Oxford United happy to leave stadium pitch behind (From The Oxford Times)

Oxford United happy to leave stadium pitch behind

8:00am Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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Oxford United manager Chris Wilder predicts an away game will do his players “the world of good”.

The U’s are preparing now for back-to-back Blue Square Premier matches on the road, with trips to Tamworth on Sunday then promotion rivals Rushden next Wednesday.

And United’s players may feel under less pressure away from the Kassam Stadium where, helpful though their big crowd is, the pitch is not.

Wilder said, in the wake of a disappointing return of one point out of six from the last two at home: “An away game will do us the world of good.

“We’re in the fight, there’s 11 games to go. I think we’ve got enough belief in the squad, and hopefully James Constable and Alfie Potter coming back will give us a big lift.

“A solid win will get us going again.”

Wilder would not comment on the Kassam Stadium pitch, because he understandably does not want it to look as if he is making excuses if the team is not playing as well as earlier this season.

But everyone agrees it’s in the poorest state it has ever been, when it used to be one of the best playing surfaces in the country.

Striker Franny Green admitted it was the bobbly state of the pitch, as much as its bogginess, which made it difficult to pass the ball well.

Green was one who didn’t have an axe to grind, because he played quite well, and scored a fine goal, on it against Kettering last Saturday.

However, he conceded: “It’s really bobbly. One flank is fine, the corner’s fine, but it seems to be the South Stand side. And it’s boggy.

“You can roll it, but as soon as it cuts up . . . it’s hard to pass the ball around at a tempo.”

United, whose hands are tied because it is the Kassam Stadium company who employ the groundstaff, are confident the pitch will have improved by the time of the next home match, against Gateshead on Saturday week.

Meanwhile, Wilder is sure his players can avenge their 1-0 home defeat by Tamworth on January 16, when keeper Ryan Clarke made a rare error.

He said: “We’ve got to get back on track, we understand that, but there’s a quarter of the season to go. It’s a test for us all, and it’s one we should look forward to.”

* United’s ticket office will be open between 10am and noon this Saturday to allow season ticket holders the chance to renew their seats for next season, and also to book their place for the big game at Stevenage on March 30.

Stevenage tickets are now available to season ticket holders only, one per season ticket, until midday on Saturday. Tickets are available to United members from Saturday and any left will then go on open sale from Tuesday.