WANTED . . . somebody – anybody – who can stick the ball in the net for Oxford United.

Darren Patterson's team gave another woeful display of finishing as they slipped to a sixth defeat in nine away league games this season at the weekend.

Phil Trainer, Barry Quinn, Lewis Haldane, James Con-stable and Jamie Guy all squandered fantastic opportunities, with both Haldane and Guy unable to find the net when through with only the keeper to beat, and the end result was a 2-0 defeat at Grays which heaps the pressure back on the U's boss.

It seems United need about ten chances before they can stick the ball in the net, so however well they play, they end up getting nowhere.

Again, Oxford totally dominated Saturday’s first half.

The only way the U's look capable of mounting a proper push for the play-offs appears to be by bringing in a striker who knows how to finish.

And to do that, the club will probably need a good FA Cup run, to bring in some money.

That's why tomorrow night's FA Cup first-round replay at Dorchester Town is critical, both for their season, and possibly for the manager.

Patterson said: "When you're on top and dominating for so long, especially first half, you must take your chances.

"I probably sound like a broken record, and I'm fed up with saying it. It's not just a forward's responsibility to score, it's the team's.

"At the minute, the opposition have one chance and take it. The smallest of things are doing us.”

Patterson came in for some criticism from a section of away fans when he took off Constable rather than Hal-dane on 65 minutes, but later defended his decision.

The U's boss had thought about not starting with Con-stable after his midweek trip to Naples with England C, but did, and the striker tired.

"The supporters pay good money to come and watch us and we haven't done very well away from home," he said.

"I take full responsibility for any substitutions that were made. It's a simple one, James Constable was away in Italy in the week, he's exhausted, with all the travelling.

“He didn't get back till late on Thursday and couldn't pick his legs up. Joe Burnell was the same.

"I'm not going to apologise for my side because effort-wise and the way we play is not bad.

"But I'm annoyed and unhappy that we've got beat again, as the fans are, and I can fully understand that."