Oxford United are in red hot form right now and made it four wins on the bounce with a 3-0 victory over Shrewsbury on Tuesday night.
Liam Manning’s side have scored three goals in each of those wins, conceding just once, but have offered something different in terms of formation, tactics and goal scorers on each occasion.
On Saturday, the U’s welcome Bristol Rovers – a team that they have struggled against in recent seasons – but they should have enough about them to extend their unbeaten run.
One Win In Ten Home Meetings: In-Form Oxford United Must Turn Up the Heat Against the Gas
Record Against Bristol Rovers
Oxford’s record against Bristol Rovers is somewhat woeful. The Gas have won the last three meetings, including a 3-0 victory in this fixture last season which proved to be the final straw for Karl Robinson as he was sacked.
In fact, the poor run goes well beyond the Robinson era. Oxford won both fixtures in the 2020/21 season but besides those results, the U’s have failed to pick up the victory in nine meetings.
In the last 19 encounters in all competitions, Oxford have won just four while Bristol Rovers have picked up 11 wins. Seven of those also came at Grenoble Road.
Oxford United Are In Fine Form
Despite the poor recent record against the Gas, the U’s have been going toe to toe with most teams this season and have picked up eight wins from ten league games.
The opening-day defeat at Cambridge was a wake-up call and a shock to the system after being labelled heavy favourites for the game, while their loss at home against Port Vale came in dramatic circumstances with the U’s down to nine men and Vale scoring a 99th minute penalty.
Liam Manning’s side have also shown different strings to their bow this season. For much of the campaign, the head coach has set up with a back four but for the last two wins over Stevenage and Shrewsbury, Oxford have deployed a back three with two attacking wing backs. It’s worked as Greg Leigh has scored three goals and added one assist from those two fixtures, while Fin Stevens notched his first of the campaign on Tuesday night.
Against the Shrews, Oxford dominated possession and the ball but they have also come away with the victory when on the back foot for large parts of the game. It shows that they are capable of picking up points by exploiting the opposition’s weaknesses.
That will be key against Rovers who are a well organised unit under Joey Barton. Of course, to Manning, the club’s record against Bristol Rovers is irrelevant and he will be looking at how to get in behind Barton’s side and pick up a fifth successive win.
