Bolton 0-2 Oxford

Looking like an easy game coming up this weekend, however with the players we have low on confidence, can't see where goals will come from.

0-0

Adult tickets £15 for this. Not sure it's going to help.

Like most people- I haven't a clue what will happen. Perhaps the BWFC journeymen will rise to the occasion. Certainly we'll concede so I'll go for us to win 2-1 with no confidence at all.

MartinBWFC wrote:Looking like an easy game coming up this weekend, however with the players we have low on confidence, can't see where goals will come from.

0-0

Easy game ? I take it tha's not seen em play last couple of matches.

I'll take "Easy Game" to mean for Oxford then.

1-0 Who cares who scores ? (I really have no idea of who can/will score)

Ref watch: Mark Haywood to officiate Oxford clash

Mark Haywood will officiate Wanderers’ Sky Bet League One clash with Oxford United at Macron Stadium on Saturday.

He has overseen six matches so far this season, issuing 20 yellow cards and two red.

The West Yorkshire based official has been involved in the professional game for the past eleven seasons and has been the man in the middle for seven Bolton games in the past, including last season's draws with Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion.

He has also overseen six Oxford games over the course of his refereeing career to date, the last of which was a goalless draw between the U’s and Cambridge United back in March.

Michael D’Aguilar and Paul Graham will run the line, whilst Matthew Donohue is the fourth official.

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COYW!!!!
Let's get back to winning ways... We have to get three points surly

Must win already.

Preview: Five talking points ahead of Bolton Wanderers v Oxford United

1. Mark Beevers and Gary Madine are back!
Manager Phil Parkinson confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Mark Beevers and Gary Madine are both available for this weekend's clash with Oxford United.

Wanderers have missed the duo in recent weeks with the Whites suffering defeat to Rochdale in midweek without Beevers after the defender was struck down with a virus.

Meanwhile Madine, who currently leads Bolton's scoring charts with three goals, has not featured for the Trotters since their 1-1 draw with Southend United at the start of September because of injury.

Two of Wanderers' star performers during the opening weeks of the campaign, their return is a welcome boost as the Whites look to return to winning ways.

2. £15 tickets
Having recorded their biggest attendance of the campaign last weekend against Bradford City, Saturday's clash with Oxford marks the club's first category D fixture of the season.

Tickets stadium-wide cost £15 for adults and £7 concessions, so you have no excuses to not be at BL6 and back the boys come 3pm on Saturday.

3. Josh Vela's new contract
Another player to impress for Bolton during the opening weeks of the campaign, Josh Vela was rewarded with a new contract earlier this week as he extended his deal at Macron Stadium until 2019.

Boasting two goals to his name already this season, will the midfielder be able to celebrate his contact with his third strike of the campaign?

4. First meeting with Oxford since 1999
Saturday's game marks the Trotters' first clash with Oxford since April 1999, as well as the U's second ever visit to Macron Stadium.

Wanderers haven't lost in this fixture since April 1984, while their last home defeat to Oxford came all the way back in March 1976.

With the two clubs now both in the same division for the first time this millennium, will the Whites be able to continue their recent strong form against the U's as competitive relations resume?
 
5. Unbeaten at home
While Bolton may have fought out at a number of draws in recent weeks, they remain unbeaten at home in the league under Phil Parkinson.

Keen to return to winning ways, and certain to be back by a vocal home crowd, the Trotters will be doing their utmost to ensure that still remains the case come 5pm on Saturday.

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Scouting report: Oxford United

SEASON SO FAR…
Having secured the second automatic promotion spot in Sky Bet League Two last season by the skin of their teeth behind champions Northampton Town, Oxford United have enjoyed a relatively solid start to life in English football’s third tier.

Finishing just a point above Bristol Rovers back in May – a team who proceeded to win their place in League One via the play-offs – the U’s currently reside comfortably in mid-table in the division’s league standings having picked up 12 points from their opening ten fixtures.

