Des Buckingham: Oxford boss says Bolton hiding propelled U’s to promotion

Oxford boss Des Buckingham said his side owes promotion to the Championship to the lessons they learned from a thumping – by their play-off final opponents Bolton.

Just two months after being thrashed 5-0 at Bolton in the regular season, Oxford completely snuffed the Trotters out in Saturday’s showpiece at Wembley.

Ian Evatt’s Wanderers failed to register a shot on target as the U’s ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in the League One play-off final.

“You might not believe me but I never watched that 5-0 defeat back at Bolton and I never want to see that game again,” Buckingham told BBC Sport.

“That scoreline was a massive changing point for us in what we want to do.”

Following that five-goal defeat on 12 March, Oxford tightened up significantly to seal a spot in the play-offs.

Indeed, they have conceded just five goals across the 11 games since – as many as they did that Tuesday evening.

“We had to come into this final with a gameplan and with that I thought we stifled a very good team,” Buckingham added.

“To take the club to the Championship and do it the way we did against a strong Bolton side I’m delighted with.”