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A defiant Oxford United gave as good as they could against red-hot Bolton Wanderers in a cracking game at the Kassam on Tuesday.
The U’s missed an opportunity to move within two points of the League One play-offs with this 4-2 defeat but, after a slow start, the U’s fought bravely against the Trotters.
A bundled first half Kane Hemmings goal and a perfect second half Chris Maguire free kick kept Oxford in the contest but Michael Appleton’s side were narrowly beaten on the night by a team who have now scored four goals in their last three away games.
It was a nightmare start for United as Bolton took the lead in next to no time.
Simon Eastwood was forced into a fantastic low save from a Gary Madine header, but the ball fell kindly to Felipe Morias who confidently thumped the ball into the top right corner.
Everything the former Chelsea trainee touches has turned to gold since signing for Bolton in January, racking up two goals and eight assists in 10 games for the visitors.
United, who started with Marvin Johnson up front in the hope he would get in behind Bolton’s back three, struggled to get going early on.
And just as United thought they had found their feet midway through the first half, Bolton doubled their lead through another rebound.
Morias – involved again – had a central free kick tipped onto the bar by Eastwood and another man in white – this time defender Mark Beevers – was first to the rebound to score on 23 minutes.
This was United’s 53rd game of the season, two more than any other English side, so it wasn’t surprising that Oxford struggled against a solid Bolton Wanderers looking for an immediate return to the Championship.
But there was no sign of tiredness once the U’s were thrown a lifeline three minutes before the break.
Further up the pitch than expected, left back Joe Skarz connected with a Hall cross. Ben Alnwick, off his line, got finger tips to the defender’s header but needed David Wheater to nod the ball onto the crossbar. But the danger wasn’t cleared and Hemmings was there to bundle home his first goal in nine games.
It wasn’t pretty but it was pretty effective from Hemmings, who gave United hope with his 15th of the
season.
Despite the U’s bossing second half possession, Phil Parkinson’s side were always a threat with the impressive Eastwood thwarting Chris Long twice, first from an acute angle on 53 minutes and, a minute later, from 20 yards.
And on 60 minutes, the Trotters poked their noses further ahead in humiliating style for Oxford defender Chey Dunkley, who, from a Bolton long throw, headed the ball into the bottom corner of his own net under pressure from Madine.
The second half exploded into life with 20 minutes remaining when Johnson cracked a sensational strike from 30 yards, via a slight touch from Alnwick, against the inside of the post before bouncing clear.
There was another moment of sheer brilliance five minutes later when Maguire perfectly dispatched a free kick from the D perfectly into the top right corner to give the hosts renewed hope.
Just two minutes later and the hosts should have had a penalty when sub Conor McAleny was clipped in the box – but the Everton loanee was booked for diving by referee Ross Joyce.
Bolton dug deep as they absorbed Oxford pressure before Vela finished off United in the 94th minute.
United remain five points off the play-offs and travel to Northampton Town on Saturday before hosting Bury on Tuesday.
http://www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk/united-outclassed-in-thriller/
The U’s missed an opportunity to move within two points of the League One play-offs with this 4-2 defeat but, after a slow start, the U’s fought bravely against the Trotters.
A bundled first half Kane Hemmings goal and a perfect second half Chris Maguire free kick kept Oxford in the contest but Michael Appleton’s side were narrowly beaten on the night by a team who have now scored four goals in their last three away games.
It was a nightmare start for United as Bolton took the lead in next to no time.
Simon Eastwood was forced into a fantastic low save from a Gary Madine header, but the ball fell kindly to Felipe Morias who confidently thumped the ball into the top right corner.
Everything the former Chelsea trainee touches has turned to gold since signing for Bolton in January, racking up two goals and eight assists in 10 games for the visitors.
United, who started with Marvin Johnson up front in the hope he would get in behind Bolton’s back three, struggled to get going early on.
And just as United thought they had found their feet midway through the first half, Bolton doubled their lead through another rebound.
Morias – involved again – had a central free kick tipped onto the bar by Eastwood and another man in white – this time defender Mark Beevers – was first to the rebound to score on 23 minutes.
This was United’s 53rd game of the season, two more than any other English side, so it wasn’t surprising that Oxford struggled against a solid Bolton Wanderers looking for an immediate return to the Championship.
But there was no sign of tiredness once the U’s were thrown a lifeline three minutes before the break.
Further up the pitch than expected, left back Joe Skarz connected with a Hall cross. Ben Alnwick, off his line, got finger tips to the defender’s header but needed David Wheater to nod the ball onto the crossbar. But the danger wasn’t cleared and Hemmings was there to bundle home his first goal in nine games.
It wasn’t pretty but it was pretty effective from Hemmings, who gave United hope with his 15th of the
season.
Despite the U’s bossing second half possession, Phil Parkinson’s side were always a threat with the impressive Eastwood thwarting Chris Long twice, first from an acute angle on 53 minutes and, a minute later, from 20 yards.
And on 60 minutes, the Trotters poked their noses further ahead in humiliating style for Oxford defender Chey Dunkley, who, from a Bolton long throw, headed the ball into the bottom corner of his own net under pressure from Madine.
The second half exploded into life with 20 minutes remaining when Johnson cracked a sensational strike from 30 yards, via a slight touch from Alnwick, against the inside of the post before bouncing clear.
There was another moment of sheer brilliance five minutes later when Maguire perfectly dispatched a free kick from the D perfectly into the top right corner to give the hosts renewed hope.
Just two minutes later and the hosts should have had a penalty when sub Conor McAleny was clipped in the box – but the Everton loanee was booked for diving by referee Ross Joyce.
Bolton dug deep as they absorbed Oxford pressure before Vela finished off United in the 94th minute.
United remain five points off the play-offs and travel to Northampton Town on Saturday before hosting Bury on Tuesday.
http://www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk/united-outclassed-in-thriller/
