Bolton Wanderers picked up just their second point of the season after Oxford United failed to capitalise on their win over Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
But for the U’s, it could have been a lot worse, with many fans suggesting that Bolton were unlucky not to come away with all three points.
Here's the correct one (Moore still out). pic.twitter.com/l0wBisQBcT
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) September 17, 2019
Karl Robinson made just one change from the side that won at home against Tranmere last weekend with Matty Taylor making his first start since returning from injury, replacing Jamie Mackie up top.
Simon Eastwood began in goal, behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, John Mousinho, Rob Dickie and Chris Cadden.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin and Cameron Brannagan remained in midfield, whilst Tariqe Fosu and James Henry were on the wings. Ben Woodburn started behind Taylor.
For Bolton, this was their first home game since their recent takeover and the hosts were on top in the opening twenty minutes.
Will Buckley, who looked comfortable on his debut, set up Thibaud Verlinden but Dickie was on hand to get a block in.
Eastwood then denied Ali Crawford from a free-kick, and shortly after, the midfielder rounded the goalkeeper before hitting the post.
The U’s were yet to find their feet, and Verlinden was denied by Eastwood before Jason Lowe fired wide.
The U’s first opportunity came when Fosu smashed a free-kick over the bar during a spell where Robinson’s side started winning a number of corners.
It was from a corner that forced Remi Matthews into his first save, denying Fosu after a knockdown by Dickie.
And despite a disappointing first half, in which the U’s could have been a couple of goals behind, they began the second stronger.
Cadden and Henry linked up well on the right, before Henry’s cross was headed by Brannagan, but Matthews denied the U’s top scorer.
Verlinden was again denied by Eastwood at the other end before the U’s almost took the lead in a fortuitous instant. Henry saw a low shot take a big deflection before the ball struck the post.
It was another disappointing evening in Lancashire. One positive was that the U’s managed a second consecutive clean sheet, but it’s the first time all season they’ve failed to find the net. Taylor is yet to score since his arrival on loan from Bristol City, but Agyei managed to feature for ten minutes as a substitute.
