OXFORD United’s impressive run of form hit a brick wall as a jaded performance saw them lose at home to Bristol Rovers.

Depleted by injuries, this looked a game too far for Michael Appleton’s remaining players.

A direct, physical Rovers looked fresher and stronger, claiming the points thanks to first-half strikes from Ollie Clarke and Stuart Sinclair which left a lot to be desired for the U's defence.

Conor McAleny hit the woodwork in between the goals in what was the closest the hosts, who were frustrated by some of the refereeing decisions, came to getting on the scoreboard.

They will be hoping this was a blip in the race for the Sky Bet League One play-offs, but there is little time to replenish energy reserves – leaders Sheffield United visit on Tuesday night.

United were without four key players, all of whom were left out with Appleton taking no risks ahead of a packed schedule.

Curtis Nelson (ankle) and Kane Hemmings (dead leg) missed out, along with Chris Maguire (thigh) and Rob Hall (hamstring).

Rovers had the luxury of a lighter fixture list and an extra day’s rest from their midweek game – and it showed.

Less than two minutes were on the clock when Ollie Clarke forced goalkeeper Simon Eastwood into a save with a powerful shot from 20 yards.

The visitors’ direct gameplan was unsophisticated but proved effective.

Chey Dunkley picked up an early booking, while alongside him Charlie Raglan, in for Nelson, looked unsurprisingly rusty on his first appearance since November.

United laboured on the ball and while Rovers created little, their opening goal in the 17th minute did not come out of the blue.

Joe Skarz was caught the wrong side of Ollie Clarke, who then turned inside Raglan before firing a rising shot into the far corner from 15 yards.

A goal up, Rovers were happy to pack men behind the ball and frustrate.

Lacklustre United got increasingly wound up by their own wastefulness in possession on a sticky playing surface and referee Carl Boyeson’s decision-making.

Belatedly around the half-hour mark the home side stirred and began to win 50/50 challenges.

A first chance quickly arrived, when Marvin Johnson picked out McAleny, whose shot from ten yards struck the inside of the near post and rebounded out.

It looked like it may be the start of a comeback, but three minutes later Rovers struck again.

United failed to clear the initial ball in and were then second best as Luke James found Sinclair, who fired a low shot from 18 yards past Simon Eastwood.

Appleton’s side badly needed a spark from somewhere, and they threatened to halve the deficit in first-half stoppage-time.

McAleny was fouled 25 yards out and from the resulting free-kick he forced Rovers stopper Joe Lumley to tip over the crossbar.

Before the resulting corner was taken the Everton loanee was shoved to the ground by James Clarke.

The referee saw the incident but only ticked off the defender and then the official blew for half-time when the corner was cleared to Liam Sercombe, whose shot found the top-right corner of Lumley’s net.

A clearly fuming Appleton waited at the entrance to the tunnel to voice his displeasure.

The interval saw United reshuffle, with Joe Rothwell coming on for Skarz, whose place at left back was filled by Johnson.

Unfortunately, the pattern of the game continued.

Dunkley was given a final warning after catching James during a Rovers counter-attack, while Raglan breathed a sigh of relief when his challenge on Billy Bodin in the penalty area went unpunished.

It was practically the only collision all afternoon which did not result in the referee blowing his whistle.

United’s big home crowd knew one goal could turn the game, but with no firepower on the bench the XI on the pitch struggled.

McAleny looked the only player capable of causing problems, firing wide off-balance with one effort before Lumley saved his low shot from range.

The striker netted a hat-trick against Chesterfield a week earlier and had another chance 15 minutes from time.

A punched clearance from Eastwood sent United on a counter-attack through Johnson and Rothwell, who set up McAleny in the box to have a shot saved.

There was still time to mount a fightback, but Rovers had few scares in the closing stages as they claimed three points.

Oxford Utd (4-4-2): Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Raglan, Skarz, Sercombe, Lundstram, Ledson, Johnson, McAleny, Martinez.

Subs used: Rothwell (Skarz HT).

Unused subs: Stevens, Long, Ribeiro, Carroll, Ruffels.

Bristol Rov (4-5-1): Lumley, J Clarke, Lockyer, Sweeney, Brown, Bodin (Montano 79), Lines, Sinclair, O Clarke (Mansell 88), Moore, James (Gaffney 62).

Unused subs: Mildenhall, Leadbitter, Harris, Burn.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire).

Attendance: 9,862 (1,798 visitors).