CHRIS Wilder said he felt for Oxford United’s forward players at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Although the U’s boss has been critical in the past of the amount of goals his strikers have scored this season, Wilder did not feel he could be too harsh on them following Saturday’s 0-0 draw.

The Memorial Stadium pitch was in such a bad state that it was often pot-luck whether the ball would run kindly for you or not.

“It was difficult for the forwards out there with the pitch because the ball is bobbling around and you couldn’t get it under control properly,” Wilder said.

“Scotty Rendell goes through on goal and while his first touch maybe wasn’t great, the ball then has bounced and it’s up around his neck.

“I could be a bit critical of our final pass on occasions, but it was a real front-foot performance from us,.

“If we show that type of attitude and commitment from now until the end of the season – and there is a long way to go still – then we will be in the mix.”

Wilder felt that the U’s got their starting XI spot-on and was pleased with the way his side played the percentages, and took no chances on a difficult surface.

Mehdi Kerrouche made his first start for United and did well until understandably tiring in the second half.

The on-loan Swindon man started in the pocket just behind James Constable and Rendell.

“They possibly had the better of the early exchanges, but we then started to assert ourselves and were on the front foot,” Wilder said.

“It feels like I’ve had a season ticket here having been to the last few home games because we haven’t had matches, but we wanted to put their centre-halves under pressure.

“I thought the combination of Scotty and Beano worked really well and we did that.

“It would have been no good playing Lee Holmes and Oli Johnson from the start because you couldn’t run with the ball out there, it was just not a pitch for wingers.”

United’s boss felt that his side could have had a penalty when Andy Whing’s header appeared to hit the hand of Rovers defender Danny Woodards.

“I thought we had a good penalty shout,” Wilder said.

“You always look to the reaction of players and supporters, and everyone went up for that straight away, but it wasn’t to be.”

He added: “We were a bit ring-rusty of Tuesday night, but we have got that game out of our system.

“We were backed by a fantastic following yet again (1,090 made the trip from Oxford) and the supporters gave us a real drive. The reception the players got at the end showed that the fans recognised their efforts.

“Bristol Rovers are a good side on a good run and I thought we stood up to the challenge.

“I looked through our away games and this was always going to be one of the toughest of the campaign with the fans and players here, so this could turn into a very good point.”