Bristol Rovers 2 - 1 Oxford United: Matt Taylor grabs winner for Bristol Rovers against 10-man Oxford

Posted Monday, August 15, 2016 by PA

Matt Taylor fired a 70th-minute winner as Bristol Rovers gained their first points of the season with a 2-1 Sky Bet League One victory at home to an Oxford side who played the last quarter of the game with 10 men.

On as a substitute, last season's top scorer in the Football League buried a close-range effort on the turn after the U's had failed to clear a Luke James cross from the right.

Rovers had taken the lead in the 25th minute when Jermaine Easter was allowed space to move into Oxford's penalty area on the right and buried a sweetly-struck right-footed shot inside the far post.

But Oxford were level after 42 minutes. Ryan Taylor headed the ball into the path of Kane Hemmings, who moved forward to beat goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall with a low shot from 20 yards, the ball striking the inside of a post on its way in.

The visitors' hopes of a point were hit when Sam Long received a harsh second yellow card for a high foot after 67 minutes. But Oxford should have equalised in injury-time when substitute Tyler Roberts blazed over an open goal.