Des Buckingham: League One playoff final tactics

On March 12 2024, playoff hopefuls Oxford United went to promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers and suffered a chastening 5-0 defeat. A little more than two months later, the tables were turned, as Des Buckingham’s Yellows ran out deserved 2-0 winners in the League One playoff final. 

Bolton were favourites going into that Wembley meeting, having finished 10 points ahead of Oxford across 46 league games. Yet their March meeting had served as a catalyst for Buckingham – appointed manager the previous November – to push ahead with his plans to transition Oxford’s style of play.

Going into the final, his team were on a run of six wins and three draws from the 10 games since the sides had met at Bolton. Having secured a playoff place in the final game of the league campaign, then beaten Peterborough in the semi finals, Oxford rose to the occasion at Wembley.

In this exclusive Coaches’ Voice Masterclass, Buckingham explains how he set his team up for the final, including a change to a midfield three and the thinking behind it. Among other insights, he talks through their pressing strategy and its specific line of engagement, as well as the attacking transitions that enabled them to take a decisive two-goal lead.

It is an excellent Masterclass from a highly rated English head coach, who has more than 20 years’ coaching experience at the age of just 39. Having won Indian Super League and Australian A-League titles, Buckingham has now made his mark on the English Football League.

Starting line-ups

Bolton WanderersOxford United

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Bolton Wanderers3-5-2

Oxford United4-3-3

1Nathan Baxter

1Jamie Cumming

18Eoin Toal

2Sam Long

5Ricardo Santos

5Elliott Moore

2Gethin Jones

3Ciaron Brown

17Nathanael Ogbeta

12Joe Bennett

4George Thomason

20Rúben Rodrigues

8Josh Sheehan

8Cameron Brannagan

19Paris Maghoma

19Tyler Goodrham

12Josh Dacres-Cogley

30Owen Dale

28Aaron Collins

9Mark Harris

10Dion Charles

23Josh Murphy

Author: Craig Bloomfield