Chris Wilder admitted his team lacked a cutting edge as they went down to their second home defeat of the season on Saturday.

On an afternoon of sheer frustration for United’s top scorer James Constable, and the home fans in a 7,000 crowd, Oxford lost 1-0 to Stockport to slip to tenth in npower League Two.

“I’m not going to criticise my side as they were throwing everything at them at the end,” said Wilder “We need to be more clinical than that though.”

Oxford laid siege to Stockport’s goal in the second half after falling behind when County scored from a rare attack, but just as when they went down at home to Bury last month, they couldn’t put away chances.

Defeat brought to an end their fine run after back-to-back wins over Morecambe and Hereford.

“We missed so many chances,” Wilder said. “The quality in the final third wasn’t great and we’ve switched off one time and paid for it.

“I can’t be angry with my side, though. We’re new into the division.

“Our play was decent and we made enough chances to have won two or three games. We got a little bit intricate at the end – that’s my only criticism.”

Many U’s supporters were locked in debate afterwards as to whether Jack Midson should have come on.

With the U’s unable to find a way past Matt Glennon, he remained on the bench.

And the fans also vented their frustration at an inconsistent display by referee Carl Boyeson.

“I thought everybody was frustrated by the referee’s performance,” said Wilder.

“I haven’t been critical of refs this season, but how could he give only four minutes of stoppage time, when their physio was on about three times and there were all the substitutions in the second half?

“It summed up a really frustrating and disappointing day for everyone.”

One person who left the Kassam Stadium very happy, however, was ex-united midfielder Paul Simpson, the Stockport boss.

He admitted: “It was a smash and grab, I think it’s fair to say.”