bluebruce

Yep, I've been worried about this since Trav got injured, and even moreso once Tronstad got injured. He'll almost certainly be rushed back in. I'm confident most of Travis' bad patches or indifferent form over the years have come when he was rushed back or his body was overworked, or he was carrying an injury. Rushing him back will mean not only will he not be the Trav we saw first half of the season, but he'll be more prone to getting injured again. I know we are a bit desperate but I'd strongly consider giving him an extra 2 weeks from when he's back before starting him. Like you say, he'll be chomping at the bit and probably make out he is ready well before he is.

Lets hope it doesn't end up being another wasted loan. Looking at it now, sending him to a club who only have one league win since 5th October was probably a mistake, that manager was always looking imperilled.

I think Beck will be the next one to get injured if he doesn't get a rest at some point. Which he can't really for what, at least another month whilst Pickering is injured? Gives his all, pacey and aggressive...it'll do a number on his legs eventually.

Sorry, I could have sworn someone had said he was already back out on loan. Doesn't look like he is. Since he didn't make the bench yet again though and we'd rather put young Isaac Dunn on it, I think we can rest assured the intention is to send him back out, so we're avoiding playing him as that will prevent anyone else being eligible to field him.

Garrett already loaned back out. We're down to Buckley, JRC and Forshaw for the next few games. If Buckley plays like he did first half today, consistently, that will help a lot, but there's still no shielding for the defence there.

More - he should have been brought on instead of Forshaw.

It's a real shame we suck at corners.

For me, we already had one but have sent him on loan to League One.

Big balls up is more likely.

Good news then - Burnley didn't beat them at the Kassam, guess they're not going up.

Tbf that was a powerful free kick. Not easy to save.

Every bit as dangerous as it looked. Uphill struggle now just to get a point.

Was probably a fair call after I saw the replay, thought we'd won the ball in real time but we definitely just crunched him between two players.

ACD for Dolan had to happen. Hasn't looked sharp today, especially second half...ffs, as I type that, Dolan with a pathetic stumble.

Not sure why the Oxford players could come over shoving us while we are trying to set the free kick up and not get booked.

Very very soft from the ref that. I didn't even think it was worth having a talk with him, which is all he seemed to be doing at first. The card is a joke. Don't like seeing a physical and slightly erratic player like Gueye on a 1st half yellow either.

Tronstad injured is basically the nightmare scenario. Better be minor.

Nearly a screamer from Buckley there

Cantwell is having a stinker.

Agree Buckley is poor but that's a generous take for Cantwell. He needs to stop pissing around when he gets it if he's deep, gonna cost us a goal.

Cantwell lucky the offside flag went up there, needs to pick a different area of the pitch if he's going to fuck around with the ball like that. He nearly got caught in a similar position a minute earlier.

Not imposing ourselves at all so far. Will have to play better than this.

At least he's up against Beck

Yeh seems odd to me to have him, Forshaw and O'Grady Macken on the bench. Don't they all play basically the same position? But only one CB and only JRC (who can also play CM) who can play another defensive position. We had 3 CBs on the bench in the cup (overkill in the opposite direction). Litherland injured?

Seeing Buckley starting makes me nervous.