Wilder rues Oxford United's bad luck

9:30am Wednesday 21st November 2012 in United News 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 shows his delight at scoring an equaliser for Oxford United just seconds after they had gone behind at Barnet last night Sean Rigg shows his delight at scoring an equaliser for Oxford United just seconds after they had gone behind at Barnet last night

CHRIS Wilder rued Oxford United’s luck as they came within a whisker of clinching all three points in stoppage time at Barnet last night.

With the score at 2-2 and the final whistle looming, Johnny Mullins saw a firm header strike one post, roll along the goal line, hit the other upright and bounce clear.

Manager Wilder felt after a run of decisions going against his side in recent games they were due some good fortune, but had to settle for a point.

He said: “We’ve dominated teams and things like that have gone against us.

“You just thought that maybe we were due a touch of luck, but it’s come off both posts and fallen into the keeper’s hands as two boys were rushing to tap it in.

“It would have been fantastic if we had scored, but it is what it is – a draw away from home and we have to go on now.”

It would have been a worthy reward for the visitors, who had come from behind to lead thanks to goals from Sean Rigg and Andy Whing.

They were pegged back when Jake Hyde grabbed his second of the night, but both sides produced a committed display in difficult conditions at Underhill.

Wilder said: “We’ve played a lot better than that and I’m not hiding from the fact that we weren’t great in terms of our performance, but we showed other good qualities in our game.

“We’ve got a result, I’m not jumping about it, saying it’s the best result we’ve had all season, but it’s a result and we move forward.”

Whing’s goal was particularly noteworthy, as it was his first for the club and only the fifth in his career.

The full back looked unsure how to celebrate his second-half header, before being mobbed by delighted teammates.

“He’s not prolific, is he?,” Wilder said.

“But it was a popular goal for a popular player.”

Comments(27)

oldun says...
9:38am Wed 21 Nov 12

Big big game on Saturday - we must win it. COYY

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Captain Yellow says...
9:49am Wed 21 Nov 12

Due a touch of luck? How about the two Barnet efforts which were cleared off the line? How about the ridiculous "backpass" freekick we were given? Let's be honest, it was nothing to do with luck. We just weren't good enough.

Barnet were a very poor side but, quite simply, wanted it more. Their number 4 was clearly a limited player, but his determination to win the ball and do something with it stood head and shoulders above the effort put in by some of ours - Leven in particular.

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KPGenius says...
10:00am Wed 21 Nov 12

Couldn't agree with Captain Yellow more - their number 4 ran the midfield and was quicker and stronger than Leven or Chapman. We created next to nothing.

Mullins was unlucky with the header but it would have been an injustice if we had got a win, on balance Barnet were the better team.

Reading between the lines Wilder knows it was poor, but he understandably isn't going to come out and slate the performance to the press.

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GRB says...
10:03am Wed 21 Nov 12

You generally make your own luck in this game! Not good enough!

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oldun says...
10:04am Wed 21 Nov 12

A few of our old pals - genuine United fans - have been very quiet since the end of our 'great run' a few weeks ago . I judge the team over more than three performances . I wonder what their views are - win on Saturday will be useful - but will be just one small step on our rise to 3rd place

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jbowling says...
10:05am Wed 21 Nov 12

I think we should be grateful for a point this time - it's better than nothing and with Aldershot and Wycombe winning away it could prove important later in the year.

Also if Barnet had won the gap with them would have been down to three points.

L

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RADIOFAN says...
10:15am Wed 21 Nov 12

Its not that we cannot defend set pieces. Its not that we are unable to convert our chances. Its not because we are not good enough to win matches when we even have most of the procession. Its all down to bad luck. Its talk liked that Mr Wilder that gets teams relegated. Massive game saturday. Probably the biggest game at the Kassam since Leighton Orient. Lose and we will be in the deep deep pooh.

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northampton yellow says...
10:24am Wed 21 Nov 12

WOW MR WILDER you got us a poxy point against a very poor barnet side last nite but we were even worse again if we been playing a top side we would have got hammered, the season is not looking bright we need a good xmas present from a fairy and a magic wand to turn this pathic season around , i just hope sat we can win as a work with a load of cobblers fans

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happyharryhardon says...
10:34am Wed 21 Nov 12

I'm just sick of all the same old sh!t at Oxford Utd. We have a very poor team a manager that doesn't know his arse from his elbow and a owner who clearly doesn't give a toss. If I had a football team and needed some players apart from 1 or 2 I wouldn't want any of our players in my team. Lenagan can you please make up your mind if you actually want a football club, if so do something with it.

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Joe1 says...
10:52am Wed 21 Nov 12

Watching the game last night, Chapman was a waste of space & should have been taken off & replaced by another forward. The sub was a non event hardly touching the ball & struggling to make his presence felt. JC seemed to disappear in the second have. How we missed Craddock!!! There was nobody up front who came even close to scoring.
Our defence seemed all over the place giving Barnet their second goal. What a shambles of a defence. Barnet were poor but still managed to score two gaols. That says it all about our team. Our fans deserve better than that CW. On a cold wet & windy night @ a poor ground with little cover from the eliments, the fans were there to support. Some of our team did not respond.

