Super Sunday Mayhem. Gas vs U's

[Aber gas]

After our "historic" midweek cup exploits yet another massive game for the Gas as we take on an old rival. Oxford have made a solid start and seem to have recruited well having had their better players poached before the start of the season.
I really can't see past a Matty Taylor inspired, glorious Gas victory. Shall we say 4-1 ? With Taylor getting all 4 just to piss Appleton off a bit more.
Oh, and this one is likely to be sellout ( because we are MASSIVE )

 

[07.05.16]

We've now won our last 10 home matches. I see that extending to 11 with a 2-1 win, Oxford pulling one back in injury time after being 2-0 down.

 

[Indian Dan]

Any way you can both lose?

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Looking forward to getting league action back at The Mem.

We're at an obvious disadvantage having had 48 hours less than Oxford to recover and prepare for the game, but hopefully that won't affect us too much.

 

[miagsygas]

Interesting game, both teams had extra time in midweek but Oxford slightly more time to recover, will that cause an effect early in the season. Teams know each other very well and split results last season both in games where the other team potentially deserved to win. Could see a draw in this one.

 

[oufc95]

Will be a tough game for both teams but I can see Oxford just about getting the win so going for 2-1 Oxford. Bristol Rovers have had less rest so that's already one advantage and you don't seem to have strengthened at all from last season while Oxford have. Yes you have a great home record but we have a great away record so shouldn't be a factor against us, also we've done well recently at the Mem.

 

[07.05.16]

Will be a tough game for both teams but I can see Oxford just about getting the win so going for 2-1 Oxford. Bristol Rovers have had less rest so that's already one advantage and you don't seem to have strengthened at all from last season while Oxford have. Yes you have a great home record but we have a great away record so shouldn't be a factor against us, also we've done well recently at the Mem.

I thought you had lost the majority of your star players?

 

[oufc95]

I thought you had lost the majority of your star players?

Just two Roofe and O'Dowda but we've brought in replacements and are still looking for another winger. Will the replacements be as good most likely not but should do the job in this league. I've predicted 6th place finish for us this season.

 

[oufc95]

Also I mean we've improved GK and defence which I think improves the team.

 

[07.05.16]

Also I mean we've improved GK and defence which I think improves the team.

We'll see, then.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

My first trip to Rovers as part of my drive to do more away games. Will be making the trip by car because rail is bloody extortionate.

I'd actually agree with the date bloke. Wright, Mullins, Baldock, O'Dowda, Kenny, Hylton and Roofe were all key parts of our team and I'm not willing to say that we've improved all that much, yet.

The defence looks good, and Eastwood has been encouraging in goal. I'll need to see more of Mcdonald, Maguire, Hemmings and Thomas as our main attackers before I can judge how much of a threat we pose though.

Rovers, I take it your best players will be the ones I have heard of? Lockyer, Lines, Taylor etc?

I've done the analysis and cracked the numbers and the result was clear. I'll back Oxford to deliver a 3-0 victory.

 

[Gassy]

We haven't really changed anything from last year yet which is starting to worry me. Cracking win and goal on Thursday should give us a boost and some momentum but I can't see us winning here.

1-1 or 2-1 Oxford

 

[Gashead]

Oxford win I reckon, Thursday took a lot out of our players. Be nice to get 4 or 5 points over the next three before that League Cup game.

 

[GasAttacK]

Tough game this one as I expect Oxford to have a good season.

They're another team that seem to perform better away from home and have already shown they plan to continue where they left off last season by winning at Birmingham.

I think the extra 48 hours recovery time will be a factor, particularly as both games went to extra time. Lets not forget 10 of our players have started both matches so there are bound to be some tired legs. If DC makes changes they will probably be because players are fatigued.

We haven't done a lot to strengthen the squad and are still waiting for the 3 or 4 quality additions Clarke says he wants to sign before the deadline. Remarkably 10 of the starting 11 against Cardiff on Thursday were part of the squad that got promotion for the Conference 16 months ago.

Wouldn't be too disappointed with a point, I'll say 1-1.

 

[Didcot Ox]

Tough game to call this one. Ive not gone myself, as ive been to The Mem several times, and have family coming to visit from another country.

