OXFORD United boss Chris Wilder says he is looking for a reaction from his team at Torquay today after describing their performance against Southend on Saturday as “abject”.

And he looks set to make a number of changes, with new signing Paul McLaren likely to make his debut.

The U’s slipped to 13th in npower League Two after their 2-0 defeat by the Shrimpers at the Kassam Stadium.

It brought an end to a run of three wins on the bounce at the end of 2010, and was a very disappointing way to start the new year.

But Wilder says that is now behind them and they need to focus on trying to beat the Gulls, who defeated them 2-0 in Oxford at the start of November.

“We’re confident that whoever comes into the side has enough about them to help us get a result at Torquay,” he said.

“It will be a tough one. They turned us over at our place, deservedly so.

“We never took the chances in the first half to put them to bed and they defended very well and hit us on the break.

“In their eyes, I remember them saying it was one of their best performances of the season.

“They’re a very good side and will be looking to push on into the play-offs in the New Year.”

Torquay lie tenth after their 2-2 draw at Hereford at the weekend.

United too were hoping to be pushing on towards the play-off places, but Southend outplayed them on Saturday.

“We just got the basics completely wrong,” Wilder bemoaned.

“People were not getting tight, and every aspect of our game, individually and collectively, was really really poor.

“The organisation, technique, the play from back to front, the passing, the touch . . .

“From 15 minutes right through to 95, I’ve never witnessed that in my time here.

He added: “We can’t have too many performances like this.

“There’ll be a few changes for Monday because I’e got to freshen it up.

“In the end there were a lot of tired legs – it’s always easier to play football when you’re winning.

“The game became a real slog for us second half so we’ll whizz it about a touch, but we have to show a reaction. I’m sure we will do.”

Wilder said he is hoping Saturday’s poor performance was a one-off.

“It was nowhere near the standards we have produced in the first part of the season and we’ve rightfully got beat,” he said.

“That was abject, abysmal, shocking, all over the place.

“I don’t know whether to just write it off because some players do have off days.”