Josh Sheehan hopes to avoid more Wembley woe with Bolton

The Wales international will be a key figure when Wanderers take on Oxford United in the League One final on Saturday.

Sheehan could be mixing it with his former club Swansea and Cardiff in the Championship if things go to plan in London.

That didn’t happen when the 29-year-old was in amber and was on the wrong end of two controversial defeats.

County were edged out 1-0 by Tranmere in 2019 courtesy of Connor Jennings’ strike in the 119th minute, that after the Exiles were denied a clear penalty towards the end of the 90 when Jamille Matt was brought down by Manny Monthe.

Sheehan watched on in extra time against Rovers but played the full 120 minutes versus Morecambe in 2021 in what turned out to be his last Newport appearance.

He had been a leading figure in the promotion bid in a deep-lying role but once again suffered anguish when County were denied a first-half penalty when Scot Bennett was clobbered in the box by goalkeeper Kyle Letheren then conceded a controversial one in the second period of extra time that Carlos Mendes Gomes slotted.

In a bad few days for Sheehan, the midfielder then missed out on the cut for Wales' squad for the European Championships.

DESPAIR: Josh Sheehan and Aaron Lewis after County's Wembley defeat to Morecambe (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

After two bouts of Wembley woe, Sheehan lifted the ‘curse’ last season when he helped Bolton win the EFL Trophy with a victory against Plymouth in front of 79,389.

“I’ve been there twice with Newport in the play-offs and results didn’t quite go our way,” said Sheehan to the Bolton News.

“But going there last season with Bolton for the Papa Johns was a big thing for us, mentality-wise, for the squad and the team, because people had maybe questioned us as to whether we could do it on the big occasion.

“To do it in front of the crowd that was there that day and perform how we did shows we have it in us, and we have just got to replicate that now.”

Sheehan has had a superb season for Wanderers, who pushed Portsmouth and Derby for automatic promotion and edged out Barnsley in a tense play-off semi-final.

The midfielder has made 52 appearances – plus added to his tally of international caps against South Korea and Gibraltar – with his exploits leading to him being crowned as club player of the year.

INFLUENTIAL: Josh Sheehan has been a key figure in Bolton's promotion bid (Image: PA)

“It has been a good year personally, performance-wise, but if we don’t get promoted now then it will feel a bit like a wasted year for the group because it is such a strong squad,” said Sheehan, who has battled back from ruptured knee ligaments last season.

“We know where we should be and we haven’t quite managed to do it. We have no other choice now, this is the way we have got to do it.

“If we can get promoted, I’d say it has been near enough the perfect year.”

Sheehan is joined in the Bolton squad by County academy graduate Aaron Collins, who has settled in after joining from Bristol Rovers in January for a reported £750,000 fee.

The forward scored his ninth goal for the club in the second leg against Barnsley and will hope to repeat his strike against Oxford in a 5-0 win back in March.

Sheehan and Collins will be up against another former County man in Mark Harris.

The former Cardiff striker had a spell on loan at Rodney Parade in the first half of 2018/19 and has gone on to be a key figure for Oxford.

The 25-year-old will hunt a 20th goal of the season at Wembley.