Bolton 2-0 Millwall

Here we go then in our first match against the bottom three sides - our best chance to pick up vital points. I reckon we could get 7 put of 9 in the three games starting with 3 today - anything less would be a worry.

Tom walker starts ahead of janko

Good win and a solid performance. It makes me wonder why we're so woeful on the road. Hopefully we'll get a lift in confidence and put in a better performance against Ipswich.

Report: Bolton 2-0 Millwall

IN BRIEF

Adam Le Fondre’s first half brace ensured that Wanderers picked up all three points with a 2-0 victory over Millwall at Macron Stadium.

The on-loan striker opened the scoring with 11 minutes on the clock after collecting a Tim Ream through-ball, with him doubling his tally on the stroke of half time with a well-taken effort over the head of Millwall keeper David Forde.

The visitors did rally in the second period while the Whites almost had a third as Tom Walker saw his free-kick palmed away, but Le Fondre’s brace was enough to secure the win.

TEAM NEWS

A late change to the starting XI saw Tom Walker handed his first senior start for the club in place of the injured Saidy Janko, while Barry Bannan and Eidur Gudjohnsen also returned to the starting line-up.

FIRST HALF

Wanderers started brightly, with Walker whipping a dangerous ball across the face of goal inside the opening minute, only for David Forde to pluck the ball out of the air with a number of Bolton bodies lurking.

The Bolton pressure continued, but the visitors did threaten with seven minutes gone as following a powerful run by Lee Gregory, a goalmouth scramble ensued with Millwall unable to fire home in a crowded penalty area.

Adam Le Fondre almost opened the scoring shortly after as following good work by Liam Feeney, the frontman attempted to cleverly flick the ball into the net from close range but was denied by the towering figure of Forde.

Following Wanderers’ early pressure, a goal appeared to be imminent and it came with 11 minutes gone as Tim Ream found Le Fondre with a clever ball, with the striker keeping his composure to fire home past a helpless Millwall keeper.

No more than Bolton deserved given their efforts inside the opening stages of the clash, the pressure continued from the restart with Walker causing problems for the Lions.

Millwall themselves were still enjoying forays into Bolton territory with a number of lofty balls towards the Whites’ penalty area, although Ben Amos was calmly collecting everything which came his way.

Halfway through the first period, neither side were really testing their respective goalkeepers with the majority of play taking place in the middle third of the pitch.

As the game wore on, Millwall were slowly finding their feet in the game with the Whites having to keep their cool under a number of attacks from the visitors.

Having weathered the storm, Wanderers pressed forward again with Neil Danns finding Le Fondre who lost his man, with the striker’s control ultimately letting him down as he powered in on goal.

With just two minutes of the half remaining, the Whites extended their lead with Le Fondre the man once again as he collected the ball on the edge of the box and proceeded to fire home over the head of a despairing Forde to ensure Wanderers entered the break with a two goal advantage.

SECOND HALF

Having been booked in the first period, the half time break saw Danns replaced by Giles Coke at the start of the second half as Wanderers went in search of goals to extend their lead.

The visitors were the sprightlier side to begin with, although Bolton did soon test the Millwall defence with Coke’s shot from just outside the box while Walker also saw an effort drag narrowly wide of the upright in the 53rd minute.

Millwall looked set to halve the deficit on the hour mark as Lee Gregory scampered through towards goal, but a combination of Ream and Amos saw him unable to get his shot in on goal to the relief of Wanderers.

The pressure from the Lions continued, with Ricardo Fuller introduced for the Londoners as they chased the game.

Aiden O’Brien was the next to try his luck for Millwall after collecting the ball while unmarked in the box, but Amos was again to the rescue as he denied him from range with a goal seemingly imminent with 23 minutes remaining.

Despite Neil Harris’ side dominating in possession, Wanderers were still standing firm as the game entered its final 20 minutes with Amos in particularly looking impressive.

With 13 minutes remaining, Bolton looked certain to add a third with Le Fondre powering in on goal following good work by Craig Davies, only for him to be deemed narrowly offside with Macron Stadium already on their collective feet.

Time was ticking down in the clash with Millwall still throwing men forward in a bid to force a grandstand finish at Macron Stadium, while Davies almost put the game to bed as he narrowly failed to connect with Josh Vela’s cross at the far post.

