Bolton 1-0 Sheff United - Match Report Post #111

BoltonTillIDie wrote:Thanks KP

I'm hoping it's a bit better now?

I have taken my top off to help reduce the crackling!

karlypants wrote:

BoltonTillIDie wrote:Thanks KP

I'm hoping it's a bit better now?

I have taken my top off to help reduce the crackling!

Oh shit. I was just sick in my mouth.

Decent atmos here at macron.

Bwfc1958 wrote:

karlypants wrote:

BoltonTillIDie wrote:Thanks KP

I'm hoping it's a bit better now?

I have taken my top off to help reduce the crackling!

Oh shit. I was just sick in my mouth.

If only you could see me now.

You would love it!

Great hard fought win.  Get in.  3 points.  COYW

First game of the season and first win of the season.

I just can't believe it!

Can't complain about that performance even though it wasn't a particularly dominant one, but it gave us some idea of how Parky is going to set his stall out. Hopefully he'll mix it up at the front but I just don't think he's going to sacrifice anyone to improve our attacking options unless injuries force him to.

Is Clough injured?

We won a match!

Superb from the fans at the end. Everyone normally rushes off at the end but most stayed and clapped and actually sung the players off the pitch.

Biggie wrote:We won a match!

Superb from the fans at the end. Everyone normally rushes off at the end but most stayed and clapped and actually sung the players off the pitch.

Was the ground buzzing just like we heard it on the radio Biggie?

Report: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Sheffield United

OVERVIEW

Wanderers kicked off the 2016/17 Sky Bet League One campaign with victory over Sheffield United at Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The deadlock was broken with just seven minutes of the first half remaining, with Jay Spearing volleying home in spectacular style from 20 yards.

And despite being forced to play the final stages of the clash with ten men after Darren Pratley was stretchered off, they managed to stave off a late onslaught and pick up all three points.

TEAM NEWS

There were full debuts for four of Bolton’s summer signings with Mark Howard, Chris Taylor, Mark Beevers and Lewis Buxton all in from the off at Macron Stadium.

Other recruit Jamie Proctor meanwhile took his place amongst the substitutes, while former Whites academy graduate Chris Basham lined up against his old employers for the Blades.

FIRST HALF

At a gloriously sunny Macron Stadium, proceedings got underway and it was clear to see from the outset that both teams were going all out with a number of tackles flying in from every direction.

Jay Spearing enjoyed two opportunities inside the opening moments meanwhile, with his two dangerous free-kicks into the mix causing chaos for the Blades at the back.

The visitors meanwhile somehow managed to spurn a golden chance, with Chris Hussey finding Leon Clarke at the far post who put his powerful header wide of the mark with only Howard to beat.

Wanderers then found themselves having to defend against some pressure from United, with Billy Sharp coming close for Chris Wilder’s men as they rallied to force an opener.

Although Phil Parkinson’s side were looking dangerous on set-pieces, the visitors’ strength was visibly their pace on counter attacks with Bolton being forced on the back foot numerous times.

Halfway through the first period meanwhile, Darren Pratley tried his luck from 20 yards after bringing the ball down with his sights firmly on goal, but George Long was equal to his drilled effort.

An injury to John Brayford with half an hour on the clock ensured that play was halted, with the defender receiving treatment while both teams took the opportunity to take on much-needed water in testing conditions pitchside.

With 38 minutes on the clock however, the deadlock was broken and it was done so in style as Spearing volleyed home from 20 yards out with Long given no chance in the Sheffield United goal.

A goal which the midfielder will no doubt want to watch over and over again, the visitors were visibly stunned and as the clock ran down to half time, struggled to get out of their own territory.

Wanderers were hungry for more and with five minutes of injury time indicated at the end of the first period, they looked to add to their tally with the Blades on the back foot but were unable to as the referee blew his whistle for the break.

SECOND HALF

With no changes for either side at the break, the game restarted and following a few spurts forward, Bolton then had to withstand some pressure from the Blades as they looked for a route back into the clash.

Clarke was first to gain a sight of goal for the visitors inside the opening stages of the second period, but he was unable to control the ball at the far post and saw his header drift harmlessly wide.

Pressure that wasn’t exactly unexpected from the Blades, they did see a Matt Done header from a matter of yards out somehow clear the crossbar just short of the hour mark.

Sharp then proceeded to find the net from close range shortly after, but the assistant referee’s flag had already been long raised.

Moments later saw the first substation of the game, with Mark Davies replacing Taylor for Wanderers.

And Bolton almost had a second with 63 minutes on the clock, only for Pratley’s close range header to be somehow palmed away by Long.

The atmosphere was certainly building inside Macron Stadium as the Whites pushed to extend their lead, with the home fans willing their side to put the game beyond doubt as it entered its final quarter.

Proctor was then handed his debut for the club with 20 minutes remaining and almost made an immediate impact, only to see an ambitious effort from 12 yards whisk past the post.

The final result certainly wasn’t a foregone conclusion however, with United still giving their all as they looked to level the scores.

A key figure for Wanderers throughout the afternoon, Pratley then suffered an injury with seven minutes to go which saw Bolton reduced to ten men having already used all of their substitutions.

A blow for the Trotters, there was no time to dwell as there was still football to be played although the visitors certainly had the upper hand with their man advantage.

It was all hands to the pump for Bolton, with Wilder’s side throwing everything forward in a bid to break the hosts’ resolve late on.

With six minutes of time indicated due to Pratley’s injury, Wanderers were penned into their own box and were having to put bodies on the line to keep their lead intact.

