Oxford player ratings

[robinrover]

Raya saved smartly but distribution was awful 6
Nyambe good going forward tentative in defence 6
Downing another good performance 7
Mulgrew a captain's performance strong a rarely put a foot wrong 8
Williams good performance going forward and defensively 7
Bennett good solid game by a true pro 7
Smallwood tough tackling performance 7
Evans see above hope injury isn't too bad 7
Antonsson big threat throughout and a goal on top 8
Dack definite man of the match never stopped and a huge problem for Oxford 9
Nuttall worked hard and grew into the game 7

Subs
Harper ok but got caught too often in possession 6
Graham looked a little uninterested 6
Samuel see above 6

[AucklandRover]

Raya saved smartly but distribution was awful 6
Nyambe good going forward tentative in defence 6
Downing another good performance 7
Mulgrew a captain's performance strong a rarely put a foot wrong 8
Williams good performance going forward and defensively 7
Bennett good solid game by a true pro 7
Smallwood tough tackling performance 7
Evans see above hope injury isn't too bad 7
Antonsson big threat throughout and a goal on top 8
Dack definite man of the match never stopped and a huge problem for Oxford 9
Nuttall worked hard and grew into the game 7

Subs
Harper ok but got caught too often in possession 6
Graham looked a little uninterested 6
Samuel see above 6

I'd generally agree, Robin, but I might give Bennett 8 for sheer effort. Nyambe's lack of experience shows up a little bit from time to time, but he is going to be excellent with another year under his belt.
Evans was excellent in the first half. Perhaps that awful decision in the NI match will rebound in our favour!
Having seen the highlights again, my first thought that Raya left the shot for the first goal because he thought it was going wide was perhaps a bit harsh. Maybe there just wasn't enough time for him to react. I agree about his distribution. He'd be better off rolling it to Mulgrew!

[robinrover]

If I were Mowbray I would be inclined to start with the same team against Bristol rovers however raya will need to improve in this game otherwise I would not be surprised to see a change in the nets for Blackpool.

[AucklandRover]

If I were Mowbray I would be inclined to start with the same team against Bristol rovers however raya will need to improve in this game otherwise I would not be surprised to see a change in the nets for Blackpool.

Difficult not to keep the same XI. I suppose you could argue that we should play the more attack-minded Whittingham at home, but dropping either Smallwood or Evans after Tuesday's display would be strange.
I wonder if Bristol Rovers will play for a nil-nil. I hope not as we're much better suited to open games.

[robinrover]

I can guarantee that is exactly what they will come for especially after the debacle of the AFC Wimbledon result
We must find a way through and remain patient at the same time
Nothing rash or rushed.