Walker meanwhile attempted to pick out an unmarked Davies with a minute remaining, but his ball was just a little too heavy for the frontman.

The academy graduate almost had a goal himself on the stroke of full time with a cleverly taken free-kick, but he was denied by the fingertips of Forde who palmed the ball away as Wanderers ran out winners on the day.

FULL TIME

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

utter fucking shite, the fans should be refunded, pro footballers my arse, only 3 of em should get paid, shocking performance!!!!!!!!!!!!

bryan458 wrote:utter fucking shite, the fans should be refunded, pro footballers my arse, only 3 of em should get paid, shocking performance!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kin 'ell, Bry........get off that fence and tell us what you really thought!

I think Bryan's gone off to find some Bolton players to assault.

2 hours later and I'm still fuming, to put things in context I reckon 11 blind chimps could have handed Millwall their arse!!!!!!!

Don't get it

bryan458 wrote:2 hours later and I'm still fuming, to put things in context I reckon 11 blind chimps could have handed Millwall their arse!!!!!!!

get a grip you clown, we won, not a pretty game but we won 

bryan458 wrote:2 hours later and I'm still fuming, to put things in context I reckon 11 blind chimps could have handed Millwall their arse!!!!!!!

I really don't get this. We won, kept a clean sheet and no one got injured or sent off. In our current circumstances that's about as good as it gets for us and why someone would be fuming about it baffles me. It was a professional job, perhaps not the sexiest of football but pretty much everything went right and we bagged a comfortable win and three valuable points.

Bryan is fully justified in criticising the quality of football if he wants to. I'd suggest the lack of quality accurately reflects our current squad, but I didn't have to sit through the game yesterday so as a paying attendee Bryan has every right even though I think his expectations from this lot are unrealistic.
I'm just glad it went as predicted with no hiccups otherwise we could be starting to brick it especially as Wigan have started their annual fight back.
Not expecting anything on Tuesday but still hoping for a point against Wigan.

luckyPeterpiper wrote:

bryan458 wrote:2 hours later and I'm still fuming, to put things in context I reckon 11 blind chimps could have handed Millwall their arse!!!!!!!

I really don't get this. We won, kept a clean sheet and no one got injured or sent off. In our current circumstances that's about as good as it gets for us and why someone would be fuming about it baffles me. It was a professional job, perhaps not the sexiest of football but pretty much everything went right and we bagged a comfortable win and three valuabII

If your satisfied with that level of performance/commitment then I'd say your pretty easily pleased, I left the stadium feeling very frustrated, I pay shit loads of money every season and expect a little more effort from players who are much better than they showed, it looked like most of em couldn't be arsed!!!!!!

luckyPeterpiper wrote:
I really don't get this. We won, kept a clean sheet and no one got injured or sent off. In our current circumstances that's about as good as it gets for us and why someone would be fuming about it baffles me. It was a professional job, perhaps not the sexiest of football but pretty much everything went right and we bagged a comfortable win and three valuable points.

Football is supposed to be entertainment, anyone who was at the game would know it was a pile of crap from minute one.

bryan458 wrote:

luckyPeterpiper wrote:

bryan458 wrote:2 hours later and I'm still fuming, to put things in context I reckon 11 blind chimps could have handed Millwall their arse!!!!!!!

I really don't get this. We won, kept a clean sheet and no one got injured or sent off. In our current circumstances that's about as good as it gets for us and why someone would be fuming about it baffles me. It was a professional job, perhaps not the sexiest of football but pretty much everything went right and we bagged a comfortable win and three valuabII

If your satisfied with that level of performance/commitment then I'd say your pretty easily pleased, I left the stadium feeling very frustrated, I pay shit loads of money every season and expect a little more effort from players who are much better than they showed, it looked like most of em couldn't be arsed!!!!!!

so do i, but at least i'm realistic about our situation. I didn't see any lack of commitment, maybe a lack in skill but definately not commitment.

Then we were watching different games!!

we must be bryan either that or your thinking we were closing in on champions league spot clouded your judgement for a while. For someone who says he spends a lot of money watching Bolton then all i can say so that you must have a very short term memory. We've struggled for weeks, not scoring enough and conceding late goals and the result yesterday was more important than playing like Bayern Munich.