Bolton vs Oxford tips and predictions: U’s could force extra time in League One play-off final

Over 50,000 supporters will stream to Wembley Stadium in hope on Saturday afternoon as Bolton Wanderers face Oxford United in the League One play-off final.

Around half of those will be donning yellow as nearly a fifth of the small city on the River Thames descends on the capital.

Des Buckingham's side last featured in the second tier of English football in the 1998/99 season, when Dean Windass was the top scorer with 18 goals, but was unable to prevent their relegation.

United have played non-league football as recently as 2010 but having established themselves in League One with five top-eight finishes in eight seasons, it’s time to stop being the bridesmaid.

It was less than 20 years ago when Bolton Wanderers recorded four consecutive top-eight finishes in the Premier League and competed in the UEFA Cup.

Their decline saw them yo-yo between all three tiers of the English Football League and this will be their second attempt at a return to the Championship via the play-offs.

This is a fixture that Ian Evatt’s side have dominated in recent seasons and that trend continued this year. After drawing 0-0 in Oxfordshire, Bolton ran riot in a 5-0 home win.

While that doesn’t dictate who wins this much, it has to give the Trotters confidence that this final is theirs to lose.

Still, neither side will roll over, as they’ve lost just two matches in their last 24 matches between them. 

Considering that both sides have struggled more away from home this season, Wembley could be a real leveller, so we expect a competitive game with both teams scoring.

More than a third of the League One play-off finals played this century have gone to extra time, but that hasn’t occurred since 2018, so the law of averages says we may be due one.

Emma's offer: Bolton v Oxford - Bet £10, Get £5 free bet if Bolton win

 

Suggested bets

Oxford United +0.5 Asian handicap

Both teams to score

Over 2.5 goals