Bolton 4-1 Walsall - Match Report Post #29

Preview: Five talking points ahead of Bolton Wanderers v Walsall

1. No Lawrie Wilson
Phil Parkinson confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Wanderers will be without the services of defender Lawrie Wilson for the rest of the season after he was ruled out for four months with a hamstring.

A mainstay of the Wanderers back-line for the majority of the season so far, the defender limped off against MK Dons last weekend with early suggestions indicating he would be ruled out for ten weeks.

But after seeing a specialist, it has been confirmed that Wilson requires surgery with the Whites forced into a defensive reshuffle heading into Saturday's clash with Walsall.

2. Defensive reshuffle
With Wilson ruled out, Bolton will be forced into making at least one change this weekend.

Derik Osede, Jay Spearing and Josh Vela have all filled in at right-back in the past, while Tom Thorpe will be hoping to return after missing last week's outing.

Elsewhere, Andrew Taylor should be available after returning to training last week having been a late withdrawal from the starting XI at Stadium MK.

Dean Moxey filled in admirably in his absence and with Dorian Dervite also available, the Trotters have plenty of defensive options for Saturday despite their injuries whether they line up in a traditional back four or a current trend back three.

3. Adam Le Fondre
A firm fan favourite during his first loan stint at BL6, Adam Le Fondre is set to make his second home debut for Wanderers after returning to the Club on deadline day.

The popular forward scored six of his eight Whites goals at Macron Stadium from just ten home appearances during the second half of the 2014/15 season.

And with the Bolton faithful eager to get a first glimpse of Le Fondre at BL6 following his return to the Club, the 30-year-old will be desperate to mark the occasion with a goal as the Trotters look to return to winning ways. 

4. Home debuts
Away from Le Fondre, fellow winter signings Chris Long, Viv Solomon-Otabor and Filipe Morais will all be eager to make their Wanderers home debuts against Walsall on Saturday.

The trio all made their maiden appearances for the Club last weekend with Long and Morais both starting outwide and Solomon-Otabor coming on as a late substitute against MK Dons.

Having all caught the eye, all three will be looking to build on promising starts as they prepare for their debut outings at Macron Stadium in the famous White shirt.

5. First win of 2017?
It's got to come at some point! What better time than at Macron Stadium as part I of home double-header? Get down to BL6, be loud, be proud and back the boys! - Get your tickets [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

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How does that line up?

Good result which keeps us in third closing the gap on Scunthorpe.

Fourth was a cracker. Hope the lineswoman is ok.

boltonbonce wrote:Fourth was a cracker. Hope the lineswoman is ok.

Women have no place in football.

Report: Bolton 4-1 Walsall

IN BRIEF

Wanderers came from behind to pick up all three points against Walsall with an emphatic victory at Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

The deadlock was broken against the run of play with just four minutes gone, with Erhun Oztumer smashing home from all of 40 yards, but Bolton were back level just 11 minutes later through Gary Madine’s header.

With 25 minutes on the clock, the Trotters were in front as James O’Connor turned a Spearing cross past his own goalkeeper, and just five minutes after Liam Trotter extended the hosts’ lead with a long range effort.

And with a matter of minutes remaining, Chris Long had a goal on his home debut and one to remember as he thundered home from a seemingly impossible angle to ensure a handsome scoreline come the final whistle.

TEAM NEWS

There was a home debut for Filipe Morais, while Adam Le Fondre also came in from the off after starting on the bench against MK Dons last weekend.

FIRST HALF

With barely ten seconds on the clock, Le Fondre almost opened his account for the Whites once again when volleying goalwards, only to see Neil Etheridge scramble across his line to deny him.

The chance definitely spurred Bolton on, with them pushing forward in a bid to open the scoring, but out of nowhere the visitors were in front with four minutes gone through an absolute wonder goal from Oztumer from all of 40 yards.

Despite the early set-back however, Wanderers were soon back on the attack in a bid to draw the scores level as quickly as possible.

And they did so with 15 minutes on the clock, with Madine nodded home a Jay Spearing free-kick from a yard or so out.

Completely deserved on the run of play, Phil Parkinson’s men visibly were keen to get their noses in front and peppered the Walsall goal with crosses and shots.

