OXFORD United were left to rue giving Bolton Wanderers cheap goals as the promotion-chasers ran out 4-2 winners last night.

The scoreline did not tell the whole story, though, as the home side twice staged comebacks after falling two goals behind with efforts from Kane Hemmings and Chris Maguire.

And they were left to wonder what would have happened if, at 3-2 down, referee Ross Joyce had awarded a penalty for a trip on Conor McAleny, who was instead booked for diving.

Ultimately United were punished for weaknesses at the back, particularly with the way Bolton were quickest to rebounds which gave them a two-goal head-start after only 22 minutes.

Head coach Michael Appleton said: “It’s having that killer instinct in our box and making sure when things are dropping we anticipate where the danger is.

“It’s frustration more than anything. In general play I thought we were the better team by a mile.

“I can sleep tonight knowing I’ve got players who are more than capable of getting better.

“At every moment of the game, apart from when the fourth goal went in, I genuinely thought we would get something out of the game, because I thought we were as good as them, if not better.”

Appleton had no doubts about the McAleny incident and felt the television audience would share his view.

He said: “It’s not a tough decision. At least whoever was watching got to see it and can make their own minds up. I can guarantee 99.9 per cent will think the same as me.”

Hemmings’s goal just before half-time was the cue for a terrific second half, as he stuck his head where it hurt to make it 2-1.

But any satisfaction over his 15th goal of the season was overshadowed by United’s collective display at the other end.

He said: “I took one in the jaw for it, but I’ll do that all day long if they go over the line.

“We broke them down comfortably at times, but when you are giving teams four goals at home, what chance do you give yourself?”

U’s skipper John Lundstram came off late on with a dead leg, which will be assessed tomorrow.