Oxford United boss Chris Wilder delivered a message after Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy win at Chelmsford that promotion rivals Stevenage and York really didn’t want to hear.

“We’re getting better by the game,” he said, following the 3-1 victory which took the U’s into the quarter-finals.

Today they will be desperately hoping to get a home tie in the last eight draw, and especially with far-away northern teams Barrow, Gateshead, Guiseley and Workington still left in the competition.

Jack Midson’s double, after a brilliantly executed volley from Franny Green, brought United their win at Chelmsford, on a hard pitch that only just passed a lunctime inspection.

“It was the right result,” said United’s manager.

“We knew that the opposition are lively and they’ve got some good players.

“With the support right behind them we knew we were in for a difficult afternoon, and we could easily have slipped up, but it was a professional, solid performance.”

Wilder added: “That’s four (goals) at Grays, three today, and with these two and the last Trophy game we’re looking nice and tight at the back.

“The conditions were tricky, for both sides, we made good decisions and were clinical in our finishing.

“We’re getting better by the game.”

Other results from the weekend, however, mean that United’s home league game against Cambridge tomorrow night has had to be postponed after Salisbury beat Maidstone 2-0 in the Trophy on Saturday.

Cambridge now face Salisbury tomorrow in the third round.

The Blue Square Premier fixture against Cambridge has been rearranged for Tuesday, April 13, and the match against Wrexham, also at the Kassam Stadium, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 20.

And the potential title decider between Stevenage and Oxford, scheduled for February 20, will now have to be moved.

That is the date for the FA Trophy quarter-finals.