Port Vale 0-2 Bolton

Can't see the Gills putting up much of a fight against the resurgent Fleetwood so I guess this is last chance saloon for Parky and the lads. Port Vale are in the relegation zone but are only 2 points behind Bury and have a game in hand so they will be totally up for it.
Unless Parky proves us all wrong and makes changes I can't see us winning and with the frustration creeping in a red card for a hothead like Spearing isn't beyond the realms of imagination. Or a freak goal for them. Or a really bad refereeing decision in their favour. Because our future really is on a knife edge now and Parky likes an excuse or two.
Without changes, I'm thinking an away draw at best but I'm praying Parky finds a solution in time.

We'll smash them

Working off the premise that the law of averages dictates that we can't go much longer without at least scabbing one in off somebody's arse, I think we'll score a goal.

Can we keep a clean sheet and come home with the points, however....?

That remains to be seen.

As with most games this season, I can't really predict anything with any confidence.

We'll draw. Fleetwood will win.

We'll enter the final game of the season "only needing a draw" 

We'll concede a 97th minute penalty which will hit the bar bounce back hit the referee and go in. 

as this has never happened before they will allow the goal and we'll "go again" in the playoffs.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:We'll enter the final game of the season "only needing a draw" 

We'll concede a 97th minute penalty which will hit the bar bounce back hit the referee and go in. 

as this has never happened before they will allow the goal and we'll "go again" in the playoffs.

Oh come on, you can't post for the first time in months and not say where you've been!

Prison? Or perhaps a girl or boyfriend?

Please tell.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:We'll enter the final game of the season "only needing a draw" 

We'll concede a 97th minute penalty which will hit the bar bounce back hit the referee and go in. 

as this has never happened before they will allow the goal and we'll "go again" in the playoffs.

Where we'll meet Bradford City in the final,and suffer a humiliating defeat. KA will then sack Parky and install Iain Dowie as the new boss.

boltonbonce wrote:KA will then sack Parky and install Iain Dowie as the new boss.

I'd settle for that.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Hipster_Nebula wrote:We'll enter the final game of the season "only needing a draw" 

We'll concede a 97th minute penalty which will hit the bar bounce back hit the referee and go in. 

as this has never happened before they will allow the goal and we'll "go again" in the playoffs.

Oh come on, you can't post for the first time in months and not say where you've been!

Prison? Or perhaps a girl or boyfriend?

Please tell.

After a seriously annoying visa process hampered by brexit I am now married to a 20 year old asian woman who loves me for me.

So why did that stop you posting HN ? Do they not have t'internet in the Philippines ?

Good to see you back, by the way. 

A Fleetwood win and a draw for us would still leave us second on goal diff.....then it would all come down to the last game.  Unfortunately the last game of the season for Fleetwood and Scunny are both home games against bottom half teams. Well at least Parky has made it exciting to the end....although not for the right reasons.

terenceanne wrote:A Fleetwood win and a draw for us would still leave us second on goal diff.....then it would all come down to the last game.  Unfortunately the last game of the season for Fleetwood and Scunny are both home games against bottom half teams. Well at least Parky has made it exciting to the end....although not for the right reasons.

And one win and one draw would see us go up as well... but we need to stop what is our third awful streak of the season.  One win knocks out Scunny... and a win and a draw sees us go up on GD if Fleetwood win both.  All we need is 4 points... should be easy, but this is Bolton and nothing is easy.

Parky should have gone all offense against Bury... and we may have been denied a goal that was over the line.  But saying that, it is still in our own hands (and legs)... and we have to put lots of shots on target, and hopefully a few in the net.

Parky - please go balls out for the win!  These past few games should have put us over already!

welcome back Hipster, will being loved up mean you will be less sarcastic on here or is it business as usual?

From the Stoke Sentinel:

Port Vale are on course for another bumper crowd in their final home match of the season as they hold the key to what happens at both ends of the table.
Vale's League One fate will now be decided in the last week of the season – and is still in their own hands – after relegation rivals Bury fought to get a 0-0 draw at second-placed Bolton on Tuesday night.

Michael Brown's side are preparing to host Bolton, who could guarantee promotion in Burslem on Saturday if they secure an away win and Fleetwood don't win at Gillingham.


