Wilder looking for Oxford killer instinct

Wilder not surprised by scoring touch

Oxford United have rediscovered their touch in front of goal, something which does not surprise manager Chris Wilder.

Wilder is of the belief that the U's can become even more ruthless in front of goal, but has urged the fans to be patient ahead of his side's home fixture against a strong Kidderminster Harriers outfit.

The Harriers got the better of Oxford in November and are one of only three sides to have done so in the Blue Square Premier this season.

The game at Aggborough ended 3-1 to the home side as the U's conceded two early goals and later were reduced

to ten men as Steven Kinniburgh was sent off. Kidderminster have also shown good form recently under new manager Steve Burr, who is unbeaten after three games in charge.

Oxford however will be confident that they can get the better of Burr's side at the Kassam Stadium. The U's scored four in their last league game at Grays and followed that up last Saturday with three against Chelmsford in the FA trophy.

This came after a barren run of four goals in what was a stop start December and January.

With his side well placed in second spot on the log, just one point behind leaders Stevenage and with two games in hand, Wilder is pleased with Oxford's ability to create goalscoring opportunities. Not surprising given that the team are the first to have reached 50 goals in the Blue Square Premier this season.

"We're still in a great position - we've scored most goals in the league and we've got the best defensive record at home," Wilder told the Oxford Mail.

"It's my honest opinion, and we do our own stats as well . . . we don't create one and score one. We create a lot of chances, especially at home."

"I think what we've been guilty of is not taking those chances," he admitted.

"People who have been at our (recent) home games will have seen that there have been a lot of times when, if we'd been a little bit more ruthless in the final third, with the killer pass or the finish, then we'd have added to our total.

"But we've still scored 50 goals in the league, which is a healthy return."

Citing that there is room for improvement he added, "We have to be more ruthless.

"We have to make sure when the ball comes into our box that we're switched on, and when the ball is in and around the opposition's box, we are clinical with the final pass."

Wilder then complemented his teams attacking threat: "I always think we're a team that create opportunities.

I don't think we're a team that relies on just one chance to win the game."

Kidderminster, in ninth place, are chasing hard for a play-off place. And the Oxford United manager knows that the home side can take nothing for granted, adding: "The crowd has to be with us and we need to be patient because they have some good players."