Wondering where Donaldo's preview is so just in case it's delayed. Apologies if I've jumped the gun. Preview from Rovers Web site.
Originally formed as Headington in 1893, renamed Oxford United in 1960, this is a club with a storied past – and one with famous fans like Woody Harrelson and Richard Branson to boot.
Oxford United went from being a first division member of the English Football League in 1986, to being out of the EFL altogether in 2006.
In more recent years, they are a club that has been on the brink of promotion to the Championship after making consecutive Sky Bet League One Play-Off appearances,
Oxford United did not start the 2021/22 season as well as head coach Karl Robinson had hoped. The U’s registered just four wins in 13 games across all competitions through the month of September including five losses.
However, since the beginning of October, Oxford United has seen a real upturn in form. In the last 15 games across all competitions, Oxford United has picked up seven wins, five draws and three losses. In the league, the club has six wins, three draws and just a single loss in the last 10 League One fixtures.
On the score sheet, the U’s have six players with at least three goals this season, while also having six players with at least two or more assists. Steve Seddon leads all Oxford United players with four assists, while three other players have three assists each.
Thanks in part to the scoring proficiency of Matty Taylor (tied for fifth in League One with nine goals), Oxford United currently sit seventh in the league table with 33 points, ahead of Sheffield Wednesday on goal difference. The U’s have nine wins, six draws and four losses in the league this season putting them just five points behind league leaders Rotherham United. The good news for Rovers is that nearly all Oxford’s defeats have come on the road.
With 41 goals scored, the U’s employ Karl Robison’s forward offensive mentality to try and push goals past opponents. The team has just five clean sheets this season, with three of those resulting in 0-0 draws. But when they do register goals, the U’s have scored three or more goals in a single game against the likes of Lincoln City, Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion, Morecambe and Fleetwood Town. In those games, the U’s outscored their opponents by an aggregate score line of 17-5.
Oxford edge the recent head-to-head with Rovers: Oxford have four wins, Rovers have two wins and the match has also ended in a draw twice.
Last season, both sides took three points at their home matches. The Us claimed a 3-0 win at Kassam Stadium, while Rovers won 3-2 at The Keepmoat Stadium
DPL v Oxford temp
posted on 7/12/21
If Gmac gets anything from this game he's sure to be favourite to take over.
2-0 to the Us
posted on 7/12/21
Thanks Nookie. A combination of other pressing duties and not really knowing what can be said has got in the way of me posting an introduction.
Oxford are perennial slow starters, but they have all the hallmarks of being settled and confident including a competent established experienced manager, so the polar opposite of Rovers. Gary McS has an unenviable job and the more you hear about the leadership style of Wellens the more difficult it seems his task is.
In some people’s eyes Bogle has got worse and worse in every respect as his exile continued with not a thought as the possibility that it was Wellens that was the problem. I always thought his hold-up play was as good as anyone we have seen - far better that Okenabirhie’s and selecting Cukur to play up front defies the engagement of sensible thought.
So let’s hope we put up a fair show, but the best we might hope for is surely a draw. So, optimistically I’ll say 1-1 (Galbraith/Taylor/Barlow).
posted on 7/12/21
I think 0-2 to Oxford. I hope I'm wrong and we manage to get something from the game.
posted on 7/12/21
I think that they will have too much for us.
Happy to be wrong.
Rovers 0-2 Oxford ⚽
posted on 7/12/21
An interesting starting line-up to say the least!
I want a win to annoy my cousin, but will say Rovers 1 Oxford 2 and hope I'm wrong. Barlow to score.
posted on 7/12/21
The only way is up now. A for effort but E for application. As you all know I live in Hope!
posted on 8/12/21
I didn't see the game but judging by reports and Gmacs post match interview he seems to be getting greater commitment but hasn't worked out yet his best combination of players and where to play them. He's now got 3 clear days to try and iron things out. Saturdays game will be a truer test of how wel he can do with what he's got. I'm feeling more confident . A bit!
posted on 8/12/21
The greater commitment is coming from a team largely made up of players far below the standard of the league in which they are competing in terms of both skill and fitness.
I cannot imagine how anyone purporting to manage a team at this level could imagine that such players that he recruited would be of a suitable standard for development, consolidation and progression to the level above.
I cannot believe that they will escape the drop; going back as far as I can remember I do not think I have seen a visiting team in L1 that have been as poor as this lot.
They deserve to be 24th and I think we have been badly let down by Wellens and those who were misguided enough to appoint him.