Gary Rowett expecting Oxford United to put things right at West Brom after off-night in Stoke
Boss Gary Rowett is confident his Oxford United side will respond from a lacklustre midweek showing at Albion on Saturday.
The Baggies and the U's sign off for the November international break with a crunch clash at The Hawthorns with pressure from the stands mounting on home boss Ryan Mason.
Former Birmingham and Millwall boss Rowett, appointed at the Kassam Stadium last December, was disappointed with his side's display in Tuesday's limp 3-0 defeat at high-flying Stoke, where the boss spent an unhappy six months in 2018.
Rowett felt his side lacked energy and quality in the clash at the Potters, who were 2-0 up by the interval and put the game to bed with a third goal shortly after half-time to leave Oxford down in 19th, five points below Albion but four points above the drop zone.
"Anyone in the dressing room will I'm pretty sure feel we haven't performed anywhere near where we need to perform," said Rowett.
"First and foremost we'll come back and be ready to go, prepare and plan as diligently as we always do for Saturday's game.
"We need to them back that up with a performance and step up. We pretty much have most of the time. The players have responded most of the time. For some reason on Tuesday it did not look like we had that same level of energy and competitiveness about us.
"It was a lacklustre evening and let's hope we put it right at the weekend.
"The supporters have been brilliant for nearly a year now. How many would still be behind you 3-0 down? There's not that many. We've got to give them something more to cheer about."
Rowett's appointment to replace Des Buckingham last Christmas had an inspired effect on the U's, who won promotion from League One two seasons ago.
He immediately reversed the club's fortunes and turned around the form, winning January's Championship manager of the month.
Oxford went on to finish 17th, four points clear of the drop.
The U's have won three times in the league so far this term, including on their travels at Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Left-back Jack Currie (ankle) is a doubt. The Yellows have last season's Baggies loanee from Tottenham Will Lankshear - who Mason will know well - in their ranks. Lankshear has four goals from 14 games this term.
