Brian De Keersmaecker pulls a goal back for Oxford (Photo: Steve Daniels)

For all the disgruntlement I felt after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Preston, I am not (yet) ready to jump onto the Rowett Out bandwagon, although with each passing game it appears to be gathering momentum.

It was a frustrating game and one which we really shouldn’t have lost, despite Preston’s lofty position in the Championship.

For much of the game, the teams were fairly evenly matched. Oxford certainly showed more endeavour and attacking intent than we’ve seen in away games, although that’s not saying much. And when Brian De Keersmaecker pulled a goal back, it seemed only a matter of time before the side found an equaliser. Since promotion, the side have yet to overturn a two-goal deficit, but this was certainly their best chance so far.

The first half of the first half was a bit of a non-event, with the teams probing each others’ defences without much in the way of decent opportunities apart from a couple of hopeful efforts from distance. Preston were just starting to turn the screw when they went ahead with a very preventable goal.

Oxford half-cleared a corner, which was delivered back to the far post where Jordan Storey was free to head the ball down, through Jamie Cumming’s legs, and into the net. It was a fairly typical goal for Oxford to concede and was an illustration of how poorly the side has been defending routine set pieces this season.

United’s response was to get on the front foot and look for a rapid equaliser. One passage of play saw a long throw by Will Vaulks into the area, where an Ole Romeny shot was blocked before Michał Helik’s goalbound effort was deflected over. From the corner, there were three or four shots in succession before Preston managed to clear the ball from Ciaron Brown’s effort.

The next corner found Brown lurking at the back post, but whereas Storey converted his chance, Brown’s header was acrobatically kept out by Daniel Iversen. When you’re struggling, that’s just the way the mop seems to flop.

Oxford started the second half brightly. Substitute Stan Mills’ first involvement was to fire in a cross that Will Lankshear headed onto the top of the bar.

That was a brief moment of hope, as the visitors immediately went up the other end and scored a second. A nice passage of passing culminated with Daniel Jebbison steering home from Lewis Dobbin’s low cross. From a Preston viewpoint it was a well-worked goal. From an Oxford perspective, it was too easy for North End to cut the side open on the left and for Jebbinson to get in front of Helik to convert. Maybe that’s being unnecessarily harsh, but with the score at 2-0 it looked like there would be no way back for the U’s.

This time, the side’s response was immediate. Nik Prelec picked up the ball and ran along the edge of the penalty area before a short pass to De Keersmaecker. He sent the ball through Harrison Armstrong’s legs, ran around the defender, and buried the ball past Iversen. Game on!

From then, Oxford had the momentum and scented blood. A Vaulks drive from outside the area drew a fine save from Iversen as the Yellows continued to look for that elusive equaliser. However, there came a moment when United lost their mojo, and it can be directly attributed to a poor decision from Rowett.

Having made positive changes with the introduction of Stan Mills for Hidde ter Avest at half time and Tyler Goodrham for Romeny just after the hour, Rowett destroyed the side by bringing on Mark Harris and Tom Bradshaw, who between them have scored one goal this season and who haven’t shown any likelihood of turning a game around. It’s the footballing equivalent of throwing in the towel.

And so the game fizzled out, with the last couple of minutes characterising Oxford’s ills, as they dicked about with it at the back while trailing to a fairly ordinary side, with no ideas how to break them down once any pace or creativity is off the pitch.

Which brings me back to why do I not want Rowett sacked (yet)? To be honest, I am fairly ambivalent on the matter. If he were to be dismissed, I would not be too troubled by it. Unlike when Des Buckingham was pushed through the out door, I wouldn’t feel like we would lose someone who particularly cared about the club or who was a warm and likeable man.

However, I do think that, despite all his flaws, he is still someone who could turn the ship around. Some of the results he has achieved, both this season and last, have been beyond expectations, and he clearly is a good tactician, despite admitting that he got it wrong against Preston.

He has been hampered by injuries to key players, although I guess most managers could claim that, and I think the departure of Elliott Moore has hurt the side more than people might have thought (and not just for his footballing ability).

Yes, performances and results have generally been poor but Rowett isn’t to be blamed for the inadequacies of his available players. The return of Cameron Brannagan will certainly provide a boost to the squad, and there is always the hope that January incomings can help provide a fresh impetus.

It’s all a bit faint-hearted, admittedly, and I’m probably quite easy to convince that a change should be made, but for now I’m prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, not least because I despite the general lack of patience that most boards show towards the people they have appointed to do a specific job. While I felt they were too slow to react to show Karl Robinson the door, as things stand I think that sacking Rowett might be too hasty and come to bite them.