Disappointed James Bolton slams lack of work rate from Shrewsbury

John Askey’s men shipped two slack goals inside the opening quarter of an hour in a crucial game at the bottom end of League One.

The home side were comfortable from then on, adding a third four minutes from time to condemn Town – winless in eight away games this season – to their heaviest defeat of the campaign.

Defender Bolton, playing in a back three, was frustrated at the inconsistency after a fine performance previously against Barnsley.

“It’s very disappointing. We were miles off our performance on Tuesday,” he said.

“The work rate we put in on Tuesday was second to none and it just proves you’ve got to match that in every game. That’s the basics of football and we were all off it.

“It’s simple. We weren’t good enough. There’s no way around it or sweetening it up. It wasn’t good enough.

“I just didn’t think we worked hard or got in their faces.”

On Oxford’s first two goals, both free headers from simple crosses, Bolton added: “They’re rubbish goals. They’re the ones you really don’t want to concede.

“Two early goals means the momentum goes with them. On Tuesday we got the momentum to go on.

“For me we didn’t deserve a goal or anything to be honest. We didn’t work for me, we didn’t work hard enough or get in their faces. It showed.”