Match Report: League One – Bristol Rovers 3-1 Oxford United

Oxford United suffered a third successive league defeat as they lost out at Bristol Rovers.

Ben Woodburn gave the U’s the lead, but Ed Upson and Jonson Clarke-Harris sent the Gas into the break with the advantage.

Tom Nichols added a third late on in a game that saw six yellow cards and former Pirates striker Matty Taylor being subbed off midway through the first half.

Oxford made three changes from the side that lost to Burton in midweek, with Elliott Moore, Jamie Hanson and Tariqe Fosu replacing John Mousinho, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin and Anthony Forde.

Simon Eastwood started in goal, with Josh Ruffels and Chris Cadden as the full-backs. Moore, making his first league start of the season, partnered Rob Dickie in defence.

Cameron Brannagan sat alongside Hanson in midfield, with Fosu on the left and James Henry on the right. Goalscorer Woodburn sat in behind the former Gas striker Taylor.

In what is always a feisty affair, this had an extra edge with Taylor’s first return to the Memorial Stadium after his move from Rovers to Bristol City. But it was the U’s new signing that came close to an opener inside ten minutes after Fosu crossed but Taylor was unable to make contact.

Shortly after, Ollie Clarke was given a yellow, before Taylor picked one up for the U’s.

The game was struggling to flow but when it did, Oxford looked stronger, and they found the net with their first attempt on the Rovers goal. A patient build-up allowed Dickie to find Woodburn, who turned and struck home from 25 yards with a precise finish.

But the game was to go downhill from there for Karl Robinson’s side. Three minutes after the goal, Taylor suffered an injury and was subsequently substituted, and just eight minutes later the hosts were level. The U’s defence failed to clear their lines and Upson volleyed home past Eastwood.

Oxford were now on the ropes, and a Josh Hare cross found Clarke-Harris who headed the hosts in front.

Oxford, who found themselves 2-1 up before their 4-2 defeat against Burton, started the second-half stronger and were denied from a corner with the ball cleared off the line.

Like the defeat at Blackpool, Oxford failed to make their possession count. Tyler Smith could have furthered the hosts lead but he was unable to control his header, and the U’s failed to capitalise on any set pieces.

Twelve minutes before the end, they were punished when Nichols fired home to secure the win for the Gas.