The Saddlers’ defence just couldn’t cope with the Whites, and with 25 minutes gone Bolton were ahead as O’Connor put a Spearing cross past his own goalkeeper.

And it was three just short of the half hour mark, this time Trotter getting in on the action with his effort from 30 yards flying into the net.

Bolton were oozing confidence, while David Wheater tried his luck with a 30 yard free-kick which flew just over the crossbar a few minutes later as wave after wave of attacks ensued from the home side.

Walsall were a team visibly stunned, and as the half drew to its conclusion, only one team looked capable of finding the net and it certainly wasn’t the visitors.

Come the half time whistle however, it was just the three goals for Wanderers.

SECOND HALF

Following a change of official due to injury at the break, the second half got underway and it was Walsall who started the stronger of the two sides.

There was chances for both sides in the opening stages of the second period meanwhile, with the crowd sensing that the scoring wasn’t quite finished in this clash.

The Saddlers almost had a goal back too just short of the hour mark, with an effort being cleared off the line by Mark Beevers with Ben Alnwick a beaten man.

The visitors were certainly seeing more of the goal this half, with goalscorer Oztumer thundering an effort right down the throat of Alnwick with a quarter of the game remaining.

It was almost four for Wanderers shortly after, with Madine finding himself in on goal only to be denied by Neil Etheridge.

With the clock running down, Bolton were still looking to extend their lead with substitute Chris Long proving himself a nuisance for the Walsall defence.

Long meanwhile had the ball in the back of the net too with seven minutes to go, but the offside flag denied him a goal on his home debut.

He didn’t have to wait much longer though, with him literally breaking the netting with a thunderous drive from a tight angle with three minutes to go to make it four to Wanderers and ultimately wrap up the victory for the Whites.

FULL TIME

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KP,I'll leave Nat to deal with you.

boltonbonce wrote:KP,I'll leave Nat to deal with you.

She hasn't the balls.

karlypants wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:KP,I'll leave Nat to deal with you.

She hasn't the balls.

As I understand it, she really does 

gloswhite wrote:

karlypants wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:KP,I'll leave Nat to deal with you.

She hasn't the balls.

As I understand it, she really does 

Don't make me come to Bolton to chastise you, KP

On Radio Manchester Parkinson said he had experimented with a new system and it had paid off.
Can any of you tell me what it was because I couldn't see anything particularly different today.
Good win though.

Played a back three Rammy.

Anyway see all the goals here - some cracking ones as well!



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Sluffy wrote:Played a back three Rammy.

Anyway see all the goals here - some cracking ones as well!



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So I've heard- but it looked a lot like a standard back four to me!!

he did play a back 3 and i was surprised as during the warm up they did their defensive drills as a back 4 but it worked well i thought. Morais was excellent down the right but he was knackered by the end, he'll get even better when his fitness is better.

You know it's going to be a good day when my favourite bottle target Trotter plays ok and scores a good goal. Long came on and has bags of pace and scored an excellent goal, all round a good day.

Hope the assistant referee is ok as well, it was a bit odd at half time, no one knew what was going on

Chairmanda wrote:

gloswhite wrote:

karlypants wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:KP,I'll leave Nat to deal with you.

She hasn't the balls.

As I understand it, she really does 

Don't make me come to Bolton to chastise you, KP

Sorry Manda.

Norpig wrote:Hope the assistant referee is ok as well, it was a bit odd at half time, no one knew what was going on

She's back home.

Referee's assistant Helen Byrne has been discharged from hospital after falling ill during this afternoon’s game between Wanderers and Walsall.

Paramedics were called into the tunnel at the half time break after Byrne fell ill, causing a 15-minute delay to the restart.

It is understood the former Edge Hill University student, from Merseyside, had complained of chest problems and was accompanied to Bolton Royal Hospital by her PGMOL coach Phil Dowd.

The Bolton News understands she has now been released from hospital and is on her way back home.

It was a good performance against pitiful opponents. I can't believe they thrashed Sheffield United only a couple of weeks ago.

We're a better team with Derik in it, just about the only one who doesn't shit himself when he receives the ball.

Most importantly we looked a lot more dangerous going forward, Madine was helped greatly by playing with a proper striker rather than a striker who thinks he's a winger.

We can still get promoted, but our away form needs to improve.