Oxford United will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat at Doncaster when they travel to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.
The defeat ended a club-record nine game winning run and halted a stretch of 13 games unbeaten for the U’s. Karl Robinson‘s side will be looking to bounce back against a Rovers team that have failed to win in their last nine games in all competitions.
Of that run, Rovers have lost seven – including a 2-0 defeat to the U’s – with the other two games ending in goalless draws. Former Rovers striker Matty Taylor netted a brace for the U’s in the previous meeting.
The defeat at Doncaster saw the U’s drop one place to 11th but are now six points off the playoffs. A goalless draw at Fleetwood, which followed a heavy 6-1 defeat to Accrington Stanley, has seen the Gas drop to 20th in League One, outside the drop only on goal difference.
Only four teams in the division have scored more than Oxford this season, while only one side have scored fewer than Bristol Rovers.
Mide Shodipo took his goal tally to ten in Saturday and Robinson gave starts to deadline day signings Brandon Barker and Elliot Lee.
For the Gas, Brandon Hanlan has scored eight goals but hasn’t found the net since January 2, while Sam Nicholson has scored seven in all competitions. However, goals in the league have been hard to come by with just 24 from 25 matches for the club.
The win over Rovers last month was a first in six meetings for Oxford. The U’s have now won just three from the last 14 encounters between the two sides.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Cameron Brannagan, Liam Kelly, Mide Shodipo, James Henry, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Oxford United.
