Oxford United are out of the FA Cup after a defeat in a seven-goal thriller against Bristol Rovers.
Despite a lacklustre and goalless first half, Rovers took the lead after the restart before substitute and former Gas striker Matty Taylor levelled from the spot just moments after coming on.
The game went to extra time and Oxford raced into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Billy Bodin and Steve Seddon. However, the Gas also netted quickly in the second half of extra time, scoring three times in seven minutes to claim the win.
Here are three talking points from the game.
Formation
When the starting line-up was announced, the shape in which Karl Robinson’s side would play was unknown. As it panned out, the U’s went with a back three of Jordan Thorniley, John Mousinho and Luke McNally with Ryan Williams and Anthony Forde as wing-backs.
Marcus McGuane and Herbie Kane sat in midfield with a front three of Bodin, Mark Sykes and Dan Agyei.
Robinson said before the game that they needed to be comfortable in a different shape as well as being versatile, particularly with Seddon just one booking away from a suspension.
For the most part, the formation worked. It did, however, cause problems when Robinson switched to four at the back with an unnatural player holding the midfield with Kane having been subbed off.
It was also good to see some of the fringe players, such as Williams, Forde and Bodin, all get some much deserved minutes in the pitch, too. However, by the time extra time came around, the trio were all still on the pitch and were beginning to look fatigued.
Simon Eastwood
Since coming in for Jack Stevens, who has been out with glandular fever, Simon Eastwood has performed fairly well. His clean sheet against Ipswich last time out was his first in the league since February 2020 and would have given him a huge confidence boost heading into this game.
However, he was unable to stop the first three goals, all of which were very different. First, the ball was squared between two defenders and slotted in, while the second was an easy header from inside the box.
The third was a sweet strike from the edge of the box which would have been almost impossible to save, but the fourth, and winner, was a shocker from the goalkeeper. A deep cross was lobbed in and it was an easy catch for Eastwood to make but he opted to let the ball bounce over and run out of play. However, the Rovers player snuck in behind, squared the ball and was presented with virtually an open goal.
Throwing Away the Lead
Not for the first time this season, Oxford United squandered a lead, but it was the first time they have blown a two-goal advantage.
The U’s have lost or drawn seven times from winning positions this season but the manner of the loss at the Memorial Stadium will be a tough one to take.
Leading 3-1 at halftime of extra time, Oxford looked more than comfortable but the Gas netted three times in seven minutes to turn the tie on its head.
