MANAGER Chris Wilder believes his Oxford United side heading to Wembley have got goals in them.
His strikers are “powerful and athletic”, he says, have good movement and know how to finish.
Although he has not yet confirmed his line-up for Sunday’s Blue Square Premier Play-Off final against York City, it’s expected that he will stick to the front three of James Constable, Jack Midson and Matt Green, who have smashed 48 goals between them this season.
In the league, York found the net 62 times, with Oxford hitting 68, though four of those against Chester were officially chalked off, bringing that down to 64.
Looking at his own front three, Wilder said: “They’re all athletic, strong and physically powerful – they are good footballers.”
The big Wembley pitch is one where the forwards, on both sides, should find plenty of space.
“I don’t really see it makes any difference whether it’s at Wembley or at Grays,” said the U’s boss. “We’ve got good forwards, with Sam (Deering) and Alfie (Potter) to complement them.
“They have got good movement, and they’ve all got a goal in them as well.”
United are flexible and can switch formations whenever the need arises.
“Whatever way we go about it, I think we’ve got good systems and good varieties,” Wilder said.
“We play to our strengths. At times we get it forward quickly, at others we retain possession. Sometimes we have to play with a little bit of width.
“I’d like to think it’s a side with goals in it. We’ve possibly not created enough chances with the amount of opportunities we’ve had, but at any given time all five of them can finish.
“Obviously Beano will take the headlines with the record he’s got.
“It’s a difficult one with Jack, because he wasn’t in the team a lot up until Christmas, but he’s been excellent in and around the place – and we know he can finish as well.
“And Greeny, even though he’s a little bit unorthodox as well, he can stretch teams with his pace and can score as well.
“It’s a very athletic, powerful side.”
Both teams have plenty of Wembley knowledge.
York reached the Trophy final last year, and many of the United players have played there in big games.
Wilder said: “If you look at our side, we have got experience there.
“Dannie Bulman’s played in an FA Cup semi-final, Greavsie (Chris Hargreaves) scored at Wembley last year, and Beano, Creighton and Tonkin have played there as well.
“Everybody will read things into it – people who have played there and lost – is that a good thing or a bad thing?
“I think players who have not had any experience of it, going into it nice and fresh . . . sometimes they don’t realise what’s happened before.
“You can always look at every situation in football from two different angles.
“It’s about getting our heads down and believing that what we have done all season is going to be good enough on Sunday.”
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