Bolton 2-1 Fleetwood - Match Report Post #35

My Brother just rang,begging me to get him a ticket for tomorrow. Good time supporter.

Got my lift back though.

As part of my ongoing campaign to be the greatest doom and gloom merchant in Nuts history I predict the following. We will win tomorrow but then on Monday the League will announce that our 'plan' for the future is not acceptable and will dock us 138 points. On Tuesday Ken will announce that we have sold Zach Clough to Fleetwood for 50 pence and that Zat Knight has dusted off his boots and signed a ten year deal with us for a 'mere' one million pounds a week. On Wednesday Marc Iles will print a story that says Gerald Cid is rejoining the Whites as our new manager and Mario Jardel has been engaged as our new striking coach following Phil Parkinson's termination for failing to understand what BWFC is all about and worse, actually winning four games on the trot. On Thursday Bolton Council will announce that the Macron Stadium didn't have proper planning permits and will order it demolished by the newly formed "Venky's Construction and Demolition Ltd". On Friday Alan Nixon will report that all is well and a major new signing is on his way only for us to find it's actually a replacement for Doris the Tea lady who has finally retired in a bid to spend quality time with what's left of her sanity and the new 'tea boy' will be revealed as one Gary Megson.

There, that's all my neg-head for the week out of the way in a single post

Scouting report: Fleetwood Town

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SEASON SO FAR…
Enjoying an unbeaten start to the 2016/17 Sky Bet League One season, Fleetwood Town recorded their first victory of the campaign at home to Oxford United in midweek.

Now under the stewardship of Uwe Rosler, the German replaced former boss Stephen Pressley who left the club after just nine months late last month.

Experiencing a solid start to life at Highbury, he oversaw an opening day draw away at Northampton Town and further stalemate against Scunthorpe United, as well as a narrow penalty shootout defeat in the EFL Cup to Leeds United, before Fleetwood clinched their first win of the season last time out.

Having seen a number of players arrive earlier in the summer under Pressley, Rosler has also looked to quickly stomp his mark on his inherited squad having brought in Chris Long and George Glendon on loan from Burnley and Manchester City last week, as well as reward young forward Ashley Hunter with a new three-year contract. 

But after narrowly avoiding relegation last year having enjoyed a fairytale rise of the Football League ladder in recent seasons, Fleetwood, backed by ambitious owner Andy Pilley, will be looking to push on again during the upcoming campaign as they look to maintain their unbeaten start at Macron Stadium. 


RECENT FORM
• W 1-3 - Southport A - (Pre-Season Friendly, 26/7/16)
• L 3-4 - Wigan Athletic H - (Pre-Season Friendly, 29/7/16)
• D 1-1 - Northampton Town A - (Sky Bet League One, 6/8/16)
• D 2-2 - Leeds United H - (EFL Cup, 10/8/16)
• D 2-2 - Scunthorpe United H - (Sky Bet League One, 13/8/16)
• W 2-0 - Oxford United H - (Sky Bet League One, 17/8/16)


THE MANAGER: UWE ROSLER
Appointed Fleetwood Town manager last month, Uwe Rosler arrived at Highbury boasting ample experience in the management game. 

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A striker in his playing days, the former East Germany international started his playing career with FC Lokomotive Leipzig before enjoying various stints in the top two-tiers of German football with BSG Chemie Leipzig, FC Magdenburg, Dynamo Dresden and FC Nurnberg. 

Moving to England with Manchester City in March 1994 though, he became something of a cult hero during a four year stay at Maine Road, competing in both the Premiership and Division One for the club. 

Later figuring for FC Kaiserslautern, Tennis Borussia Berlin, Southampton, West Brom, SP Vgg Unterhaching and Lillestrom SK during the remainder of his playing days, he then moved into management and enjoyed three separate spells in Norway with Lillestrom, Viking FK and Molde FK. 

Moving back to England with Brentford in June 2011, Rosler led the Bees to the 2013 Play-Off Final where they lost out to Yeovil Town before departing for Wigan Athletic later that year. Then named as Leeds manager in May 2015, he remained at Elland Road until late 2015, before returning to management with Fleetwood ten months later.


KEY PLAYER: DAVID BALL
A tireless striker, David Ball recently entered his fifth season with the Cod Army and has become an important member of the first team squad at the Highbury Stadium. 

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Arriving in Lancashire from Peterborough United in July 2012, the forward had initially started his career with Manchester City. However, unable to make his mark at the Etihad, he was handed his first taste of senior football six years ago when he joined Swindon Town on a six month loan. 

