yet he has got where are and is the best manager to take us forward.
On the issue of strikers, yes we need strikers capable of making big decisions, not afraid of shooting and with ability to regulary be a rapid threat and hit the target. We do some good inter-changing play, but it has to have an end product in front of goal.
The difference between Premier league and division 2, is they need only one chance, in division 2 it must be at least six chamces? I think we can do okay in the play off's if we get there. But the present strike force is no where near good enough for division one.
Connot believe some of these contributions. You would think Wilder has done nothing, yet he has got where are and is the best manager to take us forward. On the issue of strikers, yes we need strikers capable of making big decisions, not afraid of shooting and with ability to regulary be a rapid threat and hit the target. We do some good inter-changing play, but it has to have an end product in front of goal. The difference between Premier league and division 2, is they need only one chance, in division 2 it must be at least six chamces? I think we can do okay in the play off's if we get there. But the present strike force is no where near good enough for division one. RocketMan

11:51pm Sun 8 Apr 12

foxvox says...

Spot on RocketMan
Spot on RocketMan foxvox

11:51pm Sun 8 Apr 12

foxvox says...

Spot on RocketMan
Spot on RocketMan foxvox

1:04pm Mon 9 Apr 12

bigchet says...

think that the loan system needs drastic overhaul as it reduces the transfer window to a joke. i know that we have used it as much as anyone and hall and holmes were successes for us but its only ever going to be a temporary benefit.as it stands a club can field up to five loanees at one time so in theory they could comprise half a team that gains promotion end then return to their parent club at the end of the season. our front three at northampton were all loanees and i dont feel they would have the same commitment to united. i think that apart from emergency goalkeeping loans clubs should only be allowed two loanees at one time.at one stage this season arsenal had nineteen players out on loan at various clubs so that surely shows that the situation needs revision.
think that the loan system needs drastic overhaul as it reduces the transfer window to a joke. i know that we have used it as much as anyone and hall and holmes were successes for us but its only ever going to be a temporary benefit.as it stands a club can field up to five loanees at one time so in theory they could comprise half a team that gains promotion end then return to their parent club at the end of the season. our front three at northampton were all loanees and i dont feel they would have the same commitment to united. i think that apart from emergency goalkeeping loans clubs should only be allowed two loanees at one time.at one stage this season arsenal had nineteen players out on loan at various clubs so that surely shows that the situation needs revision. bigchet

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

Get Adobe Flash player
About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree