{"id":529757,"date":"2019-09-18T07:42:46","date_gmt":"2019-09-18T11:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=529757"},"modified":"2019-09-18T07:42:46","modified_gmt":"2019-09-18T11:42:46","slug":"oxford-united-bolton-wanderers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/09\/18\/oxford-united-bolton-wanderers\/","title":{"rendered":"Tough Times at Oxford United After Goalless Draw at Bolton Wanderers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oxford United<\/a> have struggled on the road yet again, this time coming away with just one point against League One’s bottom club, Bolton Wanderers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But, for Karl Robinson’s<\/a> side, it could have been a lot worse and The Trotters could have easily picked up their first win of the season.<\/p>\n

Tough Times at Oxford United After Draw at Bolton Wanderers<\/h2>\n

What Happened in Bolton?<\/h3>\n

This was Bolton’s first home game since their recent takeover and the hosts were on top in the opening 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

Will Buckley<\/a>, who looked comfortable on his debut, set up Thibaud Verlinden<\/a> but Rob Dickie<\/a> was on hand to get a block in.<\/p>\n

Simon Eastwood<\/a> then denied Ali Crawford<\/a> from a free-kick, and shortly after, the midfielder rounded the goalkeeper before hitting the post.<\/p>\n

The U’s were yet to find their feet, and Verlinden was denied by Eastwood before Jason Lowe fired wide.<\/p>\n

Oxford’s first opportunity came when Tariqe Fosu<\/a> smashed a free-kick over the bar during a spell where Robinson’s side started winning a number of corners.<\/p>\n

It was from a corner that forced Remi Matthews into his first save, denying Fosu after a knockdown by Dickie.<\/p>\n

And despite a disappointing first half, in which the U’s could have been a couple of goals behind, they began the second stronger.<\/p>\n

Chris Cadden<\/a> and James Henry<\/a> linked up well on the right, before Henry’s cross was headed by Cameron Brannagan<\/a>, but Matthews denied the U’s top scorer.<\/p>\n

Verlinden was again denied by Eastwood at the other end before the U’s almost took the lead in a fortuitous instant. Henry saw a low shot take a big deflection before the ball struck the post<\/p>\n

Nine Points from Nine Games<\/h3>\n

The U’s have only picked up nine points in League One this season. After four points came during the opening two matches of the season, a run of four defeats in five has seen a plunge down the table.<\/p>\n

Robinson’s side recorded just their second league win on Saturday, easing past Tranmere Rovers, and the fans would have expected another three on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>