Noxious Gas

United lost at home again, going down 1-0 to a poor Bristol Rovers side, despite Oxford dominating the majority of the first half. Scott Howie saved well from Bobby Ford, David Savage and Andy Scott, before Scott missed a golden opportunity to score when he shot a rebound off Howie against the post with the goalie on the floor. In the second half Andy Rammell put Rovers ahead nine minutes after the break when he was left unmarked at a free kick needlessly conceded by Matt Bound. As United pressed, looking for an equaliser, Rovers almost caught Oxford on the break but Chris Llewellyn's tame lob was easily caught by Andy Woodman.

There were two changes from the starting line-up at Exeter two days ago. James Hunt came into the midfield to replace Roy Hunter and David Oldfield came in for Dominic Foley up front. After half an hour Manny Omoyinmi came on for the injured Savage, which was the point when Oxford lost their rhythm and started to look less cohesive, although one has to wonder why Dean Whitehead, who is a more similar player to Savage, wasn't brought on. After 67 minutes Jefferson Louis came on for the tiring Oldfield and, with United chasing the game with almost a quarter of an hour remaining, Steve Basham came back from injury to take over from Bound as the Us went 4-4-2, to no avail.

Referee Eddie Wolstenholme, taking charge of his first United game of the season, gave the kind of performance that we've unfortunately come to expect from officials at this level. He booked Hunt, and also gave Rob Quinn the opportunity to do something memorable at the Kassam Stadium for the first time ever, being booked for time-wasting. The attendance, swelled by 2,800 Rovers fans, was 8,732, the second highest in the division. A match report, courtesy of Ancient Colin, is now online.

This defeat leaves United in seventh, on the brink of the play-offs, while Rovers are now fifth from bottom, five points above the drop zone. Leaders Rushden beat Macclesfield 3-0 while Hartlepool could only draw 2-2 with Rochdale, who are still in danger of relegation, eight points from the bottom. Wrexham consolidated their third place with a 6-1 pasting of Carlisle, leaving Wrexham four points above the play-offs with a game in hand, and Carlisle third from bottom, also with a game in hand. Bournemouth have virtually ensured their place in the play-offs with a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury, who have slipped to the bottom, two points from safety but with a game in hand.

Bury and Scunthorpe fought out a goalless draw, allowing both clubs to move above Oxford into fifth and sixth places respectively. York are eighth after they could only draw 0-0 at home to Kidderminster, and Lincoln are now ninth, one point behind Oxford but with a game in hand, which is against Cambridge tomorrow. Both Kiddy and Cambridge, in 11th and 12th positions, have an outside chance of making the play-offs. Tenth placed Torquay were held 2-2 at home to Leyton Orient and are just one point behind United. Whatever else happens, Oxford must look to get at least four points from their last two games, at Scunthorpe and home to York.

At the bottom Exeter gained a vital 1-0 win at Swansea, who are now fourth from bottom but just one point above the Grecians. Exeter are off the bottom but have played a game more than both Shrewsbury and Carlisle. A late Mark Angel penalty gave Boston a 1-0 win over Southend, to leave the Pilgrims sixth from bottom and seven points above the Shrews. In a meaningless mid-table fixture Darlington beat Hull 2-0.