Bolton v Oxford Utd - League One Play Off Final

[ArmchairDetective]

Today at 4:15pm. Who do we all want to win this one?

Oxford likely considered the underdogs having finished 10 points behind Bolton. Would be Oxford's first season in the second tier since 98/99 should they be promoted. Would be fantastic to see them do it and would certainly give many of us a new away day.

Bolton gives us another local match and selfishly the 'Toughsheet Community Stadium' (that name still gives me a laugh) is about a 15-20 minute drive for me. Bolton away on a Friday for the opening game of the season would make for a great occasion. And by playing in the same league as them surely we can no longer be considered to be 10 years behind them

[hetheclaret]

Today at 4:15pm. Who do we all want to win this one?

Oxford likely considered the underdogs having finished 10 points behind Bolton. Would be Oxford's first season in the second tier since 98/99 should they be promoted. Would be fantastic to see them do it and would certainly give many of us a new away day.

Bolton gives us another local match and selfishly the 'Toughsheet Community Stadium' (that name still gives me a laugh) is about a 15-20 minute drive for me. Bolton away on a Friday for the opening game of the season would make for a great occasion. And by playing in the same league as them surely we can no longer be considered to be 10 years behind them

I'm slightly biased being from Oxford and being in the Oxford end at Wembley today, but obviously Oxford - I've never had an Oxford vs Burnley fixture in my time as a Burnley fan.

And selfishly, Oxford because if they do get promoted they will really, really struggle in the Championship and should be six points in the bag.

[Clive 1960]

I would like Bolton to get promoted and more lancashire derbies..

[AGENT_CLARET]

Bolton great day out plus x2 local derby game's

Oxford great weekend away

Not bothered either way

[NL Claret]

Oxford for me , can’t stand Bolton fans. It’s not a great day out at Bolton, it’s a soulless stadium surrounded by a dull retail park.

[Boss Hogg]

Oxford for me but Bolton will be favourites.

[nil_desperandum]

I would like Bolton to get promoted and more lancashire derbies..

Thus - most likely - reducing our points tally, since derby games are generally much more tough than other games, and you tend to get a lot of draws.
(We dropped 6 points against Blackpool and PNE last time even though they were quite poor teams)
Oxford for me all the way for the reasons that others have already given.

[Clive 1960]

Thus - most likely - reducing our points tally, since derby games are generally much more tough than other games, and you tend to get a lot of draws.
(We dropped 6 points against Blackpool and PNE last time even though they were quite poor teams)
Oxford for me all the way for the reasons that others have already given.

I have a few Bolton friends and i can't upset them and want Oxford to win ..

[aclaretinstevenage]

Having seen them both first hand this season I'd say they are very evenly matched. But I see Oxford adopting the same negative spoiling game plan that got them past Posh in the play off semifinals second leg and stealing a win via a penalty!

Strange that as they were the best footballing side at Stevenage at the time.

[ElectroClaret]

Posh lads all the way.

[hetheclaret]

Having seen them both first hand this season I'd say they are very evenly matched. But I see Oxford adopting the same negative spoiling game plan that got them past Posh in the play off semifinals second leg and stealing a win via a penalty!

Strange that as they were the best footballing side at Stevenage at the time.

Bolton are quite heavy favourites, probably because they battered Oxford 5-0 a few months ago.

On their day Oxford are near unplayable at that level but they’ve been really poor on occasion too. Quite unpredictable.

[ArmchairDetective]

Bolton great day out plus x2 local derby game's

It’s not a great day out at Bolton, it’s a soulless stadium surrounded by a dull retail park.

Brilliant juxtaposition in these two posts that followed one another on this thread

I've never been to Bolton watching Burnley amazingly. One that seems to have evaded me over the years. Went to watch Bolton v Inter in a preseason friendly, must be going on for 20 years ago. So I'm leaning towards wanting a Bolton win but would not begrudge Oxford a win in the slightest.

[hetheclaret]

Brilliant juxtaposition in these two posts that followed one another on this thread

I've never been to Bolton watching Burnley amazingly. One that seems to have evaded me over the years. Went to watch Bolton v Inter in a preseason friendly, must be going on for 20 years ago. So I'm leaning towards wanting a Bolton win but would not begrudge Oxford a win in the slightest.

I’ve been to Bolton twice and I would agree it’s one of the more ugly and drab areas for a stadium. But I can understand why fans who live up north would prefer it to Oxford.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Oxford for me , can’t stand Bolton fans. It’s not a great day out at Bolton, it’s a soulless stadium surrounded by a dull retail park.

Derby game and 30 minutes each way round trip that's why it's great in my opinion

[NL Claret]

Brilliant juxtaposition in these two posts that followed one another on this thread

I've never been to Bolton watching Burnley amazingly. One that seems to have evaded me over the years. Went to watch Bolton v Inter in a preseason friendly, must be going on for 20 years ago. So I'm leaning towards wanting a Bolton win but would not begrudge Oxford a win in the slightest.

Take your shopping bags and go round Asda , followed by a nandos then be prepared to take forever to get away from the ground. Much preferred Burnden even if it was rougher than Tarzan's feet.

[kentonclaret]

Having seen them both first hand this season I'd say they are very evenly matched. But I see Oxford adopting the same negative spoiling game plan that got them past Posh in the play off semifinals second leg and stealing a win via a penalty!

