Oxford United 0 Bristol Rovers 2 (Brown pen 55, Richards 90+5) (From The Oxford Times)
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Oxford United 0 Bristol Rovers 2 (Brown pen 55, Richards 90+5)
5:07pm Saturday 9th February 2013 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
OXFORD United's winless run continued as two second half goals saw Bristol Rovers claim all three points in front of the biggest league attendance of the season at the Kassam Stadium.
The home side shaded a poor first half, but fell behind to Lee Brown's twice-taken penalty ten minutes after the break.
United responded well and dominated the game, but could not turn their pressure into an equaliser, with James Constable missing the best chance from close range.
Rovers wrapped up the victory in the final minute of stoppage time, when Eliot Richards doubled their lead.
It extended United's streak without a win to four games, three of which have been defeats.
Lewis Montrose returned after injury for his home debut in one of three changes to the starting line-up.
Tony Capaldi and Liam Davis also came into the side, as Peter Leven, Alfie Potter and Luke O'Brien making way.
Rovers were backed by a large travelling contingent and they were almost celebrating a goal inside the opening minute.
Jake Wright fluffed a clearance to Danny Woodards, but the midfielder could not make the most of the chance and shot straight at Luke McCormick.
United lined up in a 4-3-3 system, with Sean Rigg and Justin Richards flanking James Constable.
In an effort to get round the poor playing surface, the hosts opted for a more direct approach.
Richards was the main target and he got the better of Michael Smith in the air.
The striker had the first sight of goal for United, taking a Constable lay-off and firing wide from long range.
The impressive John-Joe O'Toole responded in kind at the other end shortly afterwards.
There had been a lively tempo to the game in the opening exchanges, but it quickly petered out as the game descended into a midfield battle.
United had to change their tactics after Richards was forced off following a clash with Joe Anyinsah, replaced by Potter.
It took 38 minutes for the first really good chance.
A loose ball fell to Rigg on the edge of the box and his quick pass found Constable, whose shot was powerful but too close to Rovers goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall.
United finished the half on top and only a fantastic block from Tom Parkes prevented Potter from opening the scoring a minute before the break.
When Rigg fired narrowly wide at the start of the second half, the hosts appeared to be gaining the upper hand.
But ten minutes after the break, Rovers were awarded a penalty as Ryan Brunt beat a sliding Wright to the ball in the box.
Brown scored from 12 yards, but was ordered to retake it due to Rovers players encroaching into the area. The midfielder kept his cool and again sent McCormick the wrong way, to the delight of the away fans.
It was almost the final time Rovers got into United's half, as the home side dominated the remainder of the game.
Constable came close to a quick equaliser, but he could not keep a left-footed volley down after a glorious pass from Adam Chapman.
With 20 minutes remaining the striker had an even better chance.
Josh Parker, on as a substitute, fizzed in a low cross which Constable could only shoot over from six yards.
Damian Batt hit the side netting with another opportunity as the time began to slip away.
Fabian Broghammer had a chance to make sure of the points late on, but McCormick stood up well to make a smart block.
Harry Worley was brought on as a makeshift striker for the final minutes and he came agonisingly close to claiming an equaliser.
The defender rose highest to meet a Liam Davis cross, but it dropped inches wide.
Rovers added salt into the wounds in the final minute of stoppage time, when a quickly taken free-kick saw Richards run clear and slot past an exposed McCormick.
Oxford Utd: McCormick, Batt, Raynes (Worley 87), Wright, Davis, Chapman, Montrose, Capaldi (Parker 56), Constable, Richards (Potter 34), Rigg.
Unused subs: Crocombe, Whing, Smalley, O'Brien.
Bristol Rovers: Mildenhall, Smith, Parkes, McChrystal, Brown, Anyinsah (Clarkson 62), Norburn (Richards 79), Clucas, O'Toole, Woodards (Broghammer 69), Brunt.
Unused subs: Harrison, Gough, McDonald, Hitchcock.
Referee: Andy Madley.
Attendance: 7,608 (1,932 visitors).
Comments(38)
Joe1
says...
5:21pm Sat 9 Feb 13
WindsorYellow
says...
5:27pm Sat 9 Feb 13
AylesburyOx
says...
5:27pm Sat 9 Feb 13
hawkeye1
says...
6:08pm Sat 9 Feb 13
Ect, CW look in the mirror, now you are looking at the problem.
learned
says...
6:13pm Sat 9 Feb 13
That was awful today....Wilder has brought in too many poor players and must noe be sacked ASAP to avoid us dropping further..
senior supporter
says...
6:36pm Sat 9 Feb 13
devonexile1
says...
6:48pm Sat 9 Feb 13
No desire from the board for football all about Rugby.
AylesburyOx
says...
7:00pm Sat 9 Feb 13
northampton yellow
says...
7:05pm Sat 9 Feb 13
BigAlBiker
says...
7:15pm Sat 9 Feb 13
Clear out time all round, new impetus needed.
BigAlBiker
says...
