WANDERERS (3-4-1-2).

JAMES TRAFFORD…7.5.

You’d have to say the first half incident was a rush of blood to the head but the City keeper was otherwise spotless. His positioning was exemplary and handling superb.

GETHIN JONES…7.

Captain on the day and set a good example. Won plenty in the air and chipped in with what became an impressive rear-guard effort in the end.

MJ WILLIAMS…7.

It is little wonder that there was some rustiness, considering his last game at centre-half was against Wanderers two-and-a-half years ago for Rochdale. Dug in well and deserves credit.

GEORGE JOHNSTON…9.

Bolton’s Braveheart put in a phenomenal effort at centre-back, throwing his body in the way of everything Oxford tried in front of goal.

CONOR BRADLEY…8.5.

Pipped by Johnston for man of the match but no less courageous. Seven shots blocked, every blade of grass on the right flank covered. Lung-bursting effort.

AARON MORLEY…6.5.

Pulled the strings early on but as Oxford wrestled control of the game he had to sit in and do the defensive work which isn’t necessarily his forte.

JOSH SHEEHAN….6.

Like Morley, would have liked more of the ball at his feet. Sacrificed the prettier stuff for organisation and positioning and worked hard to protect the lead.

DECLAN JOHN…7.

Got into some good positions in the first half – and like the others, spent the last hour defending. Did a decent job on Murphy, who didn’t get a look in.

KYLE DEMPSEY…6.

It was a big day for the midfielder, given what had gone before. He had one big chance to grab a nerve-settling second.

DAN NLUNDULU…6.

Started the game really brightly and held the ball up well. Ran himself to a bit of a standstill in the end, though, and was swapped for Kachunga.

DION CHARLES…6.5.

Finally broke that 20-goal hoodoo that had hung over Bolton’s players for the last two decades. Subbed in the second half with what looked like a knock on his knee.

Subs: Kachunga 6, 57 (for Nlundulu) – Added some extra energy.

Adeboyejo 6, 65 (for Charles) – Held the ball well.

Thomason 79 (for Morley), Shoretire 79 (for Sheehan).

Not used: Dixon, R Williams, Jerome.

Oxford United (4-2-3-1): Eastwood; Long, Moore, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Branagan; Joseph, Browne, Fleming; Murphy.

Subs: Goodrham 46 (for Murphy), O’Donkor 57 (for Fleming), Wildschut 72 (for Browne), Anderson 85 (for Long).

Not used: Smith, McGinty, Smyth.

Referee: Seb Stocksbridge 5/10: Oxford’s fans certainly felt he had missed a trick not sending off James Trafford, and watching the incident in real time it was difficult to argue against their frustration. You feared he would look to level it up from there – and in Stocksbridge’s credit, he stayed strong on a couple of flippant penalty appeals in the second half.

Attendance: 9,506.