The Rovers Home record is very strong, we managed to leave there with 3 massive points last season. The game was very even until it was separated by a piece of brilliance.
Our away record is ridiculous to be honest, i can't even remember when we last lost away from home in a league fixture. We have nothing to fear here, and it could quite well come down to either a inspired piece of play like last season, or a mistake. Will fatigue interfere after midweek... maybe, but its early in the campaign, and i expect a score draw here.
Brizzle 2-2 Oxford

 

[miagsygas]

Massively less confident on seeing our lineup, no Taylor and McChrystal at the back, obviously Thurs night took its toll. 5 changes

 

[Gassy]

Jesus Thursday must have really worn us put judging by this line up. Changing my prediction to 2-0 Oxford.

 

[miagsygas]

Been the better team to be honest, but Oxford lad Hemmings with an excellent finish, hope to see Taylor on at some point second half

 

[miagsygas]

Rested players and got the much deserved victory, think our squad deserves a lot more credit than it gets. Referee was very fussy for both sides. Montano, Easter, the Clarkes stood out for me. Didn't think Oxford should have took Macquire off. Taylor was always going to get the winning goal. Very quiet from both fans.

 

[07.05.16]

I got the scoreline bang on.
Though, I shouldn't have as Oxford missed a 2 yard open goal in injury time.

 

[Indian Dan]

Excellent!

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Ahhhh.

Rovers dominated the early stages and could have scored a couple of times before they took a deserved lead. Then I thought we found our legs a little. Never on top, but not bad value for an equaliser.

And I think we could have got a draw if we'd kept 11 men. The first yellow for Long was never a free kick, he played the ball perfectly. Couldn't really see the second but silly to go in for it with a referee like that. After that, Rovers were probably deserving. But we absolutely should have equalised at the end. Hey ho.

We spent far too long punting the ball long and Rovers lapped it up. Very organised, plenty of shirt pulling and also very committed - they must have won every 50:50. I'm not sure why we are going direcr when players like Crowley and Maguire can thrive running at a back line.

I never like to talk about atmosphere because it's a tedious discussion, but I'll make an exception for a comment that covers both sets of fans - really felt like a Sunday morning which no one could quite get up for. Very flat.

I still enjoyed it, because football is back. Wehey.

 

[Aber gas]

I enjoyed that very much. Started strongly and bossed the game really. Standouts for me were Lines ( obvs) Easter( who I have been rather critical of but played very intelligently today) and Montano who was a constant menace. Oxford were ok but a bit " fur coat no knickers".
Big relief to get going...

 

[miagsygas]

Taylor and Brown celebrate the winning goal

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Very pleased with our performance today considering we had 48 hours less to prepare for the game. Darrell got his team selection spot on because we looked fresh, lively and were on top for long periods of the game. We should have been a few goals up in the first half but didn't take our chances, so it was the typical kick in the balls when Oxford equalised against the run of play (good strike from Hemmings though).

We were then able to bring on Matteeeee Taylor and you just knew he'd score the winner! His celebration, as caught on camera above, was superb.

Everybody played well, but I was particularly impressed by Cristian Montano, James Clarke and our Bristolian central midfield pairing of Lines and Clarke. They were superb IMO. I thought Crowley, the lad on loan from Arsenal, looked really menacing for Oxford when he came on, but other than that I don't think anybody stood out. I was expecting much better football from them to be honest.

All in all we thoroughly deserved the win and it's great to have 3 points on the board. Hopefully we can now build up some real momentum with the games coming round thick and fast.

 

[JJH]

That celebration's quality I must admit.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Saw Callum O'Dowda in the away end today, thinking of things to do with Bristol City.

 

[07.05.16]

Highlights here:
http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10537080/bristol-rovers-2-1-oxford

 

[JJH]

Saw Callum O'Dowda in the away end today, thinking of things to do with Bristol City.

'kin hell, he's brave, your fans were properly pissed off with him. Did you chat to him?

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

'kin hell, he's brave, your fans were properly pissed off with him. Did you chat to him?

I didn't chat as I was in the terrace but he arrived alone, shook hands with a few people and spent a lot of time chatting to someone next to him. Fair play to him for going along, I don't think many people bear a grudge against him really.

Relieved to see he has recovered from his July illness too.