League One, played Saturday, May 18th, 2024
Here is our Bolton v Oxford Utd tip and game preview. Based on our detailed analysis of statistics listed below and other factors, we predicted both teams to not score in this game, under 2.5 goals, and a Bolton home win. Our confidence in this tip was low relative to other tips.
Neither Bolton Wanderers nor Oxford United managed to win their respective play-off 2nd leg ties against Barnsley and Peterborough United respectively as Bolton Wanderers were dealt a 3-2 loss at home to Barnsley while Oxford United were held to a 1-1 draw away at Peterborough United but nevertheless, both sides had proved to do enough in their respective 1st leg ties and they both meet each other at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a place in next season's Championship.
Despite losing 3-2 at home to Barnsley in the return leg, Bolton Wanderers had done enough in the 1st leg at Oakwell against their Yorkshire counterparts as The Trotters registered what proved to be the winning scoreline of 3-1 and Bolton eventually ran out 5-4 winners on aggregate.
Overall results in the English third tier have been pretty consistent where Bolton Wanderers have been concerned though as Ian Evatt's side have been handed just two defeats out of their last 14 matches whilst the Lancashire club have also picked up six wins along the way as well, including a 5-0 thrashing at home against Saturday's opponents, Oxford United, back in mid-March.
Bolton Wanderers finished the regular season in third place with 87 points.
Oxford United managed to squeeze past Peterborough United also by a one-goal margin as The U's secured a 2-1 win on aggregate thanks to a 1–0 win at home in the 1st leg and then avoiding defeat in a 1-1 draw at London Road to book their place in this upcoming play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The U's also bring an encouraging sequence of results into this upcoming play-off final as Des Buckingham's side have been dealt just the single defeat out of their last 10 matches overall in League One which came in the form of a 1-0 loss at home to Lincoln City but otherwise they have also collected six wins as well within this period.
Victories against the likes of Port Vale, Fleetwood Town, Burton Albion, Peterborough United (twice) and Exeter City respectively will also give Oxford United plenty of reason to be upbeat about their chances in Saturday's play-off final.
Oxford United finished the regular season in fifth place with a total of 77 points to their name.
Bolton Wanderers v Oxford United Verdict
Both Ian Evatt and Des Buckingham will be urging their respective squads to play the opposition and not the occasion as Wembley Stadium looms, but it's Bolton Wanderers that appear to hold the slight edge here as The Trotters have won four out of the last six meetings against Oxford United.
Therefore, our main bet will be Bolton Wanderers win @ 1.90
Other side bets worth considering:
Bolton Wanderers win & Under 2.5 goals @ 4.50
Correct Score: Bolton Wanderers 2-0 @ 8.00
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| H | Barnsley | 2-3 |
| A | Barnsley | 1-3 |
| A | Peterborough | 3-3 |
| H | Port Vale | 2-0 |
| H | Shrewsbury | 2-2 |
| All ResultsHome Results | ||
| A | Peterborough | 1-1 |
| H | Peterborough | 1-0 |
| A | Exeter | 1-2 |
| H | Stevenage | 1-1 |
| H | Lincoln City | 0-1 |
| All ResultsAway Results | ||