BOLTON go head-to-head with Oxford in the League One play-off final this afternoon.The two sides will battle it out at Wembley for a spot in the Championship next season.Bolton beat Barnsley 5-4 over two legs to secure their final spot, while Oxford got past high-scoring Peterborough.
Kick off time: 4.15pm BST
TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
Live stream: NOW
Bolton team: To follow…
Oxford team: To follow…
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFollow all the latest from Wembley with our live blog below…Bolton 0-2 Oxford
45. The board goes up to signal five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
A goal before the break for Bolton would change the complexion of this one massively – but I’m not sure they have it in them at the moment.
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44. Who saw this coming?!
(Maybe those of us who backed Oxford for promotion…)
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42. Oxford United are in dreamland!
Josh Murphy has his second and his side’s second, and they are now within touching distance of promotion.
Ruben Rodrigues is the creator once again, punting through a measured pass for Murphy to sprint through, round Nathan Baxter and steer into the net.
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40. Bolton are growing increasingly frustrated.
Perhaps their best course of action is for Ian Evatt to get them back into the dressing room for half-time.
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38. Not only has Ruben Rodrigues registered his fourth assist of the season, he also wears a shocked-at-that-decision-against-him face as well as anyone in League One.
The midfielder can’t believe he’s been penalised for a coming together with Josh Sheehan, and gives it the full open mouthed, arms out expression.
Casemiro, take note.
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35. Ten minutes to half-time, and you can see that Bolton are trying to make something happen – but still they struggle to get their forwards into the match.
And for that, you have to give Oxford credit.
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33. Now what have these Bolton players got? A small number had regroup while they were waiting for Oxford’s Mark Harris to receive treatment ahead of the restart.
That effort from Murphy is the first goal that Oxford have scored against Bolton this season – they drew 0-0 at home and lost 5-0 away.
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31. First blood to the underdogs of Oxford!
The U’s lead at Wembley thanks to wonderful work from Josh Murphy – and a little bit of luck.
The winger – arguably the most talented player in the Oxford ranks – took over possession from Ruben Rodrigues just inside the area, cut inside and curled towards the top corner.
Nathan Baxter in the Bolton goal may have had it covered but a slight touch off the top of captain Ricardo Santos’ head lifts it over the keeper and into the back of the net.
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29. The television cameras cut to Cameron Jerome on the bench.
There’s a player who knows where the goal is.
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26. Aaron Collins – like strike partner Dion Charles – not really involved as yet, drops deep to win a free-kick in a semi-dangerous position.
Forty yards out with the area busy, a good delivery will cause Oxford problems.
Unfortunately, it’s nowhere near a good delivery and nowhere near the area.
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24. Rodrigues goes for goal! Wide.
Space opens up nicely for the Oxford midfielder, who pushes forward and attempts a left-footed curler for the top corner.
However, it lacks the necessary direction and swerve, and ends up heading for the fans.
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22. Midway through the first half and still no shots on target.
The possession, meanwhile, is exactly 50-50.
Nothing between them so far.
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20. Branagan is certainly pumped up for this one.
This time he grabs a handful of Maghoma’s shirt and literally throws him to the ground as Bolton consider a counter.
Sam Barrott gives him a quick talking to, but there’s no yellow card – much to Andy Hinchcliffe’s disappointment.
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18. Dion Charles enjoyed his trip to Wembley last year when he scored in Bolton’s 4-0 Football League Trophy win over Plymouth.
But the 20-goal striker is not having so much fun.
Starved of service and well-marshalled, Charles has touched the ball just once today.
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16. Bolton apply some pressure for the first time today.
An Ogbeta shot from just inside the box is well blocked by Long, and then Sheehan decides to try his luck from distance.
The midfielder comes inside and hits one crisply from 25 yards. It keeps low – but it also keeps wide.
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13. Rodrigues curls a teasing free-kick into the box that Jones does very well to deal with.
The defender gets in front of his opponent and cooly clears behind for a corner.
As it happens, the whistle had gone for a shirt pull on the Bolton player.
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11. Branagan thumps into another challenge on the near side, this time dispossessing Ogbeta.
In fact, Bolton’s Thomason is not happy with the aggressive nature of the Oxford man, and comes across to prove his point by…
…erm…shouting and pointing his finger in Branagan’s face.
Referee Samuel Barrott quickly deals with the matter.
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9. Lovely play from Goodrham in midfield, who turns away from his man and then spreads play out to the right.
Oxford have made a bright start at Wembley.
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7. Bolton play out from the back for the first time.
The three centre-backs pass it between themselves for a few seconds, and the decide to launch it long anyway.
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5. Maghoma is back on, but moving very gingerly. One to keep an eye on.
Meanwhile, Oxford have won the first corner of the game – but fail to trouble their opponents with a long delivery that is floated over the head of Elliott Moore.
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3. There’s early concern for Bolton and their manager Ian Evatt.
Paris Maghoma makes his first burst along the left touchline, only for Cameron Branagan to put the ball out of play.
However, it playing it off the pitch, the Oxford midfielder thumped into Maghoma with his follow through to leave the Bolton man flat out on the turf.
He looks in a lot of discomfort.
Copy linkCopiedKick-off – Bolton v Oxford
1. Game on! Referee Samuel Barrott blows his whistle and Bolton get this League One play-off final underway.
It’s pleasing to say that both clubs are in their traditional colours for this one; Wanderers wear white shirts and navy shorts while Oxford are in yellow and blue.
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More than 70,000 supporters inside Wembley Stadium let out a deafening roar at a first glimpse of the Bolton and Oxford players making their way out of the tunnel.
Tracksuited and focused, the two groups line up for the pre-match formalities – and this being a final mean lining up, being introduced to a random guest of honour, and belting out the national anthem.
Eventually, they break off to warm-up and – for many – that’s when reality sets in. This is as big as it gets.
Captains Ricardo Santos and Elliott Moore gather with the officials for the coin toss, and then it’s time for a last get together for words of encouragement.
It’s a beautiful day in the capital. Proper football weather, as they say. Kick-off comes next.
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