v Oxford United (a) - 18/1/25

[MarkBRFC]

I think he will keep it much the same as last night, hoping to keep it tight in the first half again.

Like has been said Gueye and ACD for me are good impact players but not starters.

Maybe Leonard in for either Weimann, Hedges or Dolan.

[sharpysharps86]

Oxford in the league are on a roll, unbeaten in 5 including 3 wins. They are going through a new manager bounce so this will be a really tough game. They gave us a really tough game at Ewood and I expect similar here.

                     Pears

Brittain    Batth    Hyam     Beck

           Tronstad    Buckley

 ACD         Cantwell        Dolan

                  Gueye

Unfortunately I feel like it'll be a 1-0 defeat. One of those fine margin type matches. I expect Buckley will start again and he'll probably be too casual and get caught on the ball, which is where our downfall will be. ACD and Gueye arguably deserve starts after last night, and then its a toss up between either Dolan or Hedges in the other wide position.

[philipl]

Plymouth gave Oxford quite a chasing at Home Park but Oxford were clinical with their chance. Here's looking for our defending to be strong again and having the belief we can score on the turnovers and when on top.

As for selection, the back 4 and Tronstad pick themselves, Cantwell undroppable after his second half display and put the rest into a random number generator. Fortunately, Eustace will be watching them going in training and done much more homework on Oxford so  will be a bit more scientific.

 

[DuffsLeftPeg]

New song, to the tune of Spurs Chas & Dave song 🎶 

Eustace taking us to Wembley
Rovers gonna do it again
No-ones gonna stop em
The boys from Blackburn 
The boys from Ewood Park

Repeat to fade.

[Tugayisgod]

1 hour ago, philipl said:

Plymouth gave Oxford quite a chasing at Home Park but Oxford were clinical with their chance. Here's looking for our defending to be strong again and having the belief we can score on the turnovers and when on top.

As for selection, the back 4 and Tronstad pick themselves, Cantwell undroppable after his second half display and put the rest into a random number generator. Fortunately, Eustace will be watching them going in training and done much more homework on Oxford so  will be a bit more scientific.

 

Just worry about the amount of games Brittain is playing ATM, we can't afford for him to pick up an injury with the way he is playing.

He is always susceptible to picking up a muscle injury after playing so many games in a short time. Just hope I am wrong

[BlackburnEnd75]

55 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

Just worry about the amount of games Brittain is playing ATM, we can't afford for him to pick up an injury with the way he is playing.

He is always susceptible to picking up a muscle injury after playing so many games in a short time. Just hope I am wrong

Take him off in the last 20 mins for sanderson if we can get in front 

[martonrover]

On 14/01/2025 at 10:56, jim mk2 said:

Our merry little group has decided to have another of our occasional days out and attend Saturday’s game and hopefully we’ll have a change of luck because we’ve yet to see Rovers win this season

Ok, how much would it take to keep you all away? 😉

[Upside Down]

Will be a tough game here. I predict a loss.

[mr bishi]

Goodrham is banned for this. Thought he was tidy enough in the reverse. 

[onlyonejackwalker]

No easy games at this level. Oxford doing well under new management. Rovers very impressive away from home.

The back six pick themselves. I'd play Hedges and Dolan outwide. I'd play JRC instead of Buckley. I'd play Cantwell and Leonard upfront.

It's a bit harsh on Gueye, ACD and Weimann but my first target would be 0-0 at half-time and a clean sheet at full time.

Feels like a big game and one we need to take something from.

Oxford 0 - Rovers 1.

 

[...]

21 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i think from hazy memories oxford won the league,with man city and birmingham also promoted (last season before the introducation of the play offs) we finished 5th after being top at christmas😒

on saturdays game,weiman may need a rest after starting the last 2 games,we should release the mak on oxford,he deserves a start

No good starting mak he's better suited as an impact sub i don't think he's a starting no9 definitely be useful though from the bench, I'd start Weimann again

[...]

                        Pears

       Brittain.  Batth.  Hyam.  Beck. 

                 JRC.      Tronstad. 

                        Cantwell. 

    ACD.           Weimann.             Dolan. 

 

Gueye for Weimann

Leonard for Dolan

 

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, ... said:

                        Pears

       Brittain.  Batth.  Hyam.  Beck. 

                 JRC.      Tronstad. 

                        Cantwell. 

    ACD.           Weimann.             Dolan. 

 

Gueye for Weimann

Leonard for Dolan

 

 

That’s a very short team height wise. Given we’re the away team they should be getting a few corners and free kicks.

[...]

6 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

That’s a very short team height wise. Given we’re the away team they should be getting a few corners and free kicks.

What else is there to work with if we just want a tall team? 🤷‍♂️

[chaddyrovers]

                   Pears

Brittain Hyam Batth Beck

         Tronstad Buckley 

ACD        Cantwell   Weimann 

                   Gueye

[Southside Rover]

14 hours ago, sharpysharps86 said:

Oxford in the league are on a roll, unbeaten in 5 including 3 wins. They are going through a new manager bounce so this will be a really tough game. They gave us a really tough game at Ewood and I expect similar here.