But try as they might however, United couldn’t find a way through and it was an opening day victory for the Whites.

FULL TIME

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I thought it was a cracking afternoon out. Weather was good, atmosphere brilliant, and we won.

It's a shame about the football though to be honest, I thought it was just as turgid as many a match last season in that respect, with a number of players looking just as ineffective.

I think most people were thinking the same thing until we scored. Where the hell are the goals gonna come from? Madine still looks pretty hopeless, not helped by the complete lack of support, there's no pace or creativity out wide or in midfeld, and Sheff United are creating chance after chance so the defence obviously still has problems.

So assuming we bring a good few players in over the next few weeks, this is a massive win. Otherwise it's just nothing to get excited about.

How did Proctor look when he got on Doff?

doffcocker wrote:Where the hell are the goals gonna come from? Madine still looks pretty hopeless, not helped by the complete lack of support, there's no pace or creativity out wide or in midfeld, and Sheff United are creating chance after chance so the defence obviously still has problems.

What a load of bollocks, were you even there?

Sheffield Utd were on top for the first 20 minutes but the only real chance of note was the free header that was put wide. After that is was a very even game in terms of possession, but I don't remember them having a single shot on target.

I agree that the quality was poor, but here's a shocker, we're in League 1 and that's the level of football you have to expect. Sheffield Utd are the bookies favourites for promotion but we more than matched them.

I thought the defence was superb all afternoon, Wheater and Beevers were especially solid. And Beevers is going to be a handful from corners and long throws.

Wilson was up and down the right wing all afternoon, a little bit of quality and things could have ended even better.

Pratley was his usually self, no quality but 100% effort. We'll miss him if he's out for a long period.

Madine did ok, but he's not a striker who can play the lone role. That's why I was pleased with the impact of Proctor when he came on - he looks big and strong but also very mobile.

On the downside, Mark Davies was his usual anonymous self, Taylor looked out of his depth, and I had a small child sat next to me who kept taking her socks off.

Overall, a great win with more effort than I've seen for a long time. I don't think anyone can be unhappy tonight.

bwfc1874 wrote:How did Proctor look when he got on Doff?

I thought he looked a lot quicker and more mobile than Madine, but didn't get enough time on the ball to do anything useful in the 20 minutes that he had in all fairness.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

doffcocker wrote:Where the hell are the goals gonna come from? Madine still looks pretty hopeless, not helped by the complete lack of support, there's no pace or creativity out wide or in midfeld, and Sheff United are creating chance after chance so the defence obviously still has problems.

What a load of bollocks, were you even there?

Sheffield Utd were on top for the first 20 minutes but the only real chance of note was the free header that was put wide. After that is was a very even game in terms of possession, but I don't remember them having a single shot on target.

I agree that the quality was poor, but here's a shocker, we're in League 1 and that's the level of football you have to expect. Sheffield Utd are the bookies favourites for promotion but we more than matched them.

I thought the defence was superb all afternoon, Wheater and Beevers were especially solid. And Beevers is going to be a handful from corners and long throws.

Wilson was up and down the right wing all afternoon, a little bit of quality and things could have ended even better.

Pratley was his usually self, no quality but 100% effort. We'll miss him if he's out for a long period.

Madine did ok, but he's not a striker who can play the lone role. That's why I was pleased with the impact of Proctor when he came on - he looks big and strong but also very mobile.

On the downside, Mark Davies was his usual anonymous self, Taylor looked out of his depth, and I had a small child sat next to me who kept taking her socks off.

Overall, a great win with more effort than I've seen for a long time. I don't think anyone can be unhappy tonight.

Why did you have a small child in your box?

Good summary though.  Thanks

Natasha Whittam wrote:

What a load of bollocks, were you even there?

Sheffield Utd were on top for the first 20 minutes but the only real chance of note was the free header that was put wide. After that is was a very even game in terms of possession, but I don't remember them having a single shot on target.

I agree that the quality was poor, but here's a shocker, we're in League 1 and that's the level of football you have to expect. Sheffield Utd are the bookies favourites for promotion but we more than matched them.

Give over you stupid cow.

Sheff Utd have been the favourites every season since they got relegated to this division. You know that it just means jack shit really, so why bring it up?

Yes, it's great to see us win a match for once but we both know it will amount to sod all unless we improve and you'll be the first one throwing a paddy on here the minute it all turns to shit.

doffcocker wrote:

Give over you stupid cow.

Sheff Utd have been the favourites every season since they got relegated to this division. You know that it just means jack shit really, so why bring it up?

Yes, it's great to see us win a match for once but we both know it will amount to sod all unless we improve and you'll be the first one throwing a paddy on here the minute it all turns to shit.

I've no idea if Sheff Utd are the best team in the division, but I do know they're far from the worst. They came at us early on, we weathered the storm, we competed with them and won the game.

Yes, quality was poor but if you think Barcelona are going to be pitching up at the Macron this season you are sadly mistaken. I suspect we'll see a lot worse than Sheffield Utd before May.

doffcocker wrote:

bwfc1874 wrote:How did Proctor look when he got on Doff?

I thought he looked a lot quicker and more mobile than Madine, but didn't get enough time on the ball to do anything useful in the 20 minutes that he had in all fairness.

Cheers Doff. I was surprised to see Madine start to be fair but I guess he's the sort of player who's only any use if he has confidence in the manager backing him.

The crowd were on fire! But I was sat behind a Burke!

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