CHRIS Wilder admitted some of Oxford United ’s players had lost his trust on Saturday after suffering the darkest day in his time in charge.
The U’s were thrashed 4-0 at Burton Albion, their third successive defeat in npower League Two.
Defensive weaknesses were again apparent and the fragile side have conceded 11 goals in the three games.
But unlike the losses to York and Exeter, where the U’s had enough chances to avoid defeat, there was little to cheer.
Wilder fumed at the performance.
The United boss said: “I think this is the most disappointing day I’ve had at the football club by quite a stretch.”
When asked whether there was players in the side he could no longer trust, Wilder was frank.
He said: “I think so, yes, and I think it shows out there.
“When things are going well people get on with it, but when things aren’t going as well, it’s a test of character.
“I found out more (on Saturday) than I possibly would have done all season about one or two of the players.”
There is little time to iron out the issues, with United visiting Cheltenham Town tomorrow night.
The ongoing injury situation means Wilder is unable to make wholesale changes, but the United manager is demanding vast improvements.
He said: “Physically they’ve got to be stronger and mentally, when things go against them, they need to be stronger. “I thought a few of them went under, which is really disappointing from my point of view.
“We are classed, I should imagine, as a team that likes to play football, but will put their foot in at the same time. “We didn’t do either, so you’re always going to get what we deserved, which was absolutely nothing.”
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