Chris Wilder admitted Oxford United are playing without confidence or belief after their winless run was extended to five games on Saturday.

The U’s could not produce a response to a classy finish from Joel Grant as Wycombe Wanderers won the clash 1-0 at the Kassam Stadium.

As in previous npower League Two games a lack of a cutting edge in the final third let them down.

But of more concern was the way the hosts’ challenge fizzled out in the final half-hour.

Wilder thought the key moment came when Alfie Potter could only shoot tamely at the goalkeeper when through one-on-one around the hour mark.

It sapped morale, which was already affected by three defeats in their last four games.

The United boss said: “I’ve got no problem with the enthusiasm and commitment. I just think it’s a tough period, and when players are playing with no belief and confidence it does really make it hard.

“We have to regain that by keeping going, sticking your chest out and working as hard as possible and hopefully somebody does something that gets us up and running again.

“Maybe if we had stuck one of those early chances away we would have seen a different Oxford United, but it wasn’t to be and I thought Wycombe saw the game out pretty comfortably. We didn’t look like threatening them.”

One of the players suffering with a lack of form is striker Tom Craddock.

The U’s joint top scorer headed a good opportunity over the bar just after Grant’s opener.

He was substituted seven minutes into the second half and headed straight down the tunnel, prompting U’s assistant manager Mickey Lewis to follow and bring him back.

Wilder was disappointed with the reaction, but put it down to the player’s frustration at his performance and felt the matter had been quickly resolved.

He said: “Tommy has accepted that in there, it’s part and parcel of football that you have to accept stuff.

“I could have ranted and raved about Tommy missing a header in the first half when he should have scored. But that happens, he’s a good personality and is a decent lad.

“He’s another one who is not going through a great time, as a few of them aren’t, but if he sticks at it and comes through it then he’ll be better for it.”