7:45pm Sat 9 Feb 13
dorsetyellows
says...
8:07pm Sat 9 Feb 13
Have heard its costing oufc 500 thousand a year to play at the Kassam and this is going up despite sharing with London welsh , the pitch is **** and I personally never liked the ground as much as the manor . The club needs a new home ASAP . Harsh result today , but we are miles away from holding are own in league 1 .
karatavuk
says...
8:23pm Sat 9 Feb 13
karatavuk
says...
8:25pm Sat 9 Feb 13
He is killing this club.
adlibber
says...
9:06pm Sat 9 Feb 13
disco80
says...
9:06pm Sat 9 Feb 13
northampton yellow wrote:i agree but not with your maths , it doesnt really matter or make a difference how many of us sad bas***ds were there but it was more like 5,700
this club is in a mess today was awful from the first whistle to the end all these injuries is the clubs fault for signing players that were already injured and not to have medicles is one big "JOKE"we must be the laughing stock of this league regarding this issue and the attendance was bad coz if you take away rovers 1,900 it would barely make 5,500 until wilder and his crew leave this club this will only get worse lenegan is a rugby fan not a football fan which is a shame for one a proud club .....
disco80
says...
9:11pm Sat 9 Feb 13
dorsetyellows
says...
9:16pm Sat 9 Feb 13
karatavuk wrote:Never been pro or anti wilder , but believe Kassam is draining away the clubs money , money the club will require to operate at a higher level. A new manager would have the same problem as wilder . Sure there may be a manager who can achieve success with the present squad who has better management ,motivational and coaching skills , if so who and at what cost? Eddie Howe got his break at afcb from the clubs Center of excellence and now his record is second to Sir Alex ferguson . My point is it does not have to be a big name to achieve results, but investment from the chairman is a must , who knows even if chris wilder will sign a new deal at oxford. The oxford chairman has many issues to sort to get the club into the championship and I hope he can !
Wilder has to go as soon as possible.
He is killing this club.
Magiltonmagic.
says...
10:09pm Sat 9 Feb 13
adlibber
says...
10:37pm Sat 9 Feb 13
dorsetyellows wrote:I really can't see Wilder being offered a new contract -Lenagan has hinted that promotion is the only thing that will keep Wilder in a job and I think that chance has gone now. Agree about Kassam he's happy to see the club rot after being hounded out.
karatavuk wrote:Never been pro or anti wilder , but believe Kassam is draining away the clubs money , money the club will require to operate at a higher level. A new manager would have the same problem as wilder . Sure there may be a manager who can achieve success with the present squad who has better management ,motivational and coaching skills , if so who and at what cost? Eddie Howe got his break at afcb from the clubs Center of excellence and now his record is second to Sir Alex ferguson . My point is it does not have to be a big name to achieve results, but investment from the chairman is a must , who knows even if chris wilder will sign a new deal at oxford. The oxford chairman has many issues to sort to get the club into the championship and I hope he can !
Wilder has to go as soon as possible.
He is killing this club.
Doctor69
says...
11:19pm Sat 9 Feb 13
If CW is still there next season, I dread to think what the attendances will be. I think the season ticket renewals will speak volumes this year.
Wilder out, now.
Chish and Fips
says...
8:43am Sun 10 Feb 13
adlibber
says...
8:54am Sun 10 Feb 13
The longer he stays the more disappointed I am in Lenagan for doing nothing to change this miserable mediocrity.
BigAlBiker
says...
9:21am Sun 10 Feb 13
Magiltonmagic. wrote:I still don't want the keeper here I want Max to play, Adam Murray moved as CW insisted all players live within an hour or so drive to the club and an agreement could not be reached, so for personal reasons like he didn't want to move he left.
BigAlBiker, is this the same McCormick that 2 weeks ago you did'nt want at our club? Hypocrite! And as regards Adam Murray he wanted to leave because of family reasons so get your facts right.
Better?
Still makes no difference, CW has to go as all we have are Donkeys.
darkskies
says...
9:23am Sun 10 Feb 13
A Scroat
says...
9:26am Sun 10 Feb 13
Doctor69 wrote:Quite right Doc. The police only made three arrests...should have added Constable, Potter, Batt and Wilder for taking money under false pretences?
According to CW we dominated the game and were unlucky etc. I must have watched a different game because I thought we were appalling, again! We just don't look like scoring, have no pace, struggle to find a yellow shirt. Overall we are a very poor outfit in the lowest league of English football.
If CW is still there next season, I dread to think what the attendances will be. I think the season ticket renewals will speak volumes this year.
Wilder out, now.
Coleview Red
says...
9:39am Sun 10 Feb 13
learned wrote:If you repent all your sins we will welcome you at the County Ground my son...... Leave the Dark Side before it's too late. All hail PDC.....
I've had enough.
That was awful today....Wilder has brought in too many poor players and must noe be sacked ASAP to avoid us dropping further..
oldun
says...