Linking up with the Posh on a permanent deal however in early 2011, a temporary spell in the North West followed at Rochdale in 2012 before Ball moved to Highbury in search of first team football ahead of Town’s first season in the Football League. 

Since then, he has made over 150 appearances for Fleetwood and was named as their man of the match against Burton Albion in the League Two Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium back in May 2014.

The Cod Army's leading goalscorer so far this season, Ball has scored in each of his last two appearances against Scunthorpe United and Oxford United respectively.


LAST FLEETWOOD TOWN XI (v Oxford United, W 2-0)
Neal, McLaughlin, Bell, Eastham, Pond, Jonsson (Nirennold 63), Ryan, Ball, Grant, Long (Holloway 79), Cole (Hunter 68).


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Preview: Five talking points ahead of Bolton Wanderers v Fleetwood Town

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1. Back at Macron Stadium
Following successive away victories over AFC Wimbledon and Bristol Rovers last week, Wanderers take to the Macron Stadium turf for the first time since the opening day of the season this weekend. 

The only side in the EFL to boast a 100% start to the season, the Whites will be eager for more of the same in front of their home fans.


2. Lively atmosphere
Following testing times in recent years, Bolton fans are understandably on a high after their side’s positive start to the season. 

And with that feeling echoed around the club, it is sure to be a good atmosphere at Macron Stadium as local rivals Fleetwood Town come to town.


3. First competitive meeting with Fleetwood
Although the two sides have met before in friendly fixtures, Saturday’s match marks the first ever time the Trotters have faced Fleetwood in competitive action. 

With the Cod Army enjoying a fairytale rise up the Football League ladder in recent years, there will be an added spice to this weekend’s local derby.


4. Proctor against former employers
If selected, Jamie Proctor will be lining up against some familiar faces on Saturday having enjoyed an 18-month stint with Fleetwood Town between June 2014 and February 2016. 

Already off the mark for Wanderers after opening his account against Blackpool in the EFL Cup, the forward would love to break his league duck this weekend against his former employers. 


5. We are top of the league
It’s not been a bad start to Phil Parkinson’s reign at Macron Stadium. Three games, three wins and top of the Sky Bet League One table. 

A victory on Saturday would see Bolton record their best start to a league season for 82 years. More of the same please, lads!

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Little Fleetwood are taking this season seriously and I think in my initial comment about this game, I have underestimated them. They have a host of experienced players supplemented by a couple of Premiership players on loan and this week they've signed Martyn Woolford so they'll present a more serious challenge than those we've faced so far. They haven't lost this season so I reckon we'll need our best performance to put them away.

We seem to have reverted to last seasons form.

Let's hope a half-time bollocking will wake them up.

1-1

SUPER STRIKER MADINE SCORES EQUALISER.

2-1 VELA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think when that second goal went in I shouted so hard I think I've popped a blood vessel 

The ARMY IN WHITE are back. Fantastic start.! we are going up as champions. nuff said

Great to get a win, but it was too close for comfort again. Still we couldn't have done better results-wise. Charlton away next up and that will be a lot tougher IMO. But tonight we party!

wanderlust wrote:Great to get a win, but it was too close for comfort again. Still we couldn't have done better results-wise. Charlton away next up and that will be a lot tougher IMO. But tonight we party!

Yes, the Football Gods were on our side today, we could so easily have lost this.

Still it's 12 points and top of the league.

Charlton will be a real test for us next week.

Sounds like it was our toughest game so far well done lads !!!!

Report: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Fleetwood Town

OVERVIEW

Wanderers picked up their fourth consecutive victory in Sky Bet League One with a 2-1 win over Fleetwood Town at Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The deadlock was broken by the visitors just after the half hour mark, with David Ball drilling home on the turn after collecting a loose ball in the Bolton box.

The Whites were level however just five minutes into the second period, with Gary Madine turning the ball home following chaos in the Town box, before Josh Vela drilled home with six minutes of the 90 left – a goal which proved to be the winner come full time.

TEAM NEWS

Zach Clough came into the starting XI for Wanderers, replacing Jamie Proctor in the frontman’s absence through injury.

Former Bolton defender Cian Bolger meanwhile was on the bench for Town following his summer move to Highbury Stadium.

FIRST HALF

It was Phil Parkinson’s men who started the stronger of the two sides, with a Clough cross being cleared away at the death while David Wheater skewed an effort from close range inside the opening minutes at BL6.

The visitors responded however, with Ashley Hunter unable to control the ball at his feet whilst a matter of yards from goal with the net at his mercy.

