Oxford United boss Wilder rues mad 15 minutes

9:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Sean Rigg (14) can't believe his first-half miss against Rotherham Sean Rigg (14) can't believe his first-half miss against Rotherham

CHRIS Wilder bemoaned a “mad 15 minutes” as Oxford United were taken apart 4-0 by Rotherham United last night.

All the goals came between the half hour mark and the interval, leaving the U’s shell-shocked.

It all came after a solid opening from the home side, who were attempting to claim a third successive win against an automatic promotion favourite in the space of eight days.

They created an excellent chance to take the lead, but after it was missed, the game rapidly slipped out of reach.

Wilder said: “We had the best chance with Sean Rigg and then a couple of balls are cleared, we don’t secure them and all of a sudden in a mad 15 minutes we’re four down.

“It’s an emotional game and it’s an emotional night for everybody. “We’re deeply disappointed and we’ve let a lot of people down, we understand that.

“We’ve played a side with Championship players and when you give them opportunities they are going to punish you.”

He added: “Rotherham are a better side with better players than us and we made it easy for them. “They took full advantage and that is the game in a nutshell.”

Rotherham struck through David Noble, Kari Arnason, Johnny Mullins and Ben Pringle between the 30th and 44th minutes.

United midfielder Andy Whing, who returned to the starting line-up, admitted it was a damage limitation exercise in the second half.

He said: “It’s tough to go in 4-0 down at half-time, you’'ve got to come out in the second half and dig in.

“You don’t want to get beat (by) five, six or seven.

“It’s obviously a tough evening, but we've got to dust ourselves down.”

United supporters were surprisingly vocal in their support in the second half, but the final whistle brought boos from the majority inside the Kassam Stadium.

Wilder had not previously lost a home league game by more than two goals during his time as United manager.

He said: “We all have to take that criticism and everything that goes with getting beat 4-0 at home, because that’s the biggest defeat we’ve had at home I think in my time here.

“It’s hurting me and hopefully it’s hurting the players.

“But a week is a long time in football, as we have seen, and we have to make sure we put it right on Saturday against Torquay.”

Comments(19)

CRSDC says...
9:17am Wed 6 Mar 13

Same old story....deflect any blame from you Wilder...As for you pro wilder lot who will still say he's the right man still pack your bags and go with him.
WILDER & HIS MUPPETS OUT!!

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BigAlBiker says...
9:21am Wed 6 Mar 13

Mad 15 minutes, Wilder your MAD, your inept selections and tactics are driving loyal supporters mad, didn't you realise this when for almost all of the second half the supporters were singing, for the TEAM not you.

You have released good players in the last few years, you have signed some mediocre unfit players in the mean time and this is where we are, we have two hopes for this season, Bob and None.

Get Tyrone Marsh back, play him and Max Crocombe from now until the end of the season to give them some game time and experience, then clear off out of the town, your not liked or wanted. oh and take your cronies with you, two games a season does not make.

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Joe1 says...
9:28am Wed 6 Mar 13

What was that last night????? I ddi not see Oxford United out there more like disunited. Never mind CW is hurting I know the fans are!!!!!

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train passenger says...
9:47am Wed 6 Mar 13

Yes, Tyrone 'Messi' Marsh. Bring him on.

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Brenda Jackson says...
10:35am Wed 6 Mar 13

As long as ian lenagan's happy, that's all that matters - aint it. And happy he must be, how else do you explain the fact the idjut manager is still here?

wider knows all the cliches and excuses in the book, end of the day, his team selection/tactics etc etc, therefore, HIS responsibility. But does he blame himself? No, he's the messiah after all..

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The Black Prince was off-side says...
10:38am Wed 6 Mar 13

I agree with everything that has been said so let me take a different angle to the story. I listened on the way home from the game to the interviews with Wilder both on BBC Oxford and Jack FM. We all know he rambles on with the same old excuses that it is not his fault but these interviewers week in and week out never put him under any pressure. For example last night not only did Wilder not apologise or take personal responsibility, neither radio station factually or objectively asked any searching questions and neither of the timid interviewers even challenge why he changed the formation. They both need to up their game rather than led Wilder dribble on.

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Sialan_99 says...
10:40am Wed 6 Mar 13

That is just a pathetic excuses Wilder! What was that poor performance then, Maybe shouldn't have drop McCormick and replace with Crocombe and unleashed Constable and Craddock will be better!

