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A jubilant Phil Parkinson thanked Wanderers’ fans for helping his side overcome the odds to grab a point against his former club Bradford City.
After watching his side concede two goals inside the first 16 minutes at Valley Parade, the Whites boss admits he feared the worst.
But thanks to a heroic second-half comeback, goals from David Wheater and Gary Madine earned a precious point in the promotion race to keep Wanderers two points from second-placed Scunthorpe United, with a game in hand.
Parkinson was full of praise for a 2,500-strong travelling support, who he felt had helped get his side back into the match.
“When we were 2-0 down those fans showed what they were worth,” he told The Bolton News. “We have had some great away supports this season but they haven’t been in that position much.
“They really urged us on and I’m so pleased that drive back across the M62 will be a bit better.
“I thank every single one of them. They knew this was going to be a tough day for me personally, and for the staff coming back. But we came through it and that is a great point.”
Ben Alnwick made two errors as Charlie Wyke gave the home side a 2-0 lead but Parkinson refused to single his goalkeeper out for criticism.
“The first one the pitch played a big part in it,” he said.
“Once that has happened to you, Ben needed to stay cool. The second one was a rush of blood.
“But let’s be fair – he has been very, very good for us. Keepers have moments and sometimes it’s about how they respond to them. I think in the second half he was very good.”
Parkinson also explained how the volume generated by Wanderers’ fans almost landed him in hot water with referee Eddie Ilderton after the equaliser.
“We had just changed the personnel and I was trying to get a message on to James Henry but there were 2,500 screaming Bolton fans making it very difficult to be heard,” he said.
“The fourth official called the ref over and we had a couple of words about being on the pitch while the game was being played but I couldn’t get my message on.”
Josh Vela is now one booking away from a two-match ban after picking up his ninth yellow card of the campaign.
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After watching his side concede two goals inside the first 16 minutes at Valley Parade, the Whites boss admits he feared the worst.
But thanks to a heroic second-half comeback, goals from David Wheater and Gary Madine earned a precious point in the promotion race to keep Wanderers two points from second-placed Scunthorpe United, with a game in hand.
Parkinson was full of praise for a 2,500-strong travelling support, who he felt had helped get his side back into the match.
“When we were 2-0 down those fans showed what they were worth,” he told The Bolton News. “We have had some great away supports this season but they haven’t been in that position much.
“They really urged us on and I’m so pleased that drive back across the M62 will be a bit better.
“I thank every single one of them. They knew this was going to be a tough day for me personally, and for the staff coming back. But we came through it and that is a great point.”
Ben Alnwick made two errors as Charlie Wyke gave the home side a 2-0 lead but Parkinson refused to single his goalkeeper out for criticism.
“The first one the pitch played a big part in it,” he said.
“Once that has happened to you, Ben needed to stay cool. The second one was a rush of blood.
“But let’s be fair – he has been very, very good for us. Keepers have moments and sometimes it’s about how they respond to them. I think in the second half he was very good.”
Parkinson also explained how the volume generated by Wanderers’ fans almost landed him in hot water with referee Eddie Ilderton after the equaliser.
“We had just changed the personnel and I was trying to get a message on to James Henry but there were 2,500 screaming Bolton fans making it very difficult to be heard,” he said.
“The fourth official called the ref over and we had a couple of words about being on the pitch while the game was being played but I couldn’t get my message on.”
Josh Vela is now one booking away from a two-match ban after picking up his ninth yellow card of the campaign.
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