With ten minutes on the clock, the home side were left crying for a penalty kick after Mark Davies was brought down inside the area, but the referee instead booked the midfielder for simulation, much to Bolton’s displeasure.

Clear goalmouth action inside the opening quarter of the clash was hard to come by, although David Ball did narrowly fail to make any real connection with a clever ball over the top, eventually producing a tame effort that Mark Howard collected easily.

Wanderers meanwhile were still looking a threat on the counter, with Liam Trotter seeing an effort trickle just wide while Josh Vela saw his shot from a tight angle blocked.

A goalmouth scramble ensued soon after though with 25 minutes on the clock after Howard parried Hunter’s initial shot with Ball unable to turn home the ball from five yards out after chaos in the area.

Wanderers were then dealt a blow on the half hour mark as Clough picked up a knock, with the academy graduate being replace with Kaiyne Woolery.

And just three minutes later, the visitors broke the deadlock after snatching possession on the edge of the area, with Ball drilling home past Howard in the Bolton goalmouth to the delighted of the couple hundred Fleetwood fans.

The hosts were almost level with seven minutes of the half remaining as Mark Beevers rose highest to connect with a Spearing free-kick, only for his header to fall kindly for Chris Neal.

Howard spared Bolton’s blushes shortly before half time meanwhile, with a pass-back on the edge of the box falling for Ball who had been on the floor following a tussle, but the keeper was on his guard to push his shot away from goal and ensure that the deficit was just one at the break.

SECOND HALF

The second period saw Wanderers start brightly, with Madine forcing a superb save out of Neal who somehow palmed away his header from a Buxton cross.

Almost the perfect response, the equaliser eventually arrived just moments later through the big frontman who slammed home following a scramble inside the six yard area following an initial header from Wheater.

Fully deserved on the part of the Trotters, they were visibly boosted and proceeded to pile the pressure on the visitors who were having to defend in their numbers to keep Parkinson’s men at bay.

Town responded however by introducing fresh legs, with Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Bobby Grant being thrown into the mix with half an hour remaining.

Uwe Rosler’s men meanwhile almost snatched the lead once again shortly after, with Howard parrying Chris Long’s drilled shot from 20 yards away from danger.

Wanderers looked certain to have gone in front with 20 minutes of the game remaining too, with Neal somehow denying Woolery when unsighted and then keeping out Davies’ follow-up with a goal seemingly imminent.

Bolton’s pressure was incessant however, with a Spearing free-kick from the corner of the box narrowly clearing Fleetwood’s goalmouth in the 73rd minute of the game.

It was clear that neither side were happy to settle for a share of the spoils as the game entered its final ten minutes, with Wilkinson being thrown into the mix in place of goalscorer Madine as the home side chased a winning goal.

Fleetwood meanwhile saw a Bobby Grant piledriver pushed over the crossbar by the fingertips of Howard – an effort that would have been in the running for the monthly awards had it found the net.

With just six minutes remaining however, Wanderers had their second and it was Vela who found the net, drilling into the roof of the net from a tight angle after Wilkinson had knocked the ball into his path.

As the clock ran down, it was a case of all hands to the pump for Bolton as Town looked to force a late leveller.

Try as they might however, the visitors couldn’t breach Bolton’s rearguard as the Whites ran out winners at the final whistle.

FULL TIME

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On the way home Nearly blew it at the end but what the bell. COYWM

thought it was very much a game of two halves, we where poor first half with Moxey looking very poor, didn't want to get forward, caught out in defence, we toiled in midfield but didn't win many second balls and madine couldn't hold the ball up, howard made a good 1 on 1 save near the end of the half which kept us in it.

Second half was a different story, thought the introduction of woolery helped, vela got more into the game and we looked more composed going forward especially down the right with Buxton and Vela combining well. Could have nicked a couple more, however last 10 mins we reverted to type, backs to the wall and let them back into the game.

MOM for me was Wheater, just ahead of Buxton.

At 1-1 we missed a great chance to take the lead,even getting three bites at the cherry but coming away with nothing. Thought we might rue that missed opportunity,until Vela popped up.

I thought the introduction of Woolery made a difference, particularly after half time. 3 or 4 times we played in behind them and his pace scared them. Which is where the corner we scored from came from.
I'd like to see more of him, he has real pace and can finish, with more game time he can only improve.

Much busier in the second half, and we got our reward for a determined half. Still room for improvement in all departments, even Howard's kicking ! He pulled off some terrific saves to keep us in it. 

Liking the new PA guy, his half time zorb ball commentary was great value.