Oxford denied table-topping Bolton a ninth straight win to give their new boss Des Buckingham a point in his first home game in charge, which ended goalless.
But Wanderers had the satisfaction of keeping a clean sheet for the seventh game in a row in league and cup games to equal a 123-year-old club record.
Oxford were hoping to give Buckingham a first win and bounce back from a surprise 2-0 defeat at lowly Cheltenham last Saturday.
They had skipper Elliott Moore back after suspension at centre-half, and he made a big difference, several times cutting out dangerous situations.
Stanley Mills should have put United in front just before the break when Billy Bodin played him in – but Nathan Baxter superbly diverted his shot for a corner.
Cameron Brannagan then curled a 30-yard effort over Baxter, only to see it hit the top of the bar.
Brannagan almost caught Baxter off his line at a free-kick with a brilliant effort, yet Baxter was equal to it, scampering back to turn it over the bar.
Wanderers stepped up a gear in the second half and Dion Charles skied a very presentable chance 14 yards out and then saw a close-range drive well blocked by James Beadle.
The U’s keeper also kept out Jack Iredale’s angled blast, while substitute Jon Dadi Bodvarsson squandered a good opportunity at the far post.
Bolton almost snatched victory in stoppage time with George Thomason firing in a shot from the edge of the box that Beadle saved to his right on the line.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Beadle
- 15Stevens
- 5Moore
- 4Thorniley
- 7MillsBooked at 37minsSubstituted forNegruat 78′minutes
- 18McGuane
- 8Brannagan
- 3Brown
- 10BodinBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMurphyat 67′minutes
- 29EdwardsSubstituted forGoodrhamat 45′minutes
- 9M HarrisSubstituted forO’Donkorat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 6McEachran
- 13Eastwood
- 19Goodrham
- 23Murphy
- 25Rodriguez
- 28Negru
- 39O’Donkor
Bolton
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 1BaxterBooked at 45mins
- 2Jones
- 5Almeida Santos
- 18Toal
- 8Sheehan
- 12Dacres-Cogley
- 4ThomasonBooked at 25mins
- 19MaghomaSubstituted forDempseyat 77′minutes
- 3Iredale
- 10CharlesSubstituted forNlunduluat 83′minutes
- 14AdeboyejoSubstituted forBödvarssonat 67′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Mendes Gomes
- 9Bödvarsson
- 11Nlundulu
- 13Coleman
- 15Forrester
- 16Morley
- 22Dempsey
- Referee:
- Sam Purkiss
- Attendance:
- 8,899
Live Text
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Match ends, Oxford United 0, Bolton Wanderers 0.
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Second Half ends, Oxford United 0, Bolton Wanderers 0.
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Attempt saved. George Thomason (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jón Bödvarsson.
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Josh Dacres-Cogley (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Josh Murphy (Oxford United).
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Offside, Bolton Wanderers. Jack Iredale tries a through ball, but Kyle Dempsey is caught offside.
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Offside, Oxford United. Ciaron Brown tries a through ball, but Josh Murphy is caught offside.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Daniel Nlundulu replaces Dion Charles.
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Foul by George Thomason (Bolton Wanderers).
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Josh Murphy (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Tyler Goodrham (Oxford United).
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Substitution, Oxford United. Stephan Negru replaces Stanley Mills.
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Substitution, Oxford United. Gatlin O’Donkor replaces Mark Harris.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Kyle Dempsey replaces Paris Maghoma.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Dacres-Cogley.
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Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Ricardo Santos.
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Attempt missed. Josh Dacres-Cogley (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
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Attempt missed. Jack Iredale (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Jón Bödvarsson replaces Victor Adeboyejo.