How long will get promoted to League 1. Maybe time for Wilder Out!! And bring in a experienced manager in for the new season also sign better players too

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Sialan_99 says...
10:43am Wed 6 Mar 13

That is just a pathetic excuses Wilder! What was that poor performance then, Maybe should have drop McCormick and replace with Crocombe and unleashed Constable and Craddock will be better!

How long will get promoted to League 1. Maybe time for Wilder Out!! And bring in a experienced manager in for the new season also sign better players too”

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Open your eyes says...
11:45am Wed 6 Mar 13

I don't mind him changing a winning side, but changing the formation so dramtically and yet when it was obvious at 2-0 that was the problem, he waited till half time to make the required changes. By which time, Rotherham had taked us to the cleaners.

Shocking management but he will spout about the two blips against Vale and Gillingham for the next week or so as justification of him keeping his job.

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darkskies says...
12:04pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Fortress Kaststad? Last night was a joke. We need to toughen up our defence to make opponents think twice. Briggs and Shotton where are you, Jake cant do it alone...
Still OUFC but hurting....

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Doctor69 says...
12:19pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Always excuses with that idiot Wilder isn’t it?! They have championship players! They are better than us! Boo hoo!
Nothing to do with the shocking tactics and line up eh? Why change a winning side? Why change formation? Why leave it till 4 down to make substitutions?

Why are Rotherham better than us? Is it because their manager can attract a decent player? Is it because their manager picks the right players in correct positions? Is it because their manager actually manages the team?

Watching the game last night, at 0-4, Steve Evans was out on the touchline, barking orders. Where was Chris wilder and his bunch of merry men?...stood next to the dug-out hand in pockets with not an f****** clue between them.

Last night was an absolute embarrassment, and the fact that Wilder cannot say ‘Look, I got it wrong, sorry’ adds insult to injury. We spend a lot of money, and give up a lot of time to be served up with that.

Go now Wilder, no one wants you at Oxford anymore. If you had of done the decent thing and walked earlier in the season you would have kept some credibility, now your time here is tainted.

Wilder out.

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Sparkie78 says...
12:50pm Wed 6 Mar 13

15 mins of maddness he says? WTF!!! Why is he still here? So it was nothing to do with him last night? Get a grip you clueless excuse for a manager. Do us all a favour and do the right thing for the club, us fans and pack ya bags.
WILDER OUT WILDER OUT.

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Doctor69 says...
1:10pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Always excuses with that idiot Wilder isn’t it?! They have championship players! They are better than us! Boo hoo!
Nothing to do with the shocking tactics and line up eh? Why change a winning side? Why change formation? Why leave it till 4 down to make substitutions?

Why are Rotherham better than us? Is it because their manager can attract a decent player? Is it because their manager picks the right players in correct positions? Is it because their manager actually manages the team?

Watching the game last night, at 0-4, Steve Evans was out on the touchline, barking orders. Where was Chris wilder and his bunch of merry men?...stood next to the dug-out hand in pockets with not an f****** clue between them.

Last night was an absolute embarrassment, and the fact that Wilder cannot say ‘Look, I got it wrong, sorry’ adds insult to injury. We spend a lot of money, and give up a lot of time to be served up with that.

Go now Wilder, no one wants you at Oxford anymore. If you had of done the decent thing and walked earlier in the season you would have kept some credibility, now your time here is tainted.

Wilder out.

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Doctor69 says...
1:15pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Where are all the wilder fans now? Oh yea, i dont think there are any left!!
Next home game it needs to be loud....WILDER OUT, WILDER OUT!

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Eraser says...
1:19pm Wed 6 Mar 13

On a positive note - we didn't concede for 75 minutes against these Championship players.......

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OxRoxBox says...
4:07pm Wed 6 Mar 13

As Lou Reed once sang

"Take a Walk . . . on the Wild side" !

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oxcidental says...
5:24pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Keep this excuse of a manager..IL you must be mad......We have ended up in the WILDERMESS....All Rotherham players worked for their mananger throughout the game with him and his assistant barking orders even at 4 nil up....Our team could not even be bothered to applaud the fans at the end of the game......Been a supporter for 55 years but just about had enough....As previous fans have said..a complete clearout is required.......Seaso
n ticket sales will suffer next season

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oxcidental says...
5:35pm Wed 6 Mar 13

Just got excited......saw a story in the OM saying smoke was seen near the Kasam....thought we had a new manager but unortunately it was a story from early Tuesady evening....Oh well....dram on

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Franco81 says...
10:35pm Wed 6 Mar 13

We need changes. Lenagan doesn't want to spend though. What winds me up is that the team can really turn it on when they are up for it and look clueless the next.

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