Wilder looks forward to the visit of the league leaders
Manager Chris Wilder wants his United side to use Tuesday’s win over AFC Wimbledon as a positive step forward as they face Gillingham at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow.
“It doesn’t come any more difficult than tomorrow but we should be buoyed by the result on Tuesday and the heart that the players showed but we’ve got to go again." Chris told Yellow Player. " It was a small step on Tuesday night, we’re not saying that it was an unbelievable performance and result and we’re going to go and win the league by ten or 15 points but it was a small step for us and one that everyone can be pleased about.
“The last two performances at Rotherham and on Tuesday have encouraged me. It wasn’t a defensive masterclass on Tuesday, we were a bit all over the place, and we had to take a few gambles and we had to make a few decisions that were enforced upon us but I think everybody showed the spirit and the heart of the players and that was backed by the fantastic atmosphere that the supporters created for them to go on to win. I said afterwards that that was a class part of the night and it showed what the majority of our support is like and it’s a class apart from anyone else and I really appreciate that going into the game.”
Oxford will be without defender Michael Raynes and midfielder Lee Cox for tomorrow’s game after they both came off injured on Tuesday night but Wilder was boosted by the return of Adam Chapman to training this week.
“It’s not good, we’re looking at Michael Raynes being out for possibly three to four weeks and Lee Cox so we’re one step forward on a few of them and two steps back on others but we’ve had to deal with it and we’ve got to deal with it again but I think it’s a really good game for us on Saturday.
“Their manager, I really like, I have met him a few times and he is, for me, a likeable character who loves his football and he has assembled a really good squad who are going fantastically well with a perfect away record so we’ll see what we can do.
“Chappy’s back, that’s good to see and it’s good to see Whingy, Liam Davis and Dubes out on the grass and good to see Harry Worley back playing. We’re asking a lot of him at the moment because he’s been out eight months and not played any football at all apart from 60 minutes at Rotherham which was a difficult ask and coming on for Raynesy just before half-time on Tuesday but if he’s required to play he is willing to roll his sleeves up and Chappy will be the same as well.”
See the full interview with Chris Wilder as well as Jake Wright’s thoughts ahead of the match in Yellow Player.