10:01am Sun 10 Feb 13
Coleview Red wrote:No promotion this time for either of us - yours a repeat of 1990 (and you know it) - ours for reasons of being inept. My fellow Yellows will not waste time with you but as a sad old git, I have nothing better to do - we have a lot in common
learned wrote:If you repent all your sins we will welcome you at the County Ground my son...... Leave the Dark Side before it's too late. All hail PDC.....
I've had enough.
That was awful today....Wilder has brought in too many poor players and must noe be sacked ASAP to avoid us dropping further..
Chish and Fips
says...
11:19am Sun 10 Feb 13
oldun wrote:You lot are down to 2 chances of promotion - very little or no chance - ours, well a lot more positive, even with the ups and downs of our roller coaster ride of a season, if we are still there after all that has gone on, it will prove how resilient we are in the face of adversity.
Coleview Red wrote:No promotion this time for either of us - yours a repeat of 1990 (and you know it) - ours for reasons of being inept. My fellow Yellows will not waste time with you but as a sad old git, I have nothing better to do - we have a lot in common
learned wrote:If you repent all your sins we will welcome you at the County Ground my son...... Leave the Dark Side before it's too late. All hail PDC.....
I've had enough.
That was awful today....Wilder has brought in too many poor players and must noe be sacked ASAP to avoid us dropping further..
Beau champ mummy
says...
11:42am Sun 10 Feb 13
oldun
says...
11:51am Sun 10 Feb 13
Chish and Fips wrote:You know what is really happening Chish, me old mucker - it will end in tears for you - and not bacause of what happens on the pitch (well done - great on field season - very envious of THAT) - you aren't listening hard enough
oldun wrote:You lot are down to 2 chances of promotion - very little or no chance - ours, well a lot more positive, even with the ups and downs of our roller coaster ride of a season, if we are still there after all that has gone on, it will prove how resilient we are in the face of adversity.
Coleview Red wrote:No promotion this time for either of us - yours a repeat of 1990 (and you know it) - ours for reasons of being inept. My fellow Yellows will not waste time with you but as a sad old git, I have nothing better to do - we have a lot in common
learned wrote:If you repent all your sins we will welcome you at the County Ground my son...... Leave the Dark Side before it's too late. All hail PDC.....
I've had enough.
That was awful today....Wilder has brought in too many poor players and must noe be sacked ASAP to avoid us dropping further..
Chish and Fips
says...
12:52pm Sun 10 Feb 13
Chish and Fips wrote:Could be Oldun - not sure if 1990 is good comparison though - Won the playoffs to the Premier then to be demoted through illegal payments - you know the same payments as Chelsea and Tottenham alledgedly did, but not taken to task over them.
oldun wrote:You lot are down to 2 chances of promotion - very little or no chance - ours, well a lot more positive, even with the ups and downs of our roller coaster ride of a season, if we are still there after all that has gone on, it will prove how resilient we are in the face of adversity.
Coleview Red wrote:No promotion this time for either of us - yours a repeat of 1990 (and you know it) - ours for reasons of being inept. My fellow Yellows will not waste time with you but as a sad old git, I have nothing better to do - we have a lot in common
learned wrote:If you repent all your sins we will welcome you at the County Ground my son...... Leave the Dark Side before it's too late. All hail PDC.....
I've had enough.
That was awful today....Wilder has brought in too many poor players and must noe be sacked ASAP to avoid us dropping further..
There may have been some overspending recently but don't think there has been the 'brown envelope ' payments unless you have some insider knowledge.
We are concerned who and what our new consortium is all about - rumours abound - mainly ' glass half empty ' type.
The Black Prince was off-side
says...
2:02pm Sun 10 Feb 13
karatavuk
says...
2:09pm Sun 10 Feb 13
Sitting in his Nowhere Land
Making all his nowhere plans
For nobody.
Richard Wickson
says...
8:47pm Sun 10 Feb 13
Joe1 wrote:I assume you mean, we just "don't" score Joe. I assume that because we DON'T SCORE. I totally agree with many other posters on this site that Wilder is to blame, yes the players have a responsibility on the pitch but they look totally confused and don't appear to know what to do, even Constable doesn't seem to know where the goal is. I hear from people who have seen them in training that he struggles to find the net then and that is against our own poor defence. Why I blame CW is because he signed
We just seem to score. All these chances missed again. Not looking good. Let's hope this not a gradual slide down & out. It has happened before.
the vast majority of the players and players he hasn't signed like Crocombe for example he doesn't appear to want and he (in my opinion) is better than the current incumbent. I have supported this club for over 50 years and will continue to do so but am so despondent with the managements tactics, the state of the clubs finances, the way Kassam still dominates the club and the very poor players currently employed by the club, throw in Lenaghan and we need to throw out the whole lot and quick before we are travelling to places like Forest Green again. How close are we to playing Oxford City home and away.? We need something done desperately quickly.
Richard Wickson
says...
8:49pm Sun 10 Feb 13
davecuddoufc
says...
7:49pm Mon 11 Feb 13
oldun says...
5:11pm Sat 9 Feb 13