Oxford rise from the thr-ashes
Tuesday, March 12, 2024: Bolton 5-0 Oxford
Bolton stay third, just a point behind Derby County and six behind leaders Portsmouth; Oxford slip to eighth.
67 days later…
Saturday, May 16, 2024: Bolton 0-2 Oxford
Oxford win League One play-off final and win promotion to the Championship; Bolton will remain in the third tier for 2024-25.
Match stats from Wembley Stadium
Bolton failed to register a single shot on target in the League One play-off final.
Still, good news about the 511 passes…
Murphy: This is a special group
Two-goal hero Josh Murphy paid tribute to the togetherness of the Oxford squad at full time.
Speaking amid the on-pitch celebrations, the winger admitted that many had written Des Buckingham’s side off ahead of today, but they put in a performance to silence the doubters.
I don’t think anyone expected this. I’m lost for words. We were underdogs coming into today and we’ve just played amazingly. This is such a special group.
Josh Murphy
Full time – Bolton 0-2 Oxford
Oxford are promoted to the Championship!
Two first half goals from Josh Murphy has upset the odds, and given one of the stories of the season its happy ending.
Des Buckingham – a boyhood fan of the club – took over from Liam Manning in November and took a while to get the club going after their early season heroics.
But the young coach has built a sprit on teamwork, and they have now triumphed in the play-offs when not many gave them a chance.
They are back in the second tier for the first time since 1999!
Bolton 0-2 Oxford
90+7. Murphy tries to seal his Wembley hat-trick with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
He doesn’t get the connection right at all, but he’s not embarrassed. He’s seconds away from Oxford United folklore.
Bolton 0-2 Oxford
90+5. Bolton have all ten outfield players inside the Oxford defensive third. Not that it’s helping them in any way.
Cameron Jerome tries his luck at trying to make room for a shot, but even his experienced legs are unable to find a way through this Oxford defence.