Match ends, Oxford United 1, Bristol Rovers 2.
Oxford UtdOxford United1Bristol RoversBristol Rovers2
Bristol Rovers came from behind to win at fellow promotion-chasers Oxford through Ellis Harrison's late penalty.
Kemar Roofe pounced from a corner to put Oxford ahead just after the break with his 18th goal of the season.
But the lead was short-lived as Matty Taylor headed in an equaliser from Daniel Leadbitter's searching cross.
As the game looked set for a draw, Jermaine Easter broke through the Oxford defence and Sam Slocombe brought him down to concede the penalty.
Rovers climb a place in the League Two table to fourth and close the gap on third-placed Oxford to just two points.
The Us lose ground on top two Plymouth and Northampton, who both won on Saturday.
Following the game, it was announced Rovers' match-winner Harrison would be joining fellow League Two club Hartlepool on a month's loan.
Oxford United manager Michael Appleton told BBC Radio Oxford:
"I thought from a performance point of view, I couldn't really ask the players for any more. I thought we were fantastic to be fair.
"We just got hit by a couple of sucker punches.
"The penalty is one of those where when you come out like that as a goalkeeper, you almost invite the referee to put his whistle to his mouth.
"I'm not convinced by it as there were two or three shouts we had turned down. But, we shouldn't have given them that opportunity to get one."
On reports linking him with the vacant manager's job at Championship club Bristol City:
"I'm absolutely delighted here. The way it is at the minute, I'm in the middle of discussing a new long-term contract with the club.
"From that point of view, I couldn't be any happier."
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
Formation 4-4-2
- 1SlocombeBooked at 88mins
- 2Baldock
- 5Mullins
- 6Wright
- 3Skarz
- 4Roofe
- 8Sercombe
- 18Lundstram
- 11MacDonaldSubstituted forHyltonat 79'minutes
- 20TaylorSubstituted forO'Dowdaat 35'minutes
- 28MaguireBooked at 74minsSubstituted forHobanat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Hoban
- 10Hylton
- 13Buchel
- 14Ruffels
- 15O'Dowda
- 33Dunkley
- 36Evans
Bristol Rovers
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Mildenhall
- 3Brown
- 6Parkes
- 4LockyerBooked at 70mins
- 15J Clarke
- 2Leadbitter
- 7MansellSubstituted forO Clarkeat 68'minutes
- 24Sinclair
- 14Lines
- 10TaylorSubstituted forEasterat 76'minutes
- 30GaffneySubstituted forHarrisonat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 5McChrystal
- 8O Clarke
- 9Harrison
- 17Easter
- 21Montaño
- 22Preston
- 23Bodin
- Referee:
- Nick Kinseley
- Attendance:
- 9,492
Match Stats
Home TeamOxford UtdAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home14
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Oxford United 1, Bristol Rovers 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum O'Dowda (Oxford United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
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Callum O'Dowda (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers).
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Attempt missed. Kemar Roofe (Oxford United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
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Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Tom Lockyer.
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Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Tom Lockyer.
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Attempt blocked. George Baldock (Oxford United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked.
Goal!
Goal! Oxford United 1, Bristol Rovers 2. Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Booking
Sam Slocombe (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Penalty Bristol Rovers. Jermaine Easter draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by Sam Slocombe (Oxford United) after a foul in the penalty area.
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(Oxford United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers).
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Foul by John Lundstram (Oxford United).
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Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Callum O'Dowda (Oxford United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Ellis Harrison replaces Rory Gaffney.
Post update
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Tom Lockyer.
