v Oxford Utd (h) - 24/08/2024

[superniko]

We will not be as big a favourite as this all season (8/11). 
Let’s not kid ourselves, we’re in a relegation battle this year, and a home match against the league 1 playoff winners and favourites to drop is the kind of game you have to win if you want to stay in the league. 

Given all the above, I’ve a pretty horrible feeling about it. 

1-2 Oxford and reality sets in and the club still do nothing for the rest of the transfer window. 

[jim mk2]

Oxford United will be forever associated with one of the biggest FA Cup shocks of all time and worst results in Rovers history. 

In 1964 Rovers were riding high in the old First Division when we travelled to the Manor Ground to face fourth division Oxford, captained by one Ron Atkinson, in the fifth round and promptly lost 3-1, a result that seemed unbelievable at the time when we saw the banner headlines in the Evening Telegraph - no local radio or internet in those days remember.

That’s why I regard any game against Oxford with trepidation and it’s no different today. This looks like one that is very easy to lose despite some fans thinking it’s an unloseable game. 

 

Edited August 24, 2024 by jim mk2

[tomphil]

Funnily enough the first thing springs to mind for me when Oxford United are mentioned is an own goal by Colin Hendry, an spirited fightback by Rovers and an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ewood.

In a game we were expected to walk......

[aletheia]

Ron Atkinson crunched a Rovers player in the first minutes and looking into the player's eyes on the floor thought that Rovers players 'didn't fancy it.' Rovers kicked up the slope in the second half.

Edited August 24, 2024 by aletheia

[rigger]

I always envision the narrow alleyway leading to the away end at the Manor ground

[aletheia]

[aletheia]

Nice photo of Rovers team here from 64.

https://roverstan.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/fa-cup-5th-round-1964-style/

Anyway, that's enough history -the present is somewhat more pressing. 🙂

[Moptop1]

If Venkys remain in charge, the only thing we’ll have is history.

[DeeCee]

1 hour ago, rigger said:

I always envision the narrow alleyway leading to the away end at the Manor ground

Saw a guy almost lose his hand when hit by a flying slate there. Think I may have been with USA Blue?

[ABBEY]

2 hours ago, rigger said:

I always envision the narrow alleyway leading to the away end at the Manor ground

is my memory playing tricks or not?

was it a corrugated iron grey fence?

[ItsRoverZ]

Pears in goal so they start with 2 goals, tbf if they play like they did against Norwich and Coventry they will score a couple and they are the type of side we hated playing against these last few years, physical in your face team.

[arbitro]

Today will be another hard match which is what the Championship is. Having seen Oxford last season and their two league matches so far the thing that struck me was how big their two centre halves are. Given our weakness at defensive corners/set pieces I think they will look to exploit this and in Branagan they have a player with good delivery. But it really is more about us. If every player does their job we should win and as ever I'll take a scruffy 1-0 just as long as we win. In our two league matches so far we have started quickly and got on the front foot. Hopefully we do the same today and get an early goal.

[Oxford Fan]

2 hours ago, rigger said:

I always envision the narrow alleyway leading to the away end at the Manor ground

Cuckoo Lane. 

[Oldgregg86]

TONY WATT WATT WATT

[simongarnerisgod]

no problem today,3 easy points before the season gets a lot harder

[aletheia]

15 Feb 1964    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    3-1    FA Cup 18 Sep 1968    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    1-0    League Division Two 04 Apr 1969    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    2-1    League Division Two 29 Nov 1969    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    1-0    League Division Two 14 Mar 1970    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    2-0    League Division Two 21 Sep 1970    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    0-0    League Division Two 09 Jan 1971    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    2-1    League Division Two 18 Oct 1975    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    0-0    League Division Two 22 Nov 1975    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    0-0    League Division Two 08 Dec 1979    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    2-1    League Division Three 26 Apr 1980    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    0-1    League Division Three 25 Sep 1984    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    1-1    League Cup 10 Oct 1984    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    3-1    League Cup 03 Nov 1984    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    2-1    League Division Two 30 Jan 1985    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    0-1    FA Cup 23 Feb 1985    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    1-1    League Division Two 20 Jan 1987    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    4-3    Full Members Cup 22 Oct 1988    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    1-1    League Division Two 21 Feb 1989    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    3-1    League Division Two 02 Sep 1989    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    2-2    League Division Two 20 Jan 1990    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    1-1    League Division Two 29 Dec 1990    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United W    1-3    League Division Two 06 Apr 1991    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    0-0    League Division Two 07 Dec 1991    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    1-3    League Division Two 29 Feb 1992    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    1-1    League Division Two 30 Jan 2016    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    0-3    FA Cup 21 Nov 2017    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    2-4    League One 05 May 2018    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    2-1    League One