Strange that as they were the best footballing side at Stevenage at the time.

Since the game at Stevenage Oxford lost their manager Liam Manning in November 2023, probably resulting in a downturn in performance and results and a change in playing style.

[ArmchairDetective]

Take your shopping bags and go round Asda , followed by a nandos then be prepared to take forever to get away from the ground. Much preferred Burnden even if it was rougher than Tarzan's feet.

Sounds no different to my typical Saturday anyway these days. I'll fit right in

[ElectroClaret]

Much preferred Burnden even if it was rougher than Tarzan's feet.

It was bloody frightening sometimes.

[NL Claret]

It was bloody frightening sometimes.

Easter Monday 1988, that was a lively afternoon for sure.

[ElectroClaret]

Easter Monday 1988, that was a lively afternoon for sure.

That's the game i was remembering mainly.

We parked behind the supermarket end, as we came off the car park, their fans were looking at number plates and if any mentioned a Burnley garage, they were have their windows smashed.
Fortunately, the Old Bill turned up just in time as we moved down the queue.

[ArmchairDetective]

I'm slightly biased being from Oxford and being in the Oxford end at Wembley today, but obviously Oxford - I've never had an Oxford vs Burnley fixture in my time as a Burnley fan.

And selfishly, Oxford because if they do get promoted they will really, really struggle in the Championship and should be six points in the bag.

Have a good day out hetheclaret

[ClaretTony]

Oxford for me - new ground to get ticked off next season rather than going to the Tough Sh!t Stadium.

Have a good day hetheclaret

[Quicknick]

Oxford.

[aclaretinstevenage]

Since the game at Stevenage Oxford lost their manager Liam Manning in November 2023, probably resulting in a downturn in performance and results and a change in playing style.

I suspect you are correct, they were a free flowing kind of team at the Lamex but struggled at home in the return against a Stevenage side on the wane and with a "new" manager having seen Evans slink off back to Rotherham.

[louieollie]

Oxford for me purely on location and I'd get to share a box with the wife's boss free

[Rammy1968]

Like Claret Tony I would prefer Oxford never been so another ground to tick off

[Vegas Claret]

Oxford would be weaker, so Oxford

[CoolClaret]

Come on Oxford.

Can't do with the Horwich Wanderers.

[ElectroClaret]

COME ON YOU OXES!!!!

[Holtyclaret]

I live ten miles from Oxfords ground so it’ll have to be them. Feel they have momentum and I don’t fancy miserable workmates next week!

[ClaretTony]

Since the game at Stevenage Oxford lost their manager Liam Manning in November 2023, probably resulting in a downturn in performance and results and a change in playing style.

I think it did but they’ve picked up recently with a brilliant finish to the season. Mind you, Doncaster finished the season similarly in League Two but went out in the playoffs.

[ElectroClaret]

Oxford having most of the play so far I'd say, getting a bit
niggly out there.

[CoolClaret]

Our backup team would maul both of these. Holy hell are they bad.

[taio]

Quality finish

[ElectroClaret]

Brilliant
Deflection off a defenders head, but who cares.

[ElectroClaret]

0-2
Great stuff

[helmclaret]

I guess this will be us in ten years then

[Tricky Trevor]

Horwich Nomads up against it now.

[Pickles]

Absolutely love that the Oxford United manager is a lifelong fan.

[ClaretTony]

Absolutely love that the Oxford United manager is a lifelong fan.

Coached in their academy from 18-28 then went off to New Zealand, Australia & India before returning to Oxford as manager. Looked a very risky appointment at the time.

[CoolClaret]

Bolton are playing like we did in the early part of this season. Being pressed like mad, can't play out and inevitably lose the ball in their own half.

Superb setup from Oxford's manager tbh...

(even though we'd smash them)

[Steve1956]

I love watching Bolton lose I hate them with a passion they think they are a billy big balls club...minnows going nowhere.

[Carlos the Great]

I can’t stand Bolton .:: I was sat in the Bob Lord when we kicked it out as their player rolling around o the floor and i think it was that cheat John McGinley threw it to their attacker who scored

[Conroysleftfoot]

I can’t stand Bolton .:: I was sat in the Bob Lord when we kicked it out as their player rolling around o the floor and i think it was that cheat John McGinley threw it to their attacker who scored

Remember that incident well, was indifferent about them before that, disliked them intensely since.

[Vegas Claret]

you wouldn't know there were any Bolton fans there, silent

[ArmchairDetective]

Hadn't realised that Josh Murphy played for Oxford. Bolton look like they don't know how to put the ball in the back of the net. Oxford look well coached.

[NL Claret]

I can’t stand Bolton .:: I was sat in the Bob Lord when we kicked it out as their player rolling around o the floor and i think it was that cheat John McGinley threw it to their attacker who scored

McGinley threw the ball to a Bolton player who won a corner. Bolton scored from the corner, Simon Coleman with goal I think it was.

Come on Oxford

[ClaretTony]

McGinley threw the ball to a Bolton player who won a corner. Bolton scored from the corner, Simon Coleman with goal I think it was.

Come on Oxford

Which of course after John Gayle all but ended Nicky Spooner’s career with a shocker of a challenge.

[Ric_C]

How is Josh Murphy playing for Oxford? He's a class above in this game

(Unless they've switched him for his twin brother )

[ElectroClaret]

Bolton are gash.