Sunderland’s form began to decline about the same time as ours. Apart from a big home win over Tranmere they had just lost to Lincoln and then, like us, at Wycombe. They have had a few draws, scraped past Southend 1-0 at home, but fell at home to Burton between losing twice to Gillingham.
Their most recent manager, Phil Parkinson (ex Bolton and Bradford), 3 months in, has yet to fulfil the club’s faith in him. Results have declined since his appointment. However, the quality of the players is beyond doubt and their potential is enough to concern any opponent.
We have failed to get the better of them during their current spell in this league and they have always seemed impressive against us. Ex Rovers loanee Gooch has turned in some good performances in these matches and if we are to get all the points we will have to be in our best form.
It would be good if we could play as fluidly as at Peterborough because we would win. The manager seems to have some rotation in mind and perhaps he will think about bringing Copps back immediately. If Taylor is injured it will be predictable replacement, unless of course he rejects his customary caution and puts in Watters. Although a couple of players were possibly not as good as the rest last time, it would probably be better for the team to make no alterations to the starting 11. I just hope that he is not tempted to bring back the big men up front neither of whom seem to have developed and Daniels does not deserve a recall.
What they do need is a fast confident start; if they have to work the ball up from defence let it be a rapid process because they play best at speed. Too much thinking has not been good for them. They are mostly young and energetic which is a strength they should use.
I’ll go for 3-1 to us and Taylor/Ennis/Sadlier with the first goal.
DPL vs Sunderland
posted on 29/12/19
As suggested. Same team and set up except Copps in for Sheaf! Looks a strong side and bench. You never know it might be another Darlington.
posted on 29/12/19
2 nil legend..ennis
posted on 29/12/19
With the one change, it seems DM must be reading JA606! Hope it works.
posted on 29/12/19
Rovers 3-1 Sunlan
John to score
Small Azza
Rovers 3-0 Mackems
Copps
posted on 29/12/19
3 nil victory, Copps first goal.
posted on 29/12/19
By the end it looked a bit like boys against men. Sunderland started as if they meant to get a hat-full of goals and battered us for a quarter of an hour. Gooch took his goal well but he had far too much time to pick his spot. The first half equaliser was well taken by Taylor from an excellent Sadlier cross, and we went in at half time all square. The second half was another story. As well as Halliday played they were always overloading the left with Gooch and Hume constantly probing, eventually getting in a cross that Maguire rifled home. Dieng had no chance with either goal. Ennis go nothing from the Sunderland back line and, to be fair, he got almost no service. Coppinger and Whiteman and games to forget and Gomes is a work in progress. Twice in injury time and with us losing Gomes got the ball in space and squared it. Maddening. Our only threats came from Taylor and Sadlier. Oxford are on fire. Wednesday could be a long day.
posted on 29/12/19
Well put Art.
I would say for the first 30 mins they were in complete control stronger than us and more determined.
Maybe Deing may done more for the first goal maybe but gooch had so much time it was embarrassing.
Deing mom for me.
Agree with everything you said.
Ref very very poor.
But at least you were all pleased to see 26 back.
Just to remind you all we won 3 nil away at Peterborough where he did not start.
posted on 29/12/19
Which team will show up on Wednesday? How do we manage to go from an energetic and classy performance to this low energy, slow motion, backwards and sideways game? Sunderland were so much quicker doing everything, as well as making far better passes. May be against such teams Copps is a wrong choice to start as he tends to slow the game down. However it was a quick Whiteman, Copps, Sadlier, Taylor move that got our goal!
Whiteman had a relatively poor game for him, and Gomes seemed to have gone back to what he did a few weeks ago and not how he played at Peterborough. We had no control in mid-field.
I nearly had about three heart attacks with the crazy passing around at the back.
I wish DM would not be so positive after such a game.
My cousin, an Oxford fan, must be looking forward to Wednesday.
posted on 30/12/19
Had to turn my phone off, the amount of verbal I'm getting was doing my head in. Not as much as Moore is though, he was massively happy at the way we got back into a difficult game. 🤕
Big question, are the board going to back him, we had players lined up in pre season but he said no, I've got better lined up. Doesn't look good.
He had a hell of a lot better players at West Brom, look how that ended.
posted on 30/12/19
Thanks for the reports.
Whilst DM might have followed our advice in team selection it seems that they failed to move the ball with the speed which was so effective at Peterborough.
Doing well against "big" clubs has always seemed a problem for us. I was unexpectedly prevented from seeing the live stream, but it seems that Gooch put in another good performance.
I will probably comment separately in Artfold's article, but it is plain that we probably need a couple of players with ability plus confidence in themselves. Both Marquis and WIlks had this and were not overawed like some of the current squad seem to be when they come up against experienced opposition.