Jason Steele 7

Made a good save from Liam Sercombe when the game was goalless but could have got the deckchair out thereafter given his defence’s commanding showing.

Ben Marshall 8*

Put his penalty away with aplomb and his free kick was a thing of beauty but the fit-again right-back also deserves credit for the work he did defensively.

Elliott Ward 8

Man of the match on any other day, the debutant was composure itself. He read the game superbly, made perfectly timed tackles when needed, and used the ball well.

Grant Hanley 8

The captain could also be pleased with his rock-solid performance which at one stage in the first half he appeared intent on capping with a goal. His deflected shot, however, was saved.

Tommy Spurr 8

A lot of Oxford’s threat comes from down their right but they were given little joy by the left-back who made a brave and brilliant block just before Rovers opened the scoring.

Elliott Bennett 7

Set-up a first-half chance for Tony Watt and tried to do the same after the break when he should have been selfish and shot. Also created an opportunity for Simeon Jackson.

Corry Evans 8

The U’s were never allowed to settle and Evans got through more work than most, hustling and harrying his opponents and always trying to join the attack.

Darragh Lenihan 7

Sensibly taken off by Paul Lambert after being shown a booking by a referee who was being bayed to brandish a red card, the young midfielder got stuck-in throughout.

Craig Conway 7

Swung over a corner that new boy Ward nearly headed early on, the hardworking winger got up and down the left flank, helping Spurr with his defensive duties.

Simeon Jackson 8

Another strong contender for man-of-the-match award, the striker won the penalty, saw two chances come and go, and ran the U’s ragged from start to finish.

Tony Watt 8

By his own admission, off the pace in the first 35 minutes, but the debutant’s devastating cameo before the break, when he set-up the penalty and scored in thrilling fashion, broke Oxford.

 

SUBS

Tom Lawrence for Watt (61)

Chris Taylor for Lenihan (71)

NOT USED

David Raya, Adam Henley, Matt Kilgallon, Shane Duffy.