Northampton 0-1 Bolton - Match Report Post #29

karlypants wrote:Radio Nuts is now live guys!

I have nothing Karly.

Didn't watch the game so can't comment on it, but it's a fantastic result seeing as the three teams around us all dropped points.

And hats off to the defence once again, especially Alnwick and Derek who have slotted in perfectly in the last three games.

A goalscorer in Jan is a must.

We're in second place, which is obviously fantastic, but if we're going to mount a serious promotion push, we need more goals.

Scunny have scored 41 to our 24.

The highest placed team with a worse record than ours is Walsall and they're in 17th place.

I appreciate that Madine is now receiving plaudits for his "contribution" but he needs replacing with someone who can chip in with goals as well as the stuff that Madine does.

And yes, I thought all that up from my armchair.

Bread2.0 wrote:A goalscorer in Jan is a must.

We're in second place, which is obviously fantastic, but if we're going to mount a serious promotion push, we need more goals.

Scunny have scored 41 to our 24.

The highest placed team with a worse record than ours is Walsall and they're in 17th place.

I appreciate that Madine is now receiving plaudits for his "contribution" but he needs replacing with someone who can chip in with goals as well as the stuff that Madine does.

And yes, I thought all that up from my armchair.

Jermaine Defoe on loan until the end of the season.

Fantasy football.

We'll probably get Ed Balls.

Natasha Whittam wrote:Didn't watch the game so can't comment on it, but it's a fantastic result seeing as the three teams around us all dropped points.

And hats off to the defence once again, especially Alnwick and Derek who have slotted in perfectly in the last three games.

Yes, without Howard and Wheater I really thought we would crumble.

No sign of custard.

Could this be custards last stand.

Sorry,  just had a large glass of Prosecco.

Report: Northampton Town 0-1 Bolton

OVERVIEW

Zach Clough's seventh goal of the season proved to be enough as Bolton Wanderers recorded their third consecutive win and clean sheet to beat a plucky Northampton Town at Sixfields.

The Wanderers front man’s first half strike illustrated his team’s dominance during the opening half.

Town bounced back after the break to make life difficult for Phil Parkinson’s men in the latter stages of the game, but the Trotters' resilience ultimately ensured that the three points were theirs come full time. 

TEAM NEWS

Wanderers were unchanged from the team that beat Coventry City in midweek with Tom Thorpe retaining his place in midfield after coming in for the suspended Liam Trotter. Derik continued alongside Mark Beevers at centre half while David Wheater continues his recovery from a back problem.

Former Wanderers midfielder Matt Taylor lined up against his former employers.

FIRST HALF

Over 1,200 Wanderers fans made it down from Bolton and were in fine voice as the game kicked off.

In form Clough showed his threat early on with a probing foray in the Northampton penalty area but he overran despite a back tracking home defence.

After an ineffectual opening, David Cornell made the game’s first save after eight minutes when he got to a Sammy Ameobi half-volley. The chance was well struck but went straight to the Town ‘keeper.

Matt Taylor almost put the hosts in front just moments later when he steered a cross from the left on to Ben Alnwick’s right hand post. Wanderers responded by charging back up the field to put pressure on Cornell, which culminated in Spearing volleying over from distance after Ameobi’s probing had Town on the backfoot.

Wanderers were slick with their passing and a ball out from Derik found Clough, who span around to feed Andrew Taylor on the left. His ball back into the danger area found Vela. He shaped up to curl it into the top corner only to be charged down.

Despite their attacking prominence, Wanderers had to be on their guard. Sam Hoskins tested Alnwick from distance, but it was a regulation save for the ‘keeper.

The goal game from that man Clough. It was such a composed finished from the frontman who latched onto Ameobi’s through ball. With the giant frame of Cornell advancing at a rapid rate to narrow the angle, Clough steered home to break the deadlock.

The goal spurred Wanderers on and they began to look increasingly dangerous every time they went into the final third. Ameobi and Clough linked up superbly well once again to find Taylor charging down the left. The full back put in a tasty looking cross which was ultimately cleared.

Clough was a constant menace for Town. If he wasn’t running in from deep, he was hanging around on the edge of the box. On one occasion he acrobatically latched on to an Ameobi centre, only to see the effort go wide.

SECOND HALF

Seeking to get back into the contest, Town started the second half much brighter than the visitors. Although Alnwick wasn’t really tested, his defenders had to have their wits about them.

Wanderers earned a corner after Spearing’s powerful drive cannoned off a Town defender right in front of the superbly vociferous Wanderers’ supporters.,

Again, the action return to the other end and on a better day Town would have equalised. Wanderers failed to sufficiently clear a corner, and fortunately Derik was in the way to keep out Paul Anderson’s drive.

The hosts thought they had equalised on 66 minutes when O’Toole had out the ball beyond Alwick. However, the linesman had his flag up early and the effort was ruled out for an infringement.

The incident served as a wake-up call for Wanderers who had allowed their opponents to get back into the contest. Town were playing with a new found confidence and Phil Parkinson’s men badly needed a second goal.

With 20 minutes remaining, Parkinson brought on Henry for Ameobi to bring some fresh mpetus for Wanderers as an attacking force. Proctor, ten minutes later, came on for Gary Madine.

With time petering out, Wanderers held firm – despite an agonising five minutes of additional time - to record their third consecutive win and clean sheet.

FULL TIME

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Just seen the goal on Sky Sport. Nicely done.

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boltonbonce wrote:Just seen the goal on Sky Sport. Nicely done.

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Deft little touch from Sameobi

Is that Ameobi's first ever assist?

Natasha Whittam wrote:Is that Ameobi's first ever assist?

If it is it'll be one more than Madine.

Madine has generally been outstanding of late.

Yeah, no goals in twelve games - Outfuckingstanding.....

I bet Barcelona wish that shit bastard Messi was that "outstanding".

Bread2.0 wrote:Yeah, no goals in twelve games - Outfuckingstanding.....

I bet Barcelona wish that shit bastard Messi was that "outstanding".

He's no world-beater of course, but he's won an awful lot of ball, and held it up well. When he was injured we were truly awful without him.

What has your armchair got to say about that?

My armchair says he's shite and if we weren't so strapped for cash and having to operate under an embargo, he'd already be plying his trade for a team more befitting of his level of talent.

Like Chorley.

Had to work harder for that today than we should have, we were well in control after we got in front but our inability to press home an advantage will cost us sooner or later. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining and we deserved the points but we get pushed back after going ahead and the subs (Parky complains about this) aren't able to affect the game in the last 20 mins of so.

Still happy with the result and the day out, even the traffic wasn't too bad today.

Thought Madine showed some good touches today and held the ball up well, we don't provide opportunities for Madine in open play, crosses into the box are few and far between and lacking quality. He also gets fuck all in the way of decisions from the officials, I think he only got one in his favour today when adefender headed the back of Madine's head.

Agree with Nick. We bossed the game after going one up, yet struggled to kill Northampton off in the second half. To be honest, we were a tad lucky to get the win, but our defence including Alnwick were superb once again and managed to see us home.
I do think we flatter to deceive at the minute. Goals are a problem and this area needs to be addressed asap.
Cracking three points though, great turnout again, M6 unusually quiet too......which was nice.