Oxford United 1-2 Bristol Rovers

Ellis Harrison (right) stunned the home crowd with his late winning penalty for Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers came from behind to win at fellow promotion-chasers Oxford through Ellis Harrison's late penalty.

Kemar Roofe pounced from a corner to put Oxford ahead just after the break with his 18th goal of the season.

But the lead was short-lived as Matty Taylor headed in an equaliser from Daniel Leadbitter's searching cross.

As the game looked set for a draw, Jermaine Easter broke through the Oxford defence and Sam Slocombe brought him down to concede the penalty.

Rovers climb a place in the League Two table to fourth and close the gap on third-placed Oxford to just two points.

The Us lose ground on top two Plymouth and Northampton, who both won on Saturday.

Following the game, it was announced Rovers' match-winner Harrison would be joining fellow League Two club Hartlepool on a month's loan.

Oxford United manager Michael Appleton told BBC Radio Oxford:

"I thought from a performance point of view, I couldn't really ask the players for any more. I thought we were fantastic to be fair.

"We just got hit by a couple of sucker punches.

"The penalty is one of those where when you come out like that as a goalkeeper, you almost invite the referee to put his whistle to his mouth.

"I'm not convinced by it as there were two or three shouts we had turned down. But, we shouldn't have given them that opportunity to get one."

On reports linking him with the vacant manager's job at Championship club Bristol City:

"I'm absolutely delighted here. The way it is at the minute, I'm in the middle of discussing a new long-term contract with the club.

"From that point of view, I couldn't be any happier."