{"id":509850,"date":"2019-08-23T03:47:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T07:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=509850"},"modified":"2019-08-23T03:47:56","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T07:47:56","slug":"oxford-united-third-successive-defeat-bristol-rovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/08\/23\/oxford-united-third-successive-defeat-bristol-rovers\/","title":{"rendered":"Oxford United Look to Avoid Third Successive Defeat at Bristol Rovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oxford United<\/a> will be looking to avoid a third successive league defeat this Saturday as they travel to Bristol Rovers.<\/a> The U’s started the season brightly, but defeats at Blackpool<\/a> and at home to Burton Albion<\/a> have seen their positive start come to a halt.<\/p>\n

Oxford United Aiming to Avoid Third Successive Defeat<\/h2>\n

Tough Opposition for the U’s<\/h3>\n

Despite a poor start to the season for Bristol Rovers, they will fancy themselves when Oxford come to town. The Gas have been a bit of a bogey team for the U’s in recent seasons, losing just twice from their last eleven meetings, winning seven.<\/p>\n

But those two Oxford wins came at the Memorial Stadium, with Kemar Roofe netting the winner in 2014 and Alex Mowatt scoring a late winner in 2017 with both games ending 1-0 to the visitors.<\/p>\n

Both sides have had contrasting starts to the season. The U’s picked up a point at Sunderland<\/a> before beating Peterborough United<\/a>, but back to back defeats have halted their form. While the Gas lost two of their opening three games 2-0, the other a goalless draw at Coventry City, they recorded their first win of the season at home to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Both sides have also progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\n

Key Players<\/h3>\n

The talking point for this game, which is always a fiery affair, will be the fact Matty Taylor<\/a> will be returning to the Memorial Stadium for the first time since he left Rovers for rivals Bristol City in 2017. The 29-year-old striker has joined Oxford on a season-long loan, and he will be in search of his first goal since returning to the club he began his career with.<\/p>\n

Tariqe Fosu<\/a> looks likely to return for the Oxford while Ben Woodburn<\/a>, who was called up to the Wales squad<\/a> in the week, will be looking to impress. Defensively, Oxford have looked solid this season but shipped four goals in the defeat to Burton Albion.<\/p>\n

Tyler Smith has scored three in four games, while Jonson Clarke-Harris has netted two in four. The Gas also have a steady midfield, with former Oxford favourite Liam Sercombe<\/a> among them.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>