Winning three, drawing three and losing four of their games so far since the start of the current campaign, they even embarked on a four game unbeaten run prior to their midweek defeat to Southend.

United however are certainly stronger on their own patch meanwhile than on their travels, with all of their league victories so far coming at the Kassam Stadium.

So far on the road they have picked up just a solitary point courtesy of a goalless draw with MK Dons last month, although they did beat Sky Bet Championship outfit Birmingham City at St Andrew’s in the first round of the Capital One Cup.

It has certainly been a steady climb back up the Football League ladder for today’s visitors with them having been confined to the Conference National for four years after suffering relegation from League Two in May 2006.

Now playing their football in English football’s third tier for the first time this century however, the U’s faithful will be hoping that their side can cement their place as a side to be reckoned with this term.

RECENT FORM

• W 1-0 – Rochdale H - Sky Bet League One – 3/9/2016 
  
• W 2-0 – Swindon Town H - Sky Bet League One – 10/9/2016 
  
• D 0-0 – MK Dons A - Sky Bet League One – 17/9/2016 
  
• D 1-1 – Charlton Athletic H - Sky Bet League One – 24/9/2016 
  
• L 2-1 – Southend United A - Sky Bet League One – 27/9/2016 
  

THE HEAD COACH: MICHAEL APPLETON
Appleton joined Oxford United as head coach in July 2014 having previously been manager of Blackburn Rovers. 

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As a player meanwhile, the former Preston North End midfielder started his career at Manchester United and also spent three years at West Bromwich Albion after his four years with the Lilywhites. 

After his career was ended by a knee injury however, Appleton stayed with West Brom as a coach and also had a spell as caretaker manager before becoming Roy Hodgson's assistant. His first permanent managerial post was at Portsmouth in 2011, after which he had a brief spell in charge of Blackpool 
before his move to Blackburn. 

In 2015/16 though, Appleton led Oxford to the Football League Trophy Final at Wembley alongside securing automatic promotion to League One for the U’s.

KEY PLAYER: WES THOMAS
A journeyman of English football, experienced striker Thomas has played for 16 different clubs in both permanent and loan stints throughout his eleven years in the game to date. 

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After establishing his reputation as a goalscorer in non-league, the forward joined Dagenham & Redbridge in 2008. In July 2010 meanwhile, he moved to Cheltenham Town, scoring on his debut and ending the season as top scorer with 19 goals. 

He then left for Crawley but in September 2011, joined Bournemouth on loan – a deal which became permanent in January 2012. Later enjoying loans at Portsmouth and Blackpool, both under U’s boss Michael Appleton, he joined Birmingham City on loan in January 2013 until the end of the season. 

Thomas then moved to Rotherham in January 2014 and scored six goals as the club won promotion to the Championship before returning to Birmingham on a permanent deal in June 2014. 

Finally, he then enjoyed loans with Swindon Town and Bradford City before signing for Oxford in June of this year.

LAST OXFORD UNITED XI (v SOUTHEND UNITED, L 2-1)
Eastwood, Edwards, Dunkley, Raglan, Skarz, Rothwell, Lundstram, Sercombe, Johnson, Maguire, Hemmings

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Am in today, got given a box for my Birthday, not going for the football that's for sure.

MartinBWFC wrote:Am in today, got given a box for my Birthday, not going for the football that's for sure.

What time are you meeting up with Nat?

karlypants wrote:

MartinBWFC wrote:Am in today, got given a box for my Birthday, not going for the football that's for sure.

What time are you meeting up with Nat?

Eeeew not going anywhere near her box

MartinBWFC wrote:Am in today, got given a box for my Birthday, not going for the football that's for sure.

Are you sure it's not a cardboard box?

You dickheads, you'd never want to leave my box if you were lucky enough to get inside it.

Natasha Whittam wrote:You dickheads, you'd never want to leave my box if you were lucky enough to get inside it.

Would we be stuck in there forever?

Would we need a map?

I'm tighter than a duck's arse.

How many people can you fit in your box at any one time?