Oxford United bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Hull City with a comfortable 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers.
It was an important evening too as both Matty Taylor and Mide Shodipo ended their respective goal droughts.
The result lifts the U’s to eighth, just two points off the playoffs.
Your #oufc starting XI against Doncaster. pic.twitter.com/GGpeTMXtlP
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) March 16, 2021
Karl Robinson made four changes from the side that lost at league leaders Hull last time out. Anthony Forde missed out for personal reasons so Jamie Hanson replaced him at right-back while Alex Rodriguez Gorrin returned. Brandon Barker, Liam Kelly and Taylor also came into the side.
Jack Stevens started in goal behind Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore and Hanson, with Gorrin just ahead.
Cameron Brannagan partnered Kelly in the middle with Barker and Shodipo as the wide men with Taylor leading the line.
Taylor Richards was presented with the games first chance but his effort was straight at Stevens. For Oxford, both Barker and Shodipo started brightly down either wing.
Taylor came close to an opener within ten minutes but he was unable to reach Brannagan’s cross before Gorrin’s effort as saved by Louis Jones.
Oxford had an even better chance moments later when Jones gave the ball away at the back but from 25-yards, Kelly was unable to turn the ball into the open net as Jones recovered.
The game was end to end and Donny then created a couple of chances. First, Fejiri Okenabirhie saw an effort blocked by Atkinson before Hanson got in the way of an attempt from Richards.
At the other end, Barker played in Shodipo but the winger saw his effort blocked and Taylor was unable to turn home the rebound. But the Oxford forward, who hadn’t scored in 14 games soon ended his drought. Barker got beyond his man down the left and his low cross found Brannagan. Although the midfielder fumbled his effort, Taylor turned home the rebound to give the U’s the lead.
The hosts were on top. Brannagan saw a deflected effort tipped behind before Moore’s header from the resulting corner was blocked.
At the other end, James Coppinger saw an effort deflected wide but the U’s would add a second five minutes before the break. A well-worked free-kick was headed towards goal by Ruffels and the ball went in off Taylor for the forwards’ 13th goal of the campaign.
Before the break, Oxford made it three. The U’s won the ball back in a dangerous area and Barker played the ball out to Shodipo to smash home his first goal in 11 games since the 3-2 defeat at Doncaster.
After the break, Shodipo tested Jones from range but the goalkeeper got down well before denying another effort from Brannagan.
Another flurry of efforts soon followed. Shodipo struck straight at Jones before the winger and Brannagan both saw attempts blocked.
The second half then began to slow down, but substitute Dan Agyei came close again to scoring just moments after coming on but his effort said just wide.
Agyei and Okenabirhie both missed late chances but the game was over by half time.
Oxford welcome Blackpool on Saturday who are 12 after a 1-1 draw with Burton but are just three points behind the U’s.
