E-mail Article Print this story

Constable: Will miss next two games

Related Links

• Teams
• Oxford United

Oxford feeling Edgy at home

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder has admitted that his side needs to improve their composure at home if they are going to stay top of the Blue Square Premier.

The U's were unable to score in a 0-0 home draw against Kidderminster, but returned to the summit of the log after Stevenage lost 1-0 to Tamworth.

With an in-form York drawing to within a point of the top two, Wilder knows that Oxford's home form will be vital in the remainder of the season.

"I'm delighted that we're top of the league, but know that we've got to be a little bit calmer at home," Wilder told the Witney Gazette.

Oxford have an impressive home record, having lost just once at Kassam Stadium all season, a 1-0 defeat to Tamworth on January 16. Wilder feels that that result has affected his players' confidence at home, but has called for calm.

"We've got to be better at home.

"We're playing a little bit edgy at the moment. That's obviously off the back of losing the one game we have done."

The U's coach believes that a good home performance will set things flowing again."we're just a bit edgy at the moment.

"I think that does change with a decent result, and maybe the ball hitting the back of the net in the first 20 seconds settles it down."

"The longer it goes, everybody gets edgy.

"We've got to make sure we overcome that, because this place is going to play a major part in us being in the position where we want to be - we've got the most home games left - and we can't all of a sudden turn this into an edgy place."

Oxford will be without their top-scorer for their next two fixtures, James Constable recieved his tenth yellow card of season against Harriers and will be suspended for the games against Luton and Histon.