Reply With QuoteBolton – Perfect away performance. They have been awful away with results and performances and so had to win ugly in a sense but it was not all like that and I will give them credit for a decent first half performance. They then defended well, made blocks, odd save and got a bit of luck with the sitter at the death. However, they were not outplayed at any point of the game and it was not really back to the walls stuff. They were in the game all afternoon and started much better than us.
The first 30 minutes they played some decent stuff, won all the battles and scored a good goal. They had a lot more of the ball and I felt did not just lump it. They won a fair few free kicks but that was from being quicker to the ball. Wilder did not give them much credit and came across a bit petty about their style. Why he felt need to bang on and one about their style was odd. So, what? You have to beat teams like that but we could not and are one of the few teams that have failed to break them down all season. That is on us. They gave themselves a base to then be a bit more cynical, slow things down and break things up. Yes, they did time waste but they were no worse than Norwich as an example. That is up to the referee to be a bit more with it and at times he let them do it but you can see why; they are at the bottom and desperate for points.
They are direct and are ugly to watch but today for the first part of the game they were not really like that. They played some decent stuff and scored a really good goal. They showed some quality build up, cross and finish. Three things we struggled with all game. It was not great defending but that was the only good cross all game from either side. They get it forward and feed off scraps but they did play some decent stuff and defended well.
I felt after they scored, they did become cynical and a little bit ugly but you could say we did the same for us at Bolton and we slowed the game down too. All away teams do it and they will say it was a perfect performance. We had chances but not loads. Wilder said they were really good chances but outside of the Clarke miss and the Baldock chance; not sure we had any golden chances really. They will be happy as an away team 2nd from bottom to limit our chances. We were not absolutely piling on the pressure and even late on they were defending fairly comfortably till that late flurry.
Opposition Man of the Match: The keeper played well with two good saves and is a major improvement on the hapless Howard who I note is not even on the bench (is he injured?) The two centre backs got their bodies in the way and the full backs stopped too many crosses coming in. Henry stopped Duffy being too influential and the lad Robinson was very good first half until Baldock got him going the other way. Morais put some decent balls in too. Overall, it was a workmanlike team performance and a surprisingly good one. United probably felt it was going to be a lot easier than it was and got a rude awakening first half. However, sadly the best player maybe on the pitch was the match winner. Maine was excellent for all his pantomime theatrics. He caused us all sorts of problems and bullied us. He gave a few fouls away and got booked but he ran his socks off, scored and won lots of the 50/50 balls often against two men. He gave the opposite performance of Sharp did for us.
Opposition Weak link: Not sure anyone was that bad really. Le Fondre did not really get in the game and the full back Robinson struggled with Baldock second half but nobody was really poor and their work rate was exceptional as they plugged gaps and restricted us to few chances.
Moore 7/10 – Had no chance on the goal. Other than this he punched one away and then parried a shot which he should have held. His kicking was a bit mixed. They tried to stop him bowling it out or going short and this made him go longer which played into their hands.
Basham 5.5/10 – Began the game poorly and let the young lad Robinson get past him a few times including for the goal where it was all too easily. When he went forward he made poor choices or his touch was off. Better when he went to centre back but his touch and passing all too often went awry. Once he just kicked a simple pass straight out second half. Did play a good ball into Baldock in the chance at the end but he had a poor game.
Stevens 6/10 – Better than he has been in recent weeks but still erratic with and without the ball. He started the game sloppy as did the whole team but did get forward more than he has done but his final ball was poor and he either hit first man or overplayed it over everyone. He gets into so many good positions but his end product is dire at the moment. Seems to never want to use his right foot. Him and O’Connell have to be able to trust their weaker foot. Once he actually put a better cross in with his right foot than many with his left!
Carter Vickers 5.5/10 – Started game off pace and Madine won lots of headers/loose balls. Slipped in build up to the first and then soon after let Madine bully him and he nearly got in and had an appeal for a penalty. He has been ok last 2 games but was poor today as was the rest of the team to start with. Was sacrificed but he was no worse than 3 or 4 others but was natural one to go. Not sure he has been consistent enough last few months and has a good game; then a poor one and makes too many mistakes. Would not be devastated if Spurs did recall him as may force Wilder to put Jake Wright back into the side or finish with the 3 that ended today.
O’Connell 6/10 – Thought he started the game appallingly and one of our worst players first half. He made numerous mistake on the ball and let Madine and Le Fondre get to the ball first so many times. He looked so far off the pace and wanted forever to do things. He was also partly at fault for the goal as he completely lost Madine in the middle. O’Connell gets a lot of deserved praise but loses men at key moments and this happened again today. He got better second half and started to impose himself more but still lose too many 50/50’s. Better attacking wise after the break and involved in some of our better moves.
Stearman 6.5/10 – Seems the one who gets lots of criticism but he has been fine since that Villa mistake and was good Boxing Day and decent today. He was the only one who actually went toe to toe with Madine and did not let him bully him. That said he was a little slow to start as they all were but felt he at least tried to get on the ball and go forward when he could. They did sit off him knowing he would not run with it like the other defenders can and this meant he had to try and carry it. Sometimes he did ok when he did whilst at others he made a poor decision. I thought he was one of our better players but sure many will ask for him to be left out for Jake Wright again.
Fleck 6.5/10 – Poor first half where he was not in the game at all and they imposed themselves completely on the game winning the midfield. The lad Henry won all the loose stuff and they played quite high up the field. We did not react to things not winning headers, tackles or loose stuff. He was sloppy when he did get on the ball. He improved a bit before the break and was much better second half starting to drive forward, showed better touch, passing and desire. Felt he got stronger as the game went on and was a key man as we took the game to them but his final pass or decision just did not quite come off.
Lundstram 5.5/10 – Did not affect the game much today. He has been very good in recent weeks but today I felt his (and Fleck’s) first 30 mins set the tone for the midfield as we lost the battle and Bolton had more of the ball. He gave it away 3 times in the first 15 minutes and lost runners quite a bit too. Just looked slow and lethargic. Like all the team he improved as the game went on and second half was fine in terms of passing and touch when he had it but did not influence game enough. Needs to get on the ball more and when he does make more positive passes. At times he slowed it right down with too many touches or passes backwards. He has been much improved but today was a step back against a poor midfield where in a home game he has to impose himself more on games.
Duffy 7/10 – Our best midfielder again but not sure he has his best game. He played the better balls and made some of our chances. The ball for Clarke first half was excellent and he played a few other cute balls but some did not come off. Always got on it first half and was one of our main threats. They got tight on him and restricted space and made him turn towards goal or onto his weaker foot. They realised how important he is for us. Second half he flitted in and out of the game and not sure he influenced things as much as he or Wilder would have wanted. He did not play any killer balls or make any clear chances and I felt looked tired by full time. He needs some better options for us in terms of runners as at times we were too stagnant. He has to play an almost perfect ball at times.
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