The U's Matchzone

Match Report: League One – Oxford United 3-0 Doncaster Rovers

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Oxford United continued their impressive unbeaten run as the U’s saw off Doncaster Rovers at the Kassam Stadium.

Another brace from James Henry either side of a Cameron Brannagan strike secured a third successive 3-0 home win in League One.

Karl Robinson made two changes from the side that drew at Accrington last weekend, with Mark Sykes making his first league start of the season, replacing the injured Ben Woodburn, and Alex Rodriguez Gorrin returned in place of  Shandon Baptiste.

Simon Eastwood began in goal, behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, John Mousinho, Rob Dickie and Chris Cadden.

Gorrin continued in the deeper midfield position, with Brannagan and Henry ahead of him. Sykes started on the right, with Tariqe Fosu on the left and Mackie up top.

Both sides started brightly, but the U’s created the first real opportunity inside ten minutes when Sykes found Mackie, but the forward failed to convert.

Ten minutes later, the 34-year-old was presented with another opportunity but the forward will be frustrated he was unable to find the net.

Moments later, Sykes came off second best after a challenge, but the Northern Irishman managed to run it off before Eastwood needed treatment after claiming a Doncaster cross. Fortunately, both players were able to continue but the tempo had been affected.

Brannagan struck an effort wide from just outside the box, moments before Fosu struck over after twisting his defender.

The U’s began to dominate, and Ruffels latched on to a loose ball before setting up Henry, but the 30-year-old struck wide. And one minute later, Fosu struck the post with a curling effort from the left.

Five minutes before the break, Sykes found himself on the ground again after a clash of heads with Donervon Daniels, but again both players made it to their feet.

The officials added on six extra minutes, and one minute into the additional time, Henry struck his seventh goal of the season when his 25-yard effort went in via a deflection.

The U’s dominated the first half, and despite looking nervy from a Doncaster corner after the restart, the hosts doubled their lead. Brannagan swept home Cadden’s cross, after Sykes’s initial effort was blocked, for his seventh of the season.

Moments later, Reece James’s cross found Kwame Thomas but Mousinho defended brilliantly to keep the clean sheet and two-goal advantage intact.

From an Oxford corner, Dickie met Brannagan’s delivery but the defender’s effort sailed just over.

On the hour mark, the U’s should have made it three when Henry and Fosu combined to set up Sykes, but the midfielder took an unnecessary touch before hitting the side netting.

The U’s looked comfortable but could have been punished after Fosu lost the ball on the edge of the box, presenting an opportunity for Niall Ennis who struck wide.

The visitors began to get hold of the ball, but the U’s defence remained resilient. One defensive concern was that Dickie picked up a yellow card fifteen minutes from time, ruling him out of the Rotherham trip next weekend.

Baptiste, who replaced Sykes, then won a penalty after his cross hit Tom Anderson, and Henry stepped up to convert his third league penalty of the season to make it 3-0.

Brannagan had one last chance which was well saved, but Oxford secured a third successive 3-0 home league win against a Donny side that headed into the game with the third-best defence in the league.

The U’s have moved to 8th in League One, just one point off the playoffs.

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