WANDERERS (3-5-2)

JAMES TRAFFORD…6.

Boxed in for the third goal but had little chance with the others. Needs a bit of protection in front of him at times.

GETHIN JONES…5.

Form seems to have dipped a little bit in recent weeks. Did get forward to put a couple of good crosses into the Oxford box but has lost a touch of concentration. First goal was poor.

RICARDO SANTOS…5.5.

His one-on-one defending was good but Wanderers needed him to be more commanding when the ball was crossed into the box. Third was a case in point.

GEORGE JOHNSTON…5.5.

Anderson and Bate gave him a few problems on the Bolton left. Johnston’s defending was as brave as ever but his work in possession was a bit predictable.

CONOR BRADLEY…6.

Created the goal for Charles and tried to be positive on the ball but got brushed off a little easily for the Oxford second.

MJ WILLIAMS…5.5.

In such a transitional game Bolton needed him to be first on the scene to anything loose in midfield. He didn’t win enough to keep control.

JOSH SHEEHAN…5.5.

Difficult comeback game for the Welshman, who should have scored in the first half and struggled to get his passing game going at all.

KIERAN LEE…5.5.

A rare mis-step from Lee in a game where his normally sharp decision-making could have made all the difference.

JACK IREDALE…5.

Moved out to wing-back again but couldn’t offer much in an attacking sense and was subbed for Dapo Afolayan at the break.

ELIAS KACHUNGA…5.

Didn’t touch the ball in the penalty area and spent most of the game with his back to goal trying to bring down long passes from the Bolton defence.

DION CHARLES…6.5.

Got his goal, which will hopefully raise confidence, and looked a little livelier than he had in recent weeks. Hopefully the sign of things to come.

Subs: Afolayan 5, 45 (for Iredale) – Really didn’t make an impact.

Bodvarsson 5, 60 (for Kachunga) – Missed one big chance.

Dempsey 5.5, 60 (for Sheehan) – Added a bit of bite.

Morley 5.5, 66 (for Williams) – One good ball in for Bodvarsson.

Sadlier 6, 66 (for Lee) – Made things happen. Has to have a shout.

Not used: Thomason, Beck.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood; Long, Moore, Findlay, Brown; Bate, Brannagan, McGuane; Anderson, O’Donkor, Joseph.

Subs: Seddon 45 (for Long), Henry 70 (for Anderson), Browne 70 (for O’Donkor), Rodriguez 81 (for McGuane) Not used: Jones, McGinty, Goodrham.

Referee: Ollie Yates 4/10 – So inconsistent with his decision making, especially in the first half. Wanderers would have lost the game either way – but the referee can’t be pleased with a game in which he dished out eight yellow cards.

Attendance: 17,281