Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 0, Oxford United 0.
BoltonBolton Wanderers0Oxford UtdOxford United0
Keith Hill earned his first point as Bolton manager after a League One draw with Oxford at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Wanderers had lost four games and conceded 21 goals in the division since a 0-0 draw with Coventry under Phil Parkinson on 10 August.
But Hill's enterprising team shrugged off those drubbings, including last Saturday's 6-1 defeat at Rotherham, to suggest brighter times ahead.
They could easily have turned one into three points with this crowd-pleasing performance. Will Buckley went closest with a 17th-minute shot against a post.
Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood kept out further first-half efforts from Ali Crawford and the tricky Dennis Politic.
Oxford, beaten now only once in six games in all competitions, showed more enterprise as the lively contest progressed.
Bolton goalie Remi Matthews saved from Ben Woodburn and Rob Dickie in the opening period and then denied Cameron Brannagan early in the second half.
Bottom side Wanderers, who began the season with a -12-point deficit, almost snatched a late winner only for Eastwood to tip over Jason Lowe's 20-yard drive.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Bolton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 20Matthews
- 2Emmanuel
- 5HobbsBooked at 55mins
- 6Wright
- 12Chicksen
- 28Bridcutt
- 22PoliticBooked at 64mins
- 4Lowe
- 11Crawford
- 17VerlindenSubstituted forWeirat 82'minutes
- 7Buckley
Substitutes
- 1Alnwick
- 8Murphy
- 14Weir
- 27Darcy
- 30Zouma
- 33Brown
- 34Senior
Oxford Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Eastwood
- 2Cadden
- 4Dickie
- 15Mousinho
- 3Ruffels
- 6Gorrin
- 8Brannagan
- 17Henry
- 10WoodburnSubstituted forFordeat 67'minutes
- 11Fosu-HenrySubstituted forHallat 89'minutes
- 9TaylorSubstituted forAgyeiat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Hall
- 12Long
- 13Stevens
- 14Forde
- 18Sykes
- 22Thorne
- 23Agyei
- Referee:
- Paul Marsden
- Attendance:
- 6,786
Match Stats
Home TeamBoltonAway TeamOxford Utd
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 0, Oxford United 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Oxford United. Robert Hall replaces Tariqe Fosu-Henry.
Post update
Foul by John Mousinho (Oxford United).
Post update
William Buckley (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. John Mousinho (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Cameron Brannagan with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Alister Crawford.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Henry (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cameron Brannagan.
Post update
Alex Rodriguez (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by James Weir (Bolton Wanderers).
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by John Mousinho.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Weir (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alister Crawford.
Substitution
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. James Weir replaces Thibaud Verlinden.
Post update
Foul by Tariqe Fosu-Henry (Oxford United).
Post update
Joshua Emmanuel (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Ruffels (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Chris Cadden with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by John Mousinho.
Substitution
Substitution, Oxford United. Daniel Agyei replaces Matty Taylor.
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Simon Eastwood.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jason Lowe (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Alister Crawford.
