Match Preview: Oxford United

12 September 2019

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers hit the road on Saturday afternoon when they travel to the Kassam Stadium for a Sky Bet League One fixture away to Oxford United, 3pm kick-off.

Micky Mellon’s Rovers are unbeaten in their last two outings after second-half goals from Connor Jennings and Paul Mullin earned a point in a 2-2 home draw with Gillingham in front of the SWA at Prenton Park.

Awaiting TRFC are Karl Robinson’s Oxford side who sit 20^th following their 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town last weekend.

Team News

Corey Blackett-Taylor remains suspended for the trip to Oxford United.

Manager Mellon will be without Kane Wilson (knee), Morgan Ferrier (knee), Jake Caprice, (ankle) Mark Ellis, (knee) Evan Gumbs (ACL) and Ishmael Miller (hamstring), who all remain be sidelined.

One to Watch

Midfielder Cameron Brannagan signed for Oxford on a permanent deal back in January 2018 and currently leads the club’s goal scoring charts this term.

The 23-year-old Mancunian came through Liverpool’s academy before turning professional at Anfield before making his Premier League debut in May 2016 away at Swansea City.

Brannagan was loaned to Fleetwood in January 2017 and played 13 times for the Fylde Coast outfit in Sky Bet League One.

He left Liverpool permanently last January to sign for Oxford on an undisclosed fee switch and has since made over 50 appearances for the U’s, scoring three goals this season.

Brannagan has also been capped at youth level by England, representing the Three Lions at U18 and U20.

Match Officials

Referee: Robert Lewis

Christopher Wade and Bhupinder Gill

Fourth Official : Andrew Aylott

Tickets

The SWA have been allocated an initial 500 tickets plus a further three wheelchair and carer tickets.

Tranmere supporters will be based in the West End of the North Stand on the day for the 3pm kick-off.

Prices are as follows:

Adults: £24

Over 65: £17

18-21: £16

U18: £14

U13: £10

U7: £6

Ambulant disabled supporters pay the relevant ticket price and are entitled to a PA ticket for free as long as the disabled supporter is on medium or higher rate of care.

Coach travel is also available for this fixture with the coach leaving Prenton Park at 8:45am.

To keep updated on the latest TRFC ticket news, CLICK HERE.

Past Meetings

In their fixtures against the men from Oxfordshire, TRFC have won 11, drawn 10 and lost 15 of their encounters.

Match Coverage

The SWA can listen to uninterrupted match commentary of Tranmere Rovers’ Sky Bet League One fixture away to Oxford United.

Your match day commentary team of Phil Wilkinson, Rob Edwards and Adam Siddorn will guide you through events at the Kassam Stadium.

iFollow Tranmere is the only place you can listen to devoted TRFC coverage and if you sign-up, you can watch exclusive behind the scenes content, interviews and match highlights.

An audio match pass on iFollow costs just £2.50!

To sign-up, CLICK HERE.

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @TranmereRovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Did you know

Tranmere’s last victory against Oxford United came in an FA Cup second-round replay in December 2014 at Prenton Park, where Kayode Odejayi and Max Power’s penalty secured passage to the third-round.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match Report: Oxford United 3-0 Tranmere Rovers

14 September 2019

Tranmere Rovers were beaten 3-0 away to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium in Sky Bet League One on Saturday afternoon.

Hosts Oxford were ahead on 22 minutes through James Henry’s penalty after Liam Ridehalgh fouled Tariqe Fosu.

Cameron Brannagan found the net for the Yellows with 70 minutes played, slamming home into the far corner after profiting from a cut-back.

Henry notched his double with his second penalty in second-half injury-time.

The result in Oxfordshire ended TRFC’s unbeaten run of two matches in the third-tier, with the Wirral outfit still searching for the first victory on their travels this term.

Manager Micky Mellon made two changes for the fixture from last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with Gillingham, as Calum Woods and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy came in for George Ray and Ollie Banks.

Rovers began brightly and went close inside two minutes when Hepburn-Murphy flashed his strike across goal from the right-side of the penalty area which was pushed out by goalkeeper Simon Eastwood to David Perkins, who saw his well-struck drive charged down.

Forward Paul Mullin was next to try his luck for Tranmere shortly after, but he could only bend his effort from the left straight into Eastwood’s grasp.

Oxford’s first sight of goal came through Fosu, who received a lofted pass down the left, to cut into the box and saw his shot hit the side-netting.

Karl Robinson’s U’s were awarded a penalty by referee Robert Lewis on 21 minutes when Ridehalgh fouled Fosu after a swift counter attack.

Up-stepped midfielder Henry to convert the spot-kick from 12-yards right-footed into the bottom right-corner, sending Scott Davies the wrong way.

In response, Rovers caused problems down the right when Hepburn-Murphy’s cross found Mullin unmarked at the back post, though he could not steer his attempt on target.

After the break, good build-up play finished in Connor Jennings laying off substitute Cameron Borthwick-Jackson to shoot just past Eastwood’s upright.

Up the other end, frontman Jamie Mackie glanced over a header for Oxford after connecting with a right-sided floated cross.

Oxford’s second of the afternoon came with 70 minutes on the clock, when Brannagan drove in from 10-yards via a deflection which beat Davies to find the far corner.

Referee Lewis pointed to the spot again after Shandon Baptiste was fouled, with Henry converting the penalty, rolling the ball right-footed into the bottom left-corner.

Tranmere Rovers return to Prenton Park on Tuesday night when they host Peterborough United in Sky Bet League One, 7:45pm kick-off.

TRFC: Davies ©, Woods, (Borthwick-Jackson 40) Monthe, Nelson, Ridehalgh, Potter, Perkins, (Banks 73) Hepburn-Murphy, Jennings, Mullin, Payne (Morris 60)

Subs not used: Pilling, Ray, Ponticelli, Gilmour

Attendance: 6,294 (639 away supporters)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Oxford United ticket details

10 September 2019

Ticket details for Tranmere Rovers’ Sky Bet League One fixture away to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday 14^th September have been announced.