HIS side may be on the verge of Oxford United’s best start to a Football League season in almost 20 years, but Chris Wilder is more interested in sticking to the basics.

Success against Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow would be a fourth win in a row, a feat the U’s have not managed since the 1994-95 season.

Everyone connected with the club is quick to stress nine points out of nine represents nothing more than a positive start.

It is true, but being top of the table brings added attention, whatever the date.

There were signs of that yesterday, with two camera crews at the training ground – two more than usual for the routine weekly press conference.

Wilder is aiming for the start to blossom into something more substantial, but is clear it can only happen if everyone sticks to what has taken them top of the pile – hard work.

“You do get more focus, that’s obvious and something you have to deal with,” he said.

“Hopefully we will be in a situation where we have to deal with it all season, but that will only happen if we get the right results.

“The results will only happen if all the players are focused and keep their feet firmly on the ground during the week.

“They have worked brilliantly this week, exceptionally hard right from Monday.

“They know how important it is to keep their standards high throughout the week, which takes them into the game on a Saturday.”

Wilder detected an added intensity in Torquay United’s approach during the 3-1 win at Plainmoor last weekend.

He felt it was down to the fact the league leaders were in town and fully expects more of the same from Wycombe tomorrow.

The visitors arrive on the back of successive defeats and manager Gareth Ainsworth is desperate for a response in the wake of last Saturday’s home defeat to Mansfield.

Wilder said: “We’ve talked about teams coming to our place and raising their game, which no doubt they will off the back of a poor result and display as they have said in their own words.

“Whatever their manager says to their players, whether it’s during the week or just before the game, it’s about the players and how they go forward.

“We have been pretty calm since the start of pre-season and the players have been focused. I don’t need to shout and bawl at my players to get them going forward.

“My players have done that exceptionally well so far and I expect it to carry on.”