Oxford United boss Chris Wilder joyous with Swindon victory

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder paid tribute to his side after their Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over bitter rivals Swindon on Wednesday.

Wilder's side defeated Swindon 1-0 thanks to Alfie Potter's late goal and the U's boss said it all went to plan.

"I wanted a scruffy game, I wanted a helter-skelter cup tie, I didn't want them to have time on the ball, why should they?" Wilder told Radio Oxford.

"It was an ugly game but now nobody gives a monkey's about how we played."

The victory was the third time in little over a year that Oxford have beaten their neighbours Swindon and Wilder could not contain his joy.

"That is the night we wanted," he said.

"They've got quality players, they recruited last year, they recruited this year, they've chucked dough at it left, right and centre and have brought quality, even in the last two weeks.

"Did we pass it? Did we rotate in midfield? Was the movement of the front three good? Did we get overlaps? All the good things we do in our game, it's irrelevant. Cup-tie football is about the team that does the business on the night and I think we deserve a lot of credit."

Potter's winner was set up by striker James Constable, who is still without a goal this season.

But Wilder paid tribute to his former captain, who he thought was excellent throughout.

"James can be pleased with his performance. He ruffled the centre-halves, he's going through a bit of a difficult time at the moment and we need to back him and support him as we do all the players," he said.

"He can be pleased with the effort he put in. The last five minutes he was immense and he picked the right choice with that pass for Alfie's goal."

Wilder has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Coventry and is the bookmakers' favourite for the job.

"People have asked about my position but I've been fully focused and I think that showed tonight," he said.

"I'm fully focussed on the football club. We've had a tough week or so with losing to Leeds and then York, but we've dusted ourselves down to get a result tonight and that is the character and mentality of the players.

"I hope everyone has had a great night and is proud of our performance."