Oxford United put in a polished display to record a fine opening-day victory away at Bristol Rovers.

Jake Forster-Caskey curled in a brilliant opener for the visitors from the corner of the area.

Alfie Potter made it 2-0 with a low drive after cutting inside from the left, and the Pirates were kept at arm's length for the rest of the game.

Home boss Mark McGhee threw on Eliot Richards, but his closest effort was well wide of Ryan Clarke's goal.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Oxford United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Oxford:

"We scored two smashing goals and there was some great resolute defending also.

"Not many teams come here and win. We put in a hard shift on Tuesday but the spirit was there to make sure we kept a clean sheet and got off to a good start.

"They changed their shape and that is testament to us. We are in for a tough season but if we show these qualities then we'll be okay.

"Hopefully we can get Alfie Potter scoring a few more goals. He is a popular player and was excellent today but it was a team effort and we made good decisions and made it tough for the opposition."

Catch up with all the latest highlights from League Two on the Football League Show

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Bristol Rovers

  • 28 Walker
  • 02 Smith
  • 14 Brown
  • 19 Virgo
  • 03 Paterson Booked
  • 08 Gill
  • 16 Anyinsah (Broghammer - 50' )
  • 21 Brown (Norburn - 70' )
  • 26 Lund (Richard - 49' )
  • 07 Clarkson
  • 09 Harrold

Substitutes

  • 20 Gough
  • 05 Kenneth
  • 11 Broghammer
  • 15 Norburn
  • 24 Clarke
  • 25 Clucas
  • 10 Richard

Oxford United

  • 01 Clarke Booked
  • 02 Batt
  • 04 Raynes Booked
  • 06 Wright
  • 17 Capaldi Booked
  • 07 Chapman (Heslop - 64' )
  • 18 Forster-Caskey
  • 19 Cox
  • 09 Constable (Smalley - 68' )
  • 14 Rigg
  • 15 Potter (Craddock - 77' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Brown
  • 03 McGinty
  • 23 Evans
  • 08 Heslop
  • 10 Smalley
  • 11 Pittman
  • 29 Craddock
Ref: Mohareb
Att: 7,451

Match Stats

Shots

13 9

On target

6 5

Corners

8 2

Fouls

11 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:17 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +3:52

The ball is sent over by Michael Smith, Michael Raynes manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +2:33

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matt Gill from the right by-line, clearance made by Tony Capaldi.

90:00 +2:15

Fabian Broghammer sends in a cross, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +1:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Brown by Damian Batt. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

89:52

Unfair challenge on Jake Forster-Caskey by Matt Gill results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tony Capaldi.

88:33

David Clarkson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

85:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Deane Smalley by Jim Paterson. Damian Batt crosses the ball, Tom Craddock takes a shot.

84:44

Michael Smith challenges Sean Rigg unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony Capaldi restarts play with the free kick.

82:47

The ball is delivered by Oliver Norburn.

82:04

The ball is delivered by Matt Gill, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance.

81:47

The ball is swung over by Sean Rigg, clearance by Adam Virgo.

81:02

Lee Brown delivers the ball, Jake Wright makes a clearance.

80:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Damian Batt on Fabian Broghammer. Matt Gill takes the free kick.

78:05

Foul by Deane Smalley on Adam Virgo, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Matt Gill.

77:29

The ball is sent over by Eliot Richards, clearance made by Damian Batt.

76:44

Tom Craddock produces a drilled left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

76:05 Substitution

Substitution Tom Craddock joins the action as a substitute, replacing Alfie Potter.

75:46

Shot from just outside the box by Eliot Richards goes over the bar.

75:24

Foul by Michael Raynes on Matt Harrold, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Matt Gill.

74:38

Deane Smalley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Oliver Norburn. Matt Gill takes the free kick.

74:16

The ball is crossed by Eliot Richards, save by Ryan Clarke.

73:01

A cross is delivered by Eliot Richards.

72:00

The ball is crossed by Lee Brown, clearance made by Jake Wright. A cross is delivered by Oliver Norburn, save by Ryan Clarke.

71:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Clarkson by Lee Cox. Oliver Norburn takes the direct free kick.

70:27

The ball is delivered by Michael Smith, Lee Cox makes a clearance.

69:30 Substitution

Substitution Wayne Brown leaves the field to be replaced by Oliver Norburn.

67:53 Substitution

Substitution Deane Smalley is brought on as a substitute for James Constable.

67:08 Booking

Booking Ryan Clarke is given a yellow card.

65:50

Handball by Wayne Brown. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

65:23

Michael Smith delivers the ball, save made by Ryan Clarke.

63:21

Sam Walker takes the indirect free kick.

63:21 Substitution

Substitution Simon Heslop replaces Adam Chapman.

63:21

Foul by Sean Rigg on Matt Gill, free kick awarded.

61:25

The ball is delivered by Fabian Broghammer, clearance made by Michael Raynes. Fabian Broghammer concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Cox. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

60:35

Effort by Eliot Richards from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

59:54

Centre by Matt Harrold, Damian Batt manages to make a clearance.

57:48

Lee Cox produces a cross, comfortable save by Ryan Clarke.

