Oxford United have started 2020 with defeat as the U’s lost 1-0 at Doncaster Rovers.
A first-half strike from Reece James was the difference and condemned the U’s to just a second defeat in 16 league games.
Your #oufc XI this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/IUUi9togKn
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) January 1, 2020
Karl Robinson made five changes from the side the won at AFC Wimbledon last time out, with Chris Cadden, John Mousinho, Tariqe Fosu and Matty Taylor all returning after missing the Dons win, while Henry replaced Cameron Brannagan who was rested.
Jordan Archer remained in goal, with Josh Ruffels on the left and Cadden on the right while Mousinho partnered Rob Dickie in the centre.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat in midfield behind Henry and Shandon Baptiste, with Fosu and Mark Sykes as the wingers while Taylor led the line.
The visitors started brightly. Baptiste came close to opening the scoring after three minutes but his effort sailed just wide.
The midfielder then found Taylor from a free-kick but the on-loan Bristol City man headed wide before Cadden smashed an effort off target.
Despite the bright opening, Doncaster were involved in the game. Mousinho brilliantly denied Niall Ennis, but the hosts found the breakthrough ten minutes before the break.
Henry saw a shot blocked as the U’s attacked, before Ben Whiteman’s pass found James on the left who smashed a low shot past Archer.
From an Oxford corner, Mousinho knocked down for Dickie but the defender was denied.
The U’s started the second half brightly too. Taylor thought he’d found the equaliser but his header from a Dickie knockdown struck the post.
The U’s looked vulnerable on the counter-attack and from Taylor’s effort, Donny broke and Cadden managed a last-ditch tackle to ensure a chance didn’t come.
With 20 minutes remaining, Robinson made the changes and saw the introduction of Rob Hall and Jamie Mackie. The latter found Taylor with ten minutes left but his effort was cleared off the line by Joe Wright.
The U’s continued to push for an equaliser but Doncaster held on, despite the visitors dominating large parts of the game.
Oxford drop from 2nd to 4th but still have a game in hand on the sides above them with just two points the difference.