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Open your eyes says...
11:17am Wed 21 Nov 12

Due good luck? As others have said how about the two scrambled efforts off our own line and how we got battered in the second period? Barnet had ample chances to win it in the opening period.

We looked unfit and that is nothing short of criminal.

I will not resort to swearing but it really is time you LEFT Wilder!

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Captain Yellow says...
11:33am Wed 21 Nov 12

Joe1 wrote:
Watching the game last night, Chapman was a waste of space & should have been taken off & replaced by another forward. The sub was a non event hardly touching the ball & struggling to make his presence felt. JC seemed to disappear in the second have. How we missed Craddock!!! There was nobody up front who came even close to scoring.
Our defence seemed all over the place giving Barnet their second goal. What a shambles of a defence. Barnet were poor but still managed to score two gaols. That says it all about our team. Our fans deserve better than that CW. On a cold wet & windy night @ a poor ground with little cover from the eliments, the fans were there to support. Some of our team did not respond.
You must've been watching a different game. Chapman was one of few to come out of the game with any credit - always looking for the ball and trying to make something happen. Trouble was, he was often pushed too deep to be effective.

If you want a waste of space, I'd suggest looking at Leven. Totally failed to take any responsibility and Barnet's second goal sprung from his not closing down their player when ball was won in midfield.

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thame-yellow says...
11:43am Wed 21 Nov 12

harry come and save us lol

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Doctor69 says...
1:14pm Wed 21 Nov 12

Injuries, Luck, bad decisions......excus
es!
Face it Wilder we are not good enough,and all that stems from you and your team. You bought the players, you and the staff train the players, you also select the team, and give them the tactics for a game.

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A Scroat says...
3:01pm Wed 21 Nov 12

I keep worrying that Chelsea may now approach Wilder. Hahahahahaahahaha

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adlibber says...
3:29pm Wed 21 Nov 12

Wilder - just go home Lenagan open your mouth and say something. Players -some of you belong in non league so please do your best to return without taking our club with you.

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dave from witney says...
4:09pm Wed 21 Nov 12

Two points from the last twelve.......crazy that the man is still in a job. After last night's result and performance, thats a few more off the gate for Saturday.

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bigchet says...
4:11pm Wed 21 Nov 12

at the end of the day the draw was a fair result the fact that mullins has gone back to r,ham is a big blow as he has been outstanding for us ,but have faith that hw can come in and do a good job. n,hampton will be a tough proposition on sat , and im sure that chris hacket will want to do well against his old club. dont know who is best to partner jc up front as neither alfie or jpp look to be the answer but i cant see cw taking a gamble with marsh whilst we are struggling.

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Beau champ mummy says...
4:18pm Wed 21 Nov 12

Get this parasite lenagan out now

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RADIOFAN says...
5:00pm Wed 21 Nov 12

Why not pick Marsh ? Potter is no forward. Pittman has shown absloutely nothing so far and Constable has not scored at the Kassam for almost a year now. So what is there to lose. Mind you if he did start and did well it would make our wonderful manager look very stupid.

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dorsetyellows says...
5:46pm Wed 21 Nov 12

afcbournemouth have 9 strikers , wes thomas out of favour , get him here on loan . hope the new owners have started giving wilder serious targets and act before we end up in the bottom half of this league for the rest of the season .

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RADIOFAN says...
6:34pm Wed 21 Nov 12

I know nothing about this Wes Thomas but i wouldnt raise your hopes mate . If history is anything to go by if Wilder has any spare cash he will spend it on another defender. Sad but true.

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WindsorYellow says...
8:00pm Wed 21 Nov 12

So Roberto di Matteo gets sacked because they haven't won in 4 games. So how the hell has wilder still got a job.!!!! Just look at the **** poor games since February???

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Captain Yellow says...
8:12am Thu 22 Nov 12

Beau champ mummy wrote:
Get this parasite lenagan out now
Parasite? How so?

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Beau champ mummy says...
5:23pm Thu 22 Nov 12

Captain Yellow wrote:
Beau champ mummy wrote:
Get this parasite lenagan out now
Parasite? How so?
Cause he is doing nothing for our club he is destroying it that's y rosenthal left

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Merekat1 says...
8:01pm Thu 22 Nov 12

Every time wilder opens his mouth he makes himself a laughing stock. The tragedy is that he is slowly but surely taking us to hell.

Listening to his interviews and press statements I am convince he really has no idea just what a pathetic character he portrays.

Please go now Mr Wilder before you get us to the point of no return.

Go and have a good holiday on the compensation you will get.

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oldun says...
8:11pm Thu 22 Nov 12

We must take great care with our next manager - we have had so many poor ones. Couldn't stand the footbal played by Atkins' sides but they did much better than this one is. COYY "Oxford United occupied the automatic promotion and playoff places in Division Three for much of the 2002–03 season, but a slight dip in form during the final weeks of the season saw them finish eighth in the final table—one place short of the playoffs. A lively start to the 2003–04 season saw Oxford United leading the Division Three table at Christmas with just one defeat in over 20 fixtures. Atkins was suspended in March 2004 and then dismissed the following month for talking to Bristol Rovers about the possibility of taking over as manager, which he subsequently did.

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