The visitors will bring a sell-out 4,485 allocation of supporters hoping for a party as their bid to join champions Sheffield United in next season's Championship has slightly stuttered due to going three games without a win.
Vale had sold nearly 4,000 tickets in the home stands themselves by this evening and the attendance could top the 8,999 who watched Sheff Utd win 3-0 last Friday.
Bolton, who have the tightest defence in the division, can still be caught by third-placed Fleetwood, who sit two points adrift – and host Vale on the final day of the campaign; Sunday, April 30.

All Brown's focus is on the wrong end of the table, however. Coventry and Chesterfield are already down and Swindon could be condemned to the basement this weekend if they don't win at home against Scunthorpe.
Vale, whose four wins since Christmas have all come on their home turf, currently sit two points behind fifth-bottom Bury, who take on Northampton at Gigg Lane this weekend. Vale do still have a game in hand, at Walsall next Tuesday.
Shrewsbury Town, who are at home against Southend United next time out, are three points clear of Vale in 19th but eight to the good in terms of goal difference while Gillingham are one point further ahead in 18th.
Striker Gary Madine (shoulder) may have an injection to figure for Bolton this weekend, having been missed after being pulled out of action on April 4.

Ref watch: Carl Boyeson to oversee Port Vale visit


Carl Boyeson will oversee Bolton Wanderers’ final away day of the 2016/17 season as the Whites travel to Port Vale on Saturday.


The East Yorkshire-based official has previously run the rule over nine Bolton matches in the past including two this season - the Trotters' 2-0 home victory over Oldham Athletic and 2-2 draw away at Coventry City.

Involved in the professional game for the past 15 seasons, Mr Boyeson has officiated 33 games so far this season, handing out 126 yellow cards and nine red cards.

Geoffrey Liddle and Andrew Hendley will run the line, while Ricky Wootton is the fourth official.

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Preview: Five talking points ahead of Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers

1. Biggest away following of the season


As the end of the season draws ever nearer, Wanderers' superb away support in Sky Bet League One concludes this weekend with over 4,400 fans set to pack into Vale Park's away end.

The Whites' travelling contingent have seen eleven wins, four draws and seven defeats on the road in Sky Bet League One this term, with 31 goals scored and just 20 conceded.

Following on from a bumper backing in the club's last away outing at Oldham too, the Bolton faithful will be looking to roar the team onto victory this weekend.

2. First league visit to Vale Park in 17 years

Wanderers last played a competitive fixture at Vale Park in February 2000 when both sides were plying their trade in Division One.

Facing off on a Tuesday evening, Bolton managed to run out 1-0 winners that night courtesy of Eidur Gudjohnsen's 77th minute effort.

The victory meanwhile was followed up by a 2-1 win at the Reebok Stadium just over a month later to complete the Whites' league double over their Vale counterparts.


3. Options up top for the Whites


Looking ahead to the weekend's game and manager Phil Parkinson has a number of players at his disposal as the Whites go in search of victory against the Valiants.

Adam Le Fondre has figured prominently for the Trotters in recent weeks, with the likes of Max Clayton, Conor Wilkinson and Chris Long - coupled with widemen Filipe Morais, James Henry and Viv Solomon-Otabor - all chomping at the bit.


And with Wanderers looking for their 24th win of the season this weekend, the gaffer will be hoping that the goals will flow for his side on Saturday afternoon.


4. Double over Port Vale


Way back in October of last year, Wanderers welcomed Port Vale to Macron Stadium with Bolton amidst a four-game winning streak.

And they proceeded to extend it to five with goals from Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Lawrie Wilson - all inside the space of nine minutes - ensuring that the points were the Trotters'.

Sam Hart did score a consolation for the Valiants that day, but the Whites will no doubt be eager to complete a league double this weekend with the end of the campaign tantalising close.

5. Penultimate league game

The 2016/17 Sky Bet League One season is well and truly in its final stages with just one fixture remaining for Wanderers after this weekend's outing.

Concluding their travels with this Saturday's trip to Port Vale, Parkinson's men then bring down the curtain on the season against Peterborough United at Macron Stadium on Sunday week.

Now at the business end of the campaign however, Bolton will be looking to cement their place in the division's top two this weekend and pull themselves closer to a Championship return.

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We could do with a healthy dose of this today:

Madine plays.

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Thank Christ for that.

Looks like 3 points on the cards now!