Quality let us down - Wilder (From The Oxford Times)
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Quality let us down - Wilder
9:50am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
Chris Wilder at the final whistle at Rochdale on Tuesday night
CHRIS Wilder bemoaned a lack of quality in the final third as Oxford United lost 2-0 at Rochdale last night.
The visitors had the majority of efforts on goal, but lacked the sort of cutting edge which was so apparent in Saturday’s 5-0 win against Accrington Stanley.
Alfie Potter missed the clearest opening in the 25th minute, but the winger, who scored at the weekend, rolled a shot past the post from close range.
Wilder was bitterly disappointed United were unable to convert what for long periods was an accomplished display into points.
The result leaves the U’s 18th in the npower League Two table, five points off the bottom two and five points off the play-off places.
The United boss said: “We got done on the break with a great cross and a great header – if we had put anything like that quality of cross in for the numerous times we were in those positions then we would have easily gone away as winners.
“I thought it was an above average performance against a decent side who will be looking to be in the mix for promotion.
“We dominated a lot of the game, but we can’t afford to miss chances like Alfie’s – he was five yards out.
“The final touch was missing and if we had had that we would have won, without a shadow of a doubt.
“It’s a disappointing result, but not a disappointing performance.”
Defender Johnny Mullins agreed and felt the result did little to reflect the balance of play.
He said: “I’m really gutted because I thought we did enough to win.
“When you look at the score it appears a comfortable home win, but that clearly wasn’t the case.”
The U’s manager also revealed he had been forced into a late change of personnel, with Lee Cox taken ill on the journey up to Lancashire.
The on-loan midfielder, who was due to start, was sent home on a train to recover and will be assessed today.
Comments(14)
RADIOFAN
says...
12:34pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Doctor69
says...
1:03pm Wed 24 Oct 12
It still looks like Wilder has to go. Same old excuses, but never his fault. Im sorry but they are his players, following his coaching, if they dont perform then he has to take at least a portion of the blame.
still, roll on saturday. COYY
yeomanry
says...
2:04pm Wed 24 Oct 12
jbowling
says...
2:43pm Wed 24 Oct 12
A small point but the substitution of Potter with Heslop instead of Pittman demonstrates Wilder's continued cautious approach which I had hoped would last for more than one game.
He saw the chance of a point with fifteen minutes to go, went defensive and we end up with nothing.
If he played pontoon he would stick on 16 every time and win ........ nothing.
oldun
says...
4:06pm Wed 24 Oct 12
northampton yellow
says...
4:31pm Wed 24 Oct 12
senior supporter
says...
7:36pm Wed 24 Oct 12
chdale and many others can "buy" sucess on gates of under 3000. There is something wrong here.
A Scroat
says...
7:50pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Malcy69
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8:45pm Wed 24 Oct 12
johnshuker
says...
10:27pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Doctor69
says...
11:29pm Wed 24 Oct 12
senior supporter wrote:Exactly how I see things. It's him who has assembled the squad. If they aren't up to it then who else can be blamed?
the manager says it is a lack of Quality that is costing us points, surely that mea ns he has bought the wrong players! How is it that teams like Crawley,Stevenage,Ro
chdale and many others can "buy" sucess on gates of under 3000. There is something wrong here.
adlibber
says...
6:57am Thu 25 Oct 12
johnshuker wrote:Sorry John as much as I admire your optimism but competence usually means doing something well and in this case it means losing another game. 3 league wins in 12 games is not a faith keeping situation. Wilder has had his day and his choice of players has failed him but he won't accept any blame for this.
Up to 78 Minutes this was a competent display, good approach play with the defence looking sound. The manager is right we did look like the home side and dominated for many periods. Simply, though look at our corner count this confirms our domination. The reality was the front four should have made the game safe.Raynes was undone with a long ball, and the second was tow yards offside, incompetent lino! Keep the faith!
Remember how Pattison was after each defeat or Atkins? Must be a disease (notmesia) that affects the memory of these men in charge. Not many managers get four years to manage a club that is considered to be a biggish appointment in the lower leagues. Wilder has run out of excuses and his team has run out of ideas. I can't remember the last time we had a long unbeaten run. It's the same as it ever was under Wilder we have no consistency. I don't understand Lenagan here either - he owns a club that has potential for 10k plus gates yet he's allowing a manager to take us back to the bleak years. I don't care if we beat Wycombe 5-0 away from home because it will mean nothing if we then lose our next 3-4 games.
We still have a chance to rescue our season but not with Wilder or his coaching staff in charge.
Megastar07
says...
11:03am Thu 25 Oct 12
What are you waiting for to be in the bottom two
We need a new manager now
Don't waste time it will cost u and Oxford big time
adlibber says...
12:20pm Wed 24 Oct 12
Also, it appears that players are following Wilder with excuses for defeats - no good thinking the team is good enough its goals not thoughts that win games. We need a change at the top now - I just don't have any faith in wilder's management style,his coaching methods,his motivational 'skills' or his ability to get the best out of players.