OXFORD United suffered their first defeat of the season as Bolton Wanderers fought back from 1-0 down to take the points.

The U’s continued their record of going ahead in every match when Matty Taylor opened his account for the campaign after 11 minutes.

They navigated an end-to-end start and managed the game well for much of the first half, only for Dapo Afolayan to equalise from range just before the break.

It was the first Sky Bet League One goal conceded in open play by United this season, but the winner came in more familiar fashion as Eoin Doyle headed home a corner just after the hour mark.

In a meeting of two teams with unbeaten records, it was Bolton who left with theirs intact.

Karl Robinson praised his players’ tactical flexibility in the week and they were forced to adapt again, with injuries forcing a change of shape to a 4-4-2 diamond.

James Henry was the surprise absentee after picking up a hamstring problem against Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday, while Billy Bodin and Ryan Williams were not fit enough for the bench.

Nathan Holland was among the substitutes, as was Elliott Moore, while Anthony Forde returned to the line-up at right back.

There were also starts for Mark Sykes in the middle two, Gavin Whyte at the tip of the diamond and Sam Winnall alongside Taylor as Robinson went for the rare approach of two up front.

Bolton found it difficult to track Whyte throughout and he found some dangerous positions from the start of a breathless opening quarter.

Both sides should have gone ahead within ten minutes, with Josh Sheehan turning Antoni Sarcevic’s cross the wrong side of the near post and Steve Seddon scuffing wide from Taylor’s cut-back.

It was the latter who opened the scoring, though, leaving the home fans feeling aggrieved.

The U’s won the ball deep in their own half and Winnall immediately looked for Taylor, who sprung the offside trap to chase the bouncing ball.

United’s No 9 controlled with what looked like his shoulder and rounded Joel Dixon on the edge of the penalty area, before walking the ball into the net.

The visitors were almost the architects of their own downfall five minutes later when Stevens was forced to handle Thorniley’s backpass to prevent an equaliser.

Doyle’s drilled effort was charged down by United’s wall, before Stevens made himself big to block Sarcevic’s effort at the near post moments later.

The game calmed down towards the half hour mark, as the U’s looked to slow the game down – with Gorrin, Sykes and captain Cameron Brannagan disciplined in midfield.

Stevens blocked George Johnston’s header at point-blank range ten minutes before the break, but otherwise United were managing the contest well as half-time approached.

And they were within 60 seconds of the 45-minute mark when Afolayan equalised.

The forward came off his wing to receive the ball and make space for himself, before curling beyond Stevens’ outstretched left hand from 25 yards.

It was a bad time to concede, but United forced two great chances as the second half began in the same vein as the first.

Seddon burst forward five minutes after the restart to find Whyte and the winger made space for a shot 12 yards out, but could only find the gloves of Dixon.

The Northern Ireland international turned provider two minutes later as United counter-attacked – his pass was perfect for the onrushing Brannagan, who saw his effort blocked.

The U’s had been the better side for the first 15 minutes of the second half, but Bolton got the all-important second goal.

Sheehan whipped another corner into the near post and Doyle beat United’s defence to the ball and flick a header beyond Stevens.

It was now about how the U’s responded to going behind for the first time this season and Robinson sent Marcus McGuane on for Sykes.

Seddon crashed a volley into the side netting with 20 minutes left, while Doyle lifted the ball just past Stevens’ far post after beating the goalkeeper to a through ball.

Holland came on for Winnall and Agyei replaced Gorrin as United tried to force an equaliser, but Bolton substitute Kieran Lee should have made the game safe when he blazed wide from 12 yards late on.

The best chance was yet to come and Whyte really should have taken a point for the U’s.

Holland beat his man at the byline and cut back for his fellow loanee, who blazed over from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Bolton Wanderers (4-2-3-1): Dixon, Jones, Santos, Johnston, John (Baptiste 71), Williams, Sheehan, Isgrove (Kachunga 80), Sarcevic (Lee 88), Afolayan, Doyle.

Unused subs: Gilks, Brockbank, Thomason, Delfouneso.

Booked: None.

Oxford United (4-1-2-1-2): Stevens, Forde, McNally, Thorniley, Seddon, Gorrin (Agyei 87), Sykes (McGuane 67), Brannagan, Whyte, Taylor, Winnall (Holland 77).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Moore, Mousinho, Cooper.

Booked: Taylor, Forde.

Referee: Neil Hair (Cambridgeshire).

Attendance: TBC.