Can't fault your match preview this week. I'm wondering what's gone wrong? Is it the new contract issues! We do seem prone to injuries but nevertheless not many of the squad are consistently playing to their ability. Can't see us scoring at the moment so I'll go for no scorer. Oxford are a good team and I expect them to win 2-0.

I just can't see us getting anything from this game unless playing a couple of "our own" in Amos and Greaves provides the spark needed. Donaldo sums up the situation, as we all see it, very well.
Hopefully it will not be as bad as at the Kassam last season, and I do not want my cousin to gloat. However, I think I'll agree with Donaldo with a 3-1 defeat, but with Copps scoring.
I'll pray we are all too pessimistic!

Oxford 1-1 Rovers
Okenabirhie to score.
C'mon Rovers ⚽

Good to see AJ and Amos included.

1-2 to oxford - Anderson with goal

Halliday and Smith were courageous enough to at least try to mount some attacks, running forwards, as did Horton whose ability outshone Amos, who like so many were worryingly out of their depth. Simoes plays without any obvious objective and the one-footed Richards seems easily marked out of the action. Okenabirhie hardly ever controlled the ball when he got it. Copps was not as bad as some, but no game changer tonight. Gomes and Williams were an improvement on several of those who started and Jones let the first goal in through his legs and spectated for the other two, out of position, and made no effort towards two long-range shots which only narrowly missed the target as well as misguiding a couple of attempted passes out from the back which might have been costly.

Although it was 11 vs 11 Oxford defended and attacked in numbers, whereas Rovers, well, there was just no organisation.

You could put the blame on a consistent lack of effort to move to the ball up the field instead of just standing still and watching the opposition intercept the pass. There was no running into space and no plan. I am sure there will be talk of an improved second half, but Oxford just sat back against a very poor team.

Though its early days for AB signs are its not looking good. I wonder how may poor results the board will tolerate before they have a word in ABs ear and set in motion the search for a more experienced manager? Time for Balcome to return. Difficult to see what else is needed to steady the ship. In some ways it woukd be no bad thing if we didnt make the playoffs , though its only a few weeks ago we were looking at a probable automatic promotion place. Given the player options AB had tonight the set up and tactics were completely wrong.

Credit to Liam Hoden for his match report which is very accurate except he exempts Jones from an adverse comment. Football reporters chide refs for protecting goalkeepers, but there is a great reluctance to blame them in press reporting too. If their positioning and decision-making is wrong it is very often ignored.

Gills 2-0 Rovers
Hope that I'm soooooooo wrong