Bolton Wanderers ended October with a 3-1 loss at home to Oxford United.
The visitors took the lead in the first half when Djavan Anderson finished from close range after Wanderers failed to clear. James Trafford stopped it being two with a point blank save from Elliott Moore's header.
Josh Sheehan nearly levelled before the break but Simon Eastwood's smart reflexes kept him out. After the interval, Ciaron Brown added the visitors' second to put them in the driving seat.
READ MORE: 'Wasn't good enough' - Ian Evatt explains four changes made for Bolton's Oxford loss & referee view
But Wanderers were handed hope when Dion Charles slotted home to reduce the deficit. However, that proved to be short lived as Steve Seddon got the last touch from a corner to score Oxford's third and which ultimately sealed three points for the visitors with a 3-1 scoreline.
Charles went very close to equalising for Wanderers, nearly connecting with Aaron Morley's cross moments after he halved the deficit. It was not long however, before Seddon scored from the corner to restore the visitors' two-goal advantage.
Here, we analyse the ups and downs from a Wanderers perspective from the loss.
Ups
Charles back in the goals
It had been a long month in front of goal for Charles. He had last found the back of the net for Wanderers from the penalty spot in the win at the start of October against Lincoln City.
Several games followed where Charles put in his usual hard work, but either he was thwarted or chances simply did not come for him. It was a different story against Oxford.
When the chance presented itself to him in the second half, he took it and slotted home past Eastwood. Hopefully it will help to provide confidence for the striker and a more productive spell in front of goal.
Sheehan starts first League One game since last November
It has been a long road back to recovery for Josh Sheehan. The midfielder's season was ended prematurely last campaign owing to a ruptured ACL.
He returned to fitness over the summer and has started the club's three games in the Papa John's Trophy this season. After being involved in matchday squads and coming off the bench in the midweek win over Burton Albion, Sheehan started his first League One game in nearly a year versus Oxford.
In a difficult encounter, there were some bright sparks for Sheehan and he easily could have scored an equaliser when the score was only 1-0 just before half-time. His return to fitness from the start will surely be a big asset for the rest of this season.
Downs
Poor and preventable goals conceded
As has often been the case this season with goals conceded by Wanderers, they have felt rather avoidable. This was the case against Oxford.
Gethin Jones looked to have had Kyle Joseph under wraps but the ball squirmed into the six yard box for Ricardo Santos to challenge Gatlin O'Donkor as Anderson tapped home. It was a goal which felt like it could have been prevented.
The same was arguably true for the second goal, but certainly the case for the third. As Ian Evatt highlighted, Wanderers could have protected Trafford better from the corner and had they done so, it could have beeen a different story with that goal.
Below par afternoon
Bolton never really got going for the most part against the U's. Aside from a spell right before half-time and after Charles scored, Wanderers never truly threatened the Oxford goal.
Bolton have had two comeback wins in the space of a week which rescued six points from zero. They were unable to make it three in a row.
But Wanderers can have few complaints with the end result, upon reflection. It marks the end of an up and down month for the Whites, but one where they remain in the top six of League One.
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