                     Pears

Brittain    Batth    Hyam     Beck

           Tronstad    Buckley

 ACD         Cantwell        Dolan

                  Gueye

Unfortunately I feel like it'll be a 1-0 defeat. One of those fine margin type matches. I expect Buckley will start again and he'll probably be too casual and get caught on the ball, which is where our downfall will be. ACD and Gueye arguably deserve starts after last night, and then its a toss up between either Dolan or Hedges in the other wide position.

Id go with this apart from JRC instead of Buckley in midfield.

Although I think Eustace will keep Hedges over ACD, especially being away from home.

[roverandout]

We can win this. Defensively we are very strong.  Just need a bit of ghueye magic 

[Michael123458]

Oxford 0 2 rovers 

fully expect minimum of 7 points from next 3 including this one. RTID play off consolidate 

[Paul Mani]

Oxford 0 - 1 Rovers (Gueye)

                     Pears

Brittain.  Hyam.  Batth.   Beck

           Forshaw. Sonny 

ACD.         Cantwell.     Dolan

                   Gueye

Subs - Toth, Sanderson, Litherland, Buckley, JRC, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard

Back 5 and Sonny pick themselves. I would start Forshaw over Buckley away from home. I think he will give us some more steel in there. In the forward positions, Cantwell is a shoe in. ACD and Gueye turned the game on Wednesday night and deserve a start. It was a toss up on Dolan and Weimann, 

[Ossydave]

Tough one to call, although they're unbeaten in 5 in the league, they've had a much easier last 5 games than us, at least on paper. Not sure what sort of team they put out against Exeter in the cup?

Our response to losing to the twats up the road has been good, that could have signalled a real slump but hats off to JE and the lads putting things right.

We haven't conceded more than 1 goal in 13 games now, to high flying Sunderland in the 2-2 draw. Defensive steel like that means you're always in a game regardless.

A 1 nil away win would be nice but I've got a sneaky feeling this ends 1-1,  not a complete disaster but could see WBA edging us out the top 6.

[Ricky]

Not sure if Harris is out injured or not, he didn’t play in their weekend loss in the FA cup but he scored a screamer past us at Ewood. I know we were linked when he was at Cardiff. He’s a player I’ve seen a lot of as he played in the same Cardiff youth team as my nephew. 

[KentExile]

10 minutes ago, Ricky said:

Not sure if Harris is out injured or not, he didn’t play in their weekend loss in the FA cup but he scored a screamer past us at Ewood. I know we were linked when he was at Cardiff. He’s a player I’ve seen a lot of as he played in the same Cardiff youth team as my nephew. 

Sounds like he had a minor hamstring injury, but he played vs Plymouth this week

 

Edited January 17 by KentExile

[...]

3 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Tough one to call, although they're unbeaten in 5 in the league, they've had a much easier last 5 games than us, at least on paper. Not sure what sort of team they put out against Exeter in the cup?

Our response to losing to the twats up the road has been good, that could have signalled a real slump but hats off to JE and the lads putting things right.

We haven't conceded more than 1 goal in 13 games now, to high flying Sunderland in the 2-2 draw. Defensive steel like that means you're always in a game regardless.

A 1 nil away win would be nice but I've got a sneaky feeling this ends 1-1,  not a complete disaster but could see WBA edging us out the top 6.

Yea we needed a quick response and they've provided it, I feel we can turn over oxford but be a 1 goal kind of game

[arbitro]

I saw Oxford play at Plymouth last Tuesday and they were well organised and gave little away. They played a 3/5 at the back for in and out of possession and rely on their most creative player, Cameron Branagan to get on the ball and make things happen. They also have Will Vaulks who isn't particularly mobile but has a mean long throw. Dembele came on and played down the middle where his pace troubled Plymouth. Rowett is a pragmatic manager who will have a clean sheet high on his priorities. As ever the first goal will be so important.

Edit.

I have just seen that Michael Helik is having a medical at Oxford today. He scored against us for Huddersfield last season and has been a real aeriel threat whenever he has played against us. He will be dangerous from their long throws if he plays. Hopefully our set piece coach is aware of this and plans accordingly.

Edited January 17 by arbitro

[berkshireblue]

On 15/01/2025 at 15:39, Waggy76 said:

What is street parking like ?

If you get there early there are 3 car parks

Recommend the one behind the home end goal opposite the end with no stand, so drive pass the ground on your left and take the left at the 1st roundabout, you can even park opposite the holiday inn on the curb if the car park is full

The 2nd best is the main car park next to the no stand end

The 3rd is pass there and up towards blackbird lees, don't recommend that takes ages to exit

Otherwise as stated street parking not great