57:00

Michael Smith produces a cross.

56:34

Sean Rigg takes a shot. Jim Paterson gets a block in.

56:03

The ball is sent over by Lee Brown, save made by Ryan Clarke.

54:54

Sean Rigg sends in a cross, Sam Walker makes a save.

54:54

The ball is crossed by Sean Rigg, save by Sam Walker.

54:18

Eliot Richards has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

50:16

Shot by Fabian Broghammer. Clearance made by Ryan Clarke. Fabian Broghammer takes a outswinging corner. Unfair challenge on Fabian Broghammer by Adam Chapman results in a free kick. Matt Harrold restarts play with the free kick.

48:36

Sam Walker restarts play with the free kick.

48:36 Substitution

Substitution Fabian Broghammer on for Joe Anyinsah.

48:36 Substitution

Substitution Eliot Richards is brought on as a substitute for Matthew Lund.

48:36

Sean Rigg is flagged offside by the assistant referee.

47:38

Centre by Adam Virgo, Jake Wright makes a clearance.

46:17

A cross is delivered by Alfie Potter, save by Sam Walker.

45:34

Michael Smith concedes a free kick for a foul on Alfie Potter. Tony Capaldi takes the indirect free kick.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +3:06 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +2:11

Matthew Lund challenges Michael Raynes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Clarke takes the indirect free kick.

45:00 +1:49

Michael Smith produces a cross, clearance made by Michael Raynes.

45:00 +0:24

Sean Rigg produces a cross, Adam Virgo manages to make a clearance.

43:02

Foul by Damian Batt on Joe Anyinsah, free kick awarded. Matt Gill takes the direct free kick. Adam Virgo takes a shot. Blocked by Adam Chapman.

42:35

Damian Batt produces a cross, clearance by Jim Paterson.

41:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Wayne Brown by Adam Chapman. Free kick taken by Wayne Brown.

40:12

Centre by Jim Paterson, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance. Corner from right by-line taken by Lee Brown.

39:18

Long range effort from Lee Cox misses to the left of the goal.

38:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jake Forster-Caskey by Matt Harrold. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

37:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Cox by Matt Harrold. Michael Raynes takes the indirect free kick.

34:00

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by David Clarkson from the right by-line. The ball is crossed by Matt Gill, Jake Wright manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Lee Brown from the right by-line. The ball is delivered by Matt Gill, James Constable gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken by Matt Gill from the left by-line.

33:19

David Clarkson takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

31:26 Goal scored

Goal - Alfie Potter - Bristol R 0 - 2 Oxford Goal scored by Alfie Potter from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bristol Rovers 0-2 Oxford Utd.

29:41

Sam Walker takes the indirect free kick.

29:41 Booking

Booking The referee books Tony Capaldi for unsporting behaviour.

26:50

Adam Virgo fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick. The ball is swung over by Michael Smith, left-footed shot by Matthew Lund. Sean Rigg delivers the ball. Free kick awarded for a foul by Tony Capaldi on Matt Gill.

26:50 Booking

Booking Michael Raynes receives a caution.

26:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Harrold by Michael Raynes.

25:16

Corner from the left by-line taken by Matt Gill, save by Ryan Clarke.

24:56

Matt Gill produces a cross, Damian Batt makes a clearance.

24:38

The ball is crossed by Jake Forster-Caskey, Sam Walker makes a save.

21:27

Assist on the goal came from Adam Chapman.

21:27 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Forster-Caskey - Bristol R 0 - 1 Oxford Goal scored by Jake Forster-Caskey from just outside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Bristol Rovers 0-1 Oxford Utd.

19:37

Adam Chapman delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Jim Paterson makes a clearance.

19:37 Booking

Booking Jim Paterson receives a caution.

19:26

Foul by Jim Paterson on James Constable, free kick awarded.

18:39

Lee Cox gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matt Harrold. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

15:40

Matt Harrold fouled by Michael Raynes, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Sam Walker. Inswinging corner taken by Jake Forster-Caskey from the right by-line played to the near post, Matt Gill manages to make a clearance.

14:56

Shot from just outside the box by Sean Rigg misses to the left of the goal.

12:58

Damian Batt fouled by Joe Anyinsah, the ref awards a free kick. Jake Forster-Caskey crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance made by Adam Virgo.

10:52

Alfie Potter takes a shot. Save made by Sam Walker.

8:54

Matthew Lund takes a shot.

8:21

The ball is sent over by Alfie Potter.

5:28

Foul by Sean Rigg on Joe Anyinsah, free kick awarded. David Clarkson restarts play with the free kick. David Clarkson has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Save by Ryan Clarke.

2:20

Wayne Brown takes a shot. Blocked by Jake Wright. Corner taken left-footed by Lee Brown, Ryan Clarke makes a save. Shot from 30 yards by Adam Chapman. Save by Sam Walker. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jake Forster-Caskey by Matt Harrold. Damian Batt takes the free kick. Wayne Brown takes a shot. Save made by Sam Walker.

0:23

The ball is delivered by Damian Batt. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jake Forster-Caskey.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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