[Forever Blue]

2 minutes ago, aletheia said:

15 Feb 1964    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    3-1    FA Cup 18 Sep 1968    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    1-0    League Division Two 04 Apr 1969    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    2-1    League Division Two 29 Nov 1969    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    1-0    League Division Two 14 Mar 1970    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    2-0    League Division Two 21 Sep 1970    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    0-0    League Division Two 09 Jan 1971    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    2-1    League Division Two 18 Oct 1975    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    0-0    League Division Two 22 Nov 1975    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    0-0    League Division Two 08 Dec 1979    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    2-1    League Division Three 26 Apr 1980    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    0-1    League Division Three 25 Sep 1984    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    1-1    League Cup 10 Oct 1984    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    3-1    League Cup 03 Nov 1984    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers W    2-1    League Division Two 30 Jan 1985    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    0-1    FA Cup 23 Feb 1985    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    1-1    League Division Two 20 Jan 1987    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    4-3    Full Members Cup 22 Oct 1988    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    1-1    League Division Two 21 Feb 1989    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    3-1    League Division Two 02 Sep 1989    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    2-2    League Division Two 20 Jan 1990    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    1-1    League Division Two 29 Dec 1990    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United W    1-3    League Division Two 06 Apr 1991    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers D    0-0    League Division Two 07 Dec 1991    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    1-3    League Division Two 29 Feb 1992    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United D    1-1    League Division Two 30 Jan 2016    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    0-3    FA Cup 21 Nov 2017    Oxford United v Blackburn Rovers L    2-4    League One 05 May 2018    Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United L    2-1    League One

They don’t lose many at Ewood. I’ll stick with my 1-1 prediction from earlier in the week. 

[bluebruce]

4 hours ago, alexanders said:

We won’t lose. That’s for certain.

No, it isn't. It never is. This is football.

[Exiled_Rover]

31 minutes ago, ItsRoverZ said:

Pears in goal so they start with 2 goals, tbf if they play like they did against Norwich and Coventry they will score a couple and they are the type of side we hated playing against these last few years, physical in your face team.

His teammates must think "fucking hell" whenever they see him down as in goal. 

You've all played football, to various levels, you know a baddun in your team when you see one. He'll know they think he's shit too. 

[bluebruce]

4 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Carter is vital and it's worrying when he picks up injuries as we're left with 2 experienced yet sluggish centre halves. Could probably cope today without him but next week would be a nightmare.

Experienced yet sluggish centre halves are best when you're backs to the walls. Having two slow CBs today will open us up to the counter attack.

[M_B]

I'm sure the full members match was the one in the fog. 

[AspRover]

I think if carter is out you have to change the formation a bit and have Tronstad sitting deeper to operate at a aggressive third cb/midfield anchor in the centre to make it a back three when defending you can afford McFaz and Batth. He can push up when we have the ball. 

It does leave you a bit light in midfield though, maybe you play eg Buckley instead of Dolan through the centre and he can also drop a bit deeper if needed. 

[rebelzero]

I'm old and can't copy things right...

Edited August 24, 2024 by rebelzero

[alexanders]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

Today will be another hard match which is what the Championship is. Having seen Oxford last season and their two league matches so far the thing that struck me was how big their two centre halves are. Given our weakness at defensive corners/set pieces I think they will look to exploit this and in Branagan they have a player with good delivery. But it really is more about us. If every player does their job we should win and as ever I'll take a scruffy 1-0 just as long as we win. In our two league matches so far we have started quickly and got on the front foot. Hopefully we do the same today and get an early goal.

Then it makes zero sense to start Ohashi instead of Gueye. Why not Ohashi instead of Dolan. Don’t get it 

[yankfan]

2 minutes ago, rebelzero said:

I'm old and can't copy things right...

They say don’t change a winning side but hard to argue Ohashi doesn’t deserve to start