🎧 Oxford boss Rowett's 'stick or twist' dilemma

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett faces a dilemma between being more attacking but being a bit short of quality compared to other Championship clubs, says former U's defender Ben Purkiss.

The U's were beaten 2-1 at Watford on Saturday, despite taking the lead, to leave them with just one point from their past three games and in the relegation zone.

"The team will be disappointed with the manner of the goals conceded (against Watford) but you look at the game overall and you saw more openness from the team, you saw more chances created," Purkiss told BBC Radio Oxford's podcast The Dub.

"On the opposite side we opened up and there were more chances for Watford than there were for Oxford. It shows you when we do open up we're a little bit deep during the game and it gives other teams more space."

Oxford's only win this season was a 3-1 victory at Bristol City last month and Purkiss believes head coach Rowett must try to find a balance between attack and defence.

"The dilemma Gary faces is he wants his team to go for it a bit more and be more attacking but the problem is if we go toe-to-toe with teams and one-for-one with players we're a little bit short," Purkiss added.

"The next five games there are opportunities there. Derby haven't started great, Wrexham is tricky but they haven't started brilliantly, Sheffield Wednesday, then Millwall and Stoke who I've seen and they've started well but I don't think they're that special - it's about regrouping and going again."

Listen to the latest episode of The Dub and more Oxford United content on BBC Sounds.