PREVIEW Bristol Rovers v Oxford United

A full guide to Saturday's match

12 August 2022

Oxford United head for Bristol Rovers on Saturday looking to make it three wins in a week.

A last minute winner against Cambridge last Saturday was followed by a penalty shoot-out victory over Swansea on Tuesday to set up a Carabao Cup second round tie at home to Crystal Palace.

The U's look to turn a good week into a great one as they take on Joey Barton's newly-promoted Rovers.

TEAM NEWS

United boss Karl Robinson made eight changes to the side in midweek and told iFollow that several players had made strong claims for a starting place this weekend.

New signing Kyle Joseph goes straight into the squad after arriving on loan from Swansea City while Ed McGinty is likely to be on the bench after Jack Stevens joined Port Vale on a season-long loan last night.

The U's are still without Yanic Wilschut (hamstring) and Sam Baldock (thigh) and there are one or two further knocks and strains to assess after the first three games before the squad is finalised.

THE OPPOSITION

Rovers Boss Joey Barton is looking forward to facing old friend Karl Robinson again.

“We’ve got a fantastic record against Robbo as no doubt he’s aware of because I keep telling him all the time but he’s never managed to beat us in my time as a manager.

“It’s going to be a tricky game against a team that are a perennial play-off team in our division. They came up a little bit short in our division last season but Karl Robinson’s sides are always there or thereabouts so I think it will be a good benchmark for us.

“I’m looking forward to it. He’s a good friend, somebody who has always produced good teams and I think it will be a good benchmark for us.”

Rovers have captain Paul Coutts available again following suspension

TICKETS

Fans are reminded that the game kicks off at 12.30pm and is ALL TICKET with none available on the day

We are pleased to confirm that, because of the change of kick-off, the game will be available to stream on iFollow.

CLICK HERE to see the game online

Ticket details are as follows

Bristol Rovers Away

Saturday 13th August 12.30pm Kick Off

	Seating	Terrace
Adults	£30	£25
Over 65	£26	£21
16-21	£26	£21
Under 16	£11	£11
Under 11	£6	£6

These are available on General Sale

online from oufctickets.co.uk
by phone (01865 337533)
and in person

Wheelchair bays, Tickets are priced the same as seating age bands with a FREE Personal Assistant (Please note this is an uncovered area)

Ambulant Disabled pay the age relevant price class with a FREE Personal Assistant in both areas.

London Road Club Travel
Coaches will depart the Stadium at 9am prompt

Prices :
LRC Adult Member £18.00
LRC Under 18 Member £16.00
Adult Non Member £21.00
Under 18 Non Member £19.00

Visit www.oufctickets.co.uk or call 01865 337533 to book

Discounted LRC membership is available until 31 October at £5 for supporters who have purchased a 22/23 season ticket. The price after this time and for non-season ticket holders is £10.

Coach tickets are £3 cheaper for LRC members, so the membership soon pays for itself, even for occasional travellers.

For the safety and comfort of supporters, all those travelling are asked to abide by the rules which are:

• Under-14s must be accompanied by a responsible adult to travel on LRC transport.

• No alcohol is permitted on the coaches.

The London Road Club asks all supporters to have respect for their fellow passengers and will not tolerate any misbehaviour

SUPPORTERS GUIDE
The Oxford United Supporters Panel has produced this guide for travelling fans:

BristolRovers-1_220810_113206.pdf

WEATHER WARNING

The away terrace is open to the elements and with temperatures continuing to rise we ask all fans to take precautions; wear a hat, take sun block...

Supporters are advised to carry water and will be allowed into the ground for this game with their own plastic bottles, with the tops removed. No glass or metal bottles can be allowed for safety reasons.

Drinks will also be available for purchase from the usual outlets within the ground.

COLOURS

United will again be wearing their new yellow kit. CLICK HERE to get yours...

RAIL STRIKES

A further reminder that there will be rail strikes taking place tomorrow. The following services will be affected by the industrial action:

• Arriva Rail London
• Avanti West Coast
• Crosscountry
• Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express)
• Great Western
• Hull Trains
• LNER
• London Overground
• Southeastern
• West Midlands Trains

Some operators are still providing services. You can visit HERE for the latest information on running times and operators’ timetables.

SUPPORTERS GUIDE

The Oxford United Supporters Panel has produced this guide for travelling fans:

Bristol Rovers-away fans guide.pdf

Match Reports

REPORT Bristol Rovers 1 Oxford United 0

Marquis goal beats the U's. Full time report

13 August 2022

A John Marquis goal gave Bristol Rovers a 1-0 win at the Memorial Stadium today as Oxford United found the Gas just too hot to handle.

Karl Robinson's side more than matched the home team for much of the game, with more possession and more chances created, but could not find a way to goal in a second away game of the season that might have gone either way.

With Cameron Brannagan and Marcus McGuane controlling the midfield, United started almost as brightly as the midday sun that slowly roasted their magnificent away support on the open terrace, and for the first quarter in particular they looked to be in control.

Brannagan had the first shot of the match, Marcus Browne ran the channels and caused chaos and had Sam Long nodded a corner an inch lower rather than onto the bar after 15 minutes, then few would have argued with United being ahead.

Instead, United went off the boil and were grateful to Simon Eastwood for a flying save from Sam Finley a minute later as the Pirates grew into the game. They took the lead on 35 with a cleverly worked free kick that saw Finley scamper in behind the defence, Aaron Collins clip the ball across and marquee signing Marquis left with a simple finish for his first Rovers goal.

Tempers rose with the temperature and there was a feisty edge to the game from then on.

The otherwise excellent James Henry really should have equalised soon after the break but got his angles all wrong to head a superb Matty Taylor cross off target with only the keeper to beat, United's best chance of the 90 minutes.

Billy Bodin drilled a low effort straight at keeper James Belshaw soon after, but United hadn't quite recovered their earlier swagger and Lewis Bate, Tyler Goodrham and debutant Kyle Joseph were introduced to try and help them get back on track.

Joseph, tall and athletic, raised the energy levels and United rallied with Bate playing just behind a front three for the final 20 minutes. Chances dried up though as the home side killed the game off and largely kept the ball away from danger, sub Ryan Loft surprisingly not getting enough elevation on a late chance to end the contest as he raced clear on Eastwood's goal.

Credit to both teams in such temperatures, far from easy, but United now need to rehydrate, recover and go again as they start a run of three home games, beginning against Lincoln City on Tuesday evening.

Att: 8,297
Away: 885

Report by Chris Williams, pictures by Steve Daniels, Steve Edmunds and Darrell Fisher, stats by OPTA

Ticket News

Bristol Rovers Away Details

12.30 kick off for All Ticket Game, with iFollow stream also available

10 August 2022

Fans are reminded that Oxford United’s Sky Bet League 1 game away at Bristol Rovers on Saturday has been moved forward to a 12.30pm kick off at the Memorial Stadium and that the game is STRICTLY ALL TICKET

We are pleased to confirm that, because of the change of kick-off, the game will be available to stream on iFollow.

CLICK HERE to see the game online

Ticket details are as follows

Bristol Rovers Away

Saturday 13th August 12.30pm Kick Off