Oxford United look for killer instinct (From Banbury Cake)

Oxford United look for killer instinct

7:50am Friday 5th February 2010

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MANAGER Chris Wilder says it’s no surprise to him that Oxford United’s goals are starting to flow again.

But while he believes that his side can be even more clinical in front of goal, he is urging fans at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow to be patient, because visitors Kidderminster Harriers are a strong outfit.

Harriers are one of only three sides to have beaten United in the Blue Square Premier this season, 3-1 at Aggborough on November 13 when the U’s got off to a poor start, conceding twice in the opening 18 minutes, and then had Steven Kinniburgh sent off in the second half.

But, following a run of five games in a stop-start December and January in which they managed just four goals, Wilder’s men are bang in form again in front of goal, having hit four in their last league game at Grays, and three at Chelmsford in the FA Trophy last Saturday.

Lying in second place just a point behind Stevenage with two games in hand, Oxford are already the first team in the Blue Square Premier to have reached 50 goals.

Wilder said: “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.

“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.

“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.”

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.

“But 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.”

In ninth place, Kidderminster are one of the clubs chasing a play-off place.

And United’s manager warned: “The crowd has to be with us and we need to be patient because they have some good players.”

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