Bristol Rovers 2 Oxford United 0

Last updated : 02 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Bristol Rovers boss Ian Atkins will be the happiest man after seeing his side defeat former club Oxford United 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.

Atkins was suspended by the U's while in charge of the club last season when it emerged he was in talks to take over at Rovers, before he eventually accepted the job in the West Country.

Junior Agogo scored in each half to give Rovers their first win in six league games.

Oxford claimed his first should have been ruled out for handball, but could have no complaints with the second, a brilliant finish after keeper Chris Cardiff was lured to the edge of his box.

Before Agogo's break through just before half-time it looked like a goal would never arrive.

Rovers were lacking width and balls humped through the middle were being picked off easily by Oxford central defenders Leo Roget and David Woozley.

Agogo and partner Lee Thorpe were also being caught offside too frequently as their chased hopeful punts upfield.

Oxford were pressing down the right where Chris Hackett was causing all sorts of problems for Ryan.

With Jamie Hand running the midfield the visitors were moving forward smoothly but the final killer shot was not there.

Tommy Mooney finely broke in from the left with a shot full of venom as it rose over the bar.

He was closer with a free header from a free-kick early from the second half. It was too straight but exposed a gap which Oxford came close to exploiting as Hand and Hackett kept the pressure on.

Another free-kick came close to an equalizer with Paul Wanless heading just over as most of the action now seemed to be coming from set pieces, but Agogo was opening up Rovers game and he saw both Dave Savage and Aaron Lescott wasted chances after supplying them with clear runs on goal.

However it all came right for the striker as he scored again eight minutes from time.