Match Thread Home V Bolton Sat 6th March. 3pm kick off.

I just think Bolton are more than decent. They came at us for 90 minutes, hustled and harried, did their homework and didn't allow the likes of Vernam and Crankshaw any time on the ball. So you're absolutely right about fantastic spirit. Let's be honest - we were outplayed today. But the strength of what we do, is that we defended bloody well again - and have the mavericks to find us a goal in times of need. That's why we signed Rowe, and he's living up to it. And thank God Doyle didn't score!

 

Its not so much how much possession we have, but we're not good enough with it. We have too many 'nearly' moments when the choice or execution of pass isnt good enough. Bolton were better.

3 or 4 quality additions needed in the summer, but we've got a great base to build on.

 

Only 2 shots on target all game-same as us-draw was always the most likely result.

 

Absolutely right he needs a rest, he looked knackered today after about 15 minutes. Like you say, rest him Tuesday and then see how the other two are for next Saturday, given we will have a rare week without a mid week game the week after so chance for them all to draw breath.

 

I'm not sure, definitely the better team second half. I can understand your frustration but to allow a shot off like that in injury time....

Thought you lost shape when you made the double substitution late on and allowed us further up the pitch.

 

Fair play to the team today showing great character to come back and equalise after Bolton's late goal. We would have definitely lost that in the previous few seasons.

 

Yes were heart broken .

 

didnt deserve anything from that but great to nick a goal. Andy K literally exploded on the commentary which was great too. As I said before I think our attacking play let down a superb defensive effort again, with our inability to do anything positive on the ball inviting pressure. Nothing gets past Canavan and Paudie now but we really push that to extremes and today it caught us out. I think for me Vernams lost his place to Stevens, who has improved with every one of his cameos and did well again today in his brief time on the pitch. Much more positive and better output on the ball.

Cooke was right off the boil today but I think people are becoming a bit wise to him and he's getting marked out of games. Maybe time to give Rowe a run in his position to keep other teams guessing and give cooke space to operate when he comes back in. We've looked leggy in a few games now so I would be looking at trying to rotate a bit where we can in terms of starters.

 

Best team we've faced. Big take away for me, is that in the midfield and supporting attack areas, we still need to be better if we want to be top 3 next season.

Great effort though. I'm not complaining when you look at where we've come from. The effort and spirit is first class.

 

Can't you just give it a rest for once?!

 

Yes. We dropped off in the second half. I feel we could have won that if we'd stepped up when they did.

Maybe we should have made our substitutions earlier today?

 

Controversial. POC for me.

 

Great to see.. noticed that too...

 

In presuming it was only me that though Delfounso was offside? It wasn't the clearest angle but he looked beyond the defensive line when it looped up off the defender.

 

Thats a bit reductive. Bolton were the better side. Its a much, much better point for us than them. They had areas of quality that we're lagging in. But for the first time in a few years, I back us to improve in the summer.

 

Another pointless post from @bantam316l have a look at the goal and see who won the ball in the area that assisted in our goal ?.

https://bantamtalk.com/index.php?threads/home-v-bolton-sat-6th-march-3pm-kick-off.4802/page-25#post-472872

 

We're struggling now because we need to give a bit of rest to Sutton and Watt and we don't have the options to do that.

We could do with a match like Bolton had last - 2 up against 10 men at half time and then they could get a breather.

Also, Vernham and Cooke looked jaded today. It feels like the build of matches is hitting us.

 

He is a quality finisher without a doubt. Boy would he have milked that in front of a packed kop today