WANDERERS (3-5-2).

NATHAN BAXTER…4.5.

Was a lucky boy when he took a wild swing at Dale in the second half but the game was gone by then. Had made a couple of saves beforehand.

GETHIN JONES…3.5.

The battle with him and Murphy was always going to be key. He didn’t win it, in fact he didn’t come close. Looked one-paced.

RICARDO SANTOS…3.5.

The captain looked wobbly from the start and questions have to be asked about his fitness in the lead up to the final. Simply hasn’t been at his best.

EOIN TOAL…4.5.

Looked overawed by the occasion. Another game where you wonder if the left side of the back three is really where he needs to play.

JOSH DACRES-COGLEY…4.

Uncomfortable all day. Wanderers sought to pick him out at every possible opportunity but Bennett was wise to the danger time and time again.

PARIS MAGHOMA…4.

Clattered in the early stages and you’d have to ask, why was he allowed to carry on? Implicated in the second goal, and what a sad way to end his time with Bolton.

JOSH SHEEHAN…3.5.

There have been times this season when he has run the show. But too often in the highest pressure occasions he has been marked out of it.

GEORGE THOMASON…4.5.

Showed some scrap, which is more than some, but practically nothing on the ball. Will be hugely disappointed.

NAT OGBETA…3.5.

Delivery from the wide areas was poor, and if this is his last game then it is a bad way to bow out. Really looked like Randell Willims was missed.

DION CHARLES…4.

Hardly got into the game, which wasn’t really his fault. The supply line was simply not there. Taken off in a second half swap that was hard to substantiate.

AARON COLLINS…4.

Had a 10-minute spell in the first half where he appeared to have found his groove but very little else. Disappeared after dropping into number 10.

Subs: Dempsey 5 – Gave more than anyone else, and played less than a half.

Iredale 5 – Another one who did show up.

Jerome 4 – Had a couple of half-chances to make a dent.

Adeboyejo 4 – Looked well off it.

Not used: Coleman, Forrester, Morley.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Kyle Dempsey.

Made an impact and very few in a white shirt could say that on the day. Obviously it raises the question of whether he should have started, or replaced Maghoma earlier, but they are for another time.

MOAN OF MATCH – Where do you start? There was literally no avenue in the Bolton performance that did not bear scrutiny. It was terrible, end of.

MAGIC MOMENT – None. Nada. Nil.

Oxford United (4-1-4-1): Cumming; Long, Moore, Brown, Bennett; Brannagan; Dale, Rodrigues, Goodrham, Murphy; Harris.

Subs: McGuane 64 (for Brannagan), McEachran 80 (for Rodrigues), Leigh 87 (for Bennett), Not used: Bodin, Browne, Stevens, Eastwood.

Referee – Sam Barrott 7/10 – Should have been quicker to get his cards out when Brannagan made several early fouls. Needed VAR for the Baxter decision but seemed to have called it right from the start.

Attendance: 70,472