OXFORD United will lose tonight if they take Bolton Wanderers lightly, striker Matty Taylor has warned.

Karl Robinson’s side are the first to visit the University of Bolton Stadium for a league game since their takeover.

Wanderers’ financial issues meant they started the season with a 12-point penalty and had to play for the opening month with a youth team.

While a change of regime allowed for nine experienced players to sign on deadline day, their first outing ended with a 6-1 thrashing at Rotherham United on Saturday.

The U’s are odds-on to follow up their 3-0 win over Tranmere Rovers with another three points tonight.

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But Taylor believes the visitors cannot be distracted by Bolton’s troubles.

He said: “If you look at the game and think we’re going to go there and win comfortably then we’ll probably lose comfortably, because they have very good players.

“We’ve just got to go there and forget about their result on Saturday and think about ours and how we actually won it.

“We have to do all the same things again and if we do that we’ll get a positive result.”

There is a feeling Bolton’s recruitment, which includes the likes of experienced forwards Will Buckley and Darryl Murphy, will make them a dangerous side in Sky Bet League One.

But although United’s test will be tougher than it would have been a month ago, Wanderers will not be fully up to speed yet.

Taylor said: “There’s probably a bit of turmoil still there.

“The lads who have signed have probably not had the best pre-seasons and aren’t as fit as we are hopefully.

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“We just have to play our game and build on Saturday.”

The on-loan striker returned from a groin injury as a late substitute at the weekend.

He asked James Henry to take over penalty duties in stoppage time, with the midfielder even revealing Taylor had offered a financial incentive to allow him to get off the mark.

“That was just a bit of banter,” the front man said.

“He wanted to keep his run going and if I was in his position I would have said no as well.

“I’m hungry to score goals and I’m itching to get the first one.

“If I didn’t want to take the penalty it would show a lack of hunger, but he’s the taker and you have to respect that.”

Taylor is likely to have to make do with a substitute’s role again tonight as he eases back into action, but it has come quicker than initially feared.

He said: “I thought I would be out longer, but fair play to Amy (Cranston) and the medical team for getting me back as quickly as possible.”