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The last promotion spot in League One is now a two-horse race – and Phil Parkinson reckons Wanderers have the stamina to stay the course.
Celebrations were dulled on Saturday as a late winner for Fleetwood at Gillingham meant the Whites’ 2-0 win at Port Vale was not enough to complete the job.
But a return to the Championship would be guaranteed if they avoid defeat at home to Peterborough United on the last day of the season.
After putting Champagne on ice Parkinson admitted there was a slight sense of anti-climax in front of 4,400 travelling fans at Vale Park but the manner of victory convinced the Wanderers boss his players were ready to finish the job.
“You can’t hide away from the disappointment of Fleetwood’s late goal,” he told The Bolton News. “I tried to ignore the scores but you could tell from the fans’ reaction that it was going favourably for us and then Lee Butler (Wanderers’ goalkeeping coach) gave me the great news they’d scored the winning goal. Someone had to do it, I suppose.
“The lads were feeling a bit flat but I said to them – imagine how Fleetwood are feeling? They’ve come back heroically and got a great win but when they see our result I think it will help to quiet them down too.
“It goes to the last game and I think the lads are in good shape. If we hadn’t beaten Port Vale I wouldn’t be feeling as positive as I do.”
A pitch invasion after David Wheater’s opening goal briefly threatened to take the shine off a solid performance, with referee Carl Boyeson taking players back down the tunnel for nearly 10 minutes as police cleared the playing surface.
It is likely Wanderers will receive a heavy financial penalty from the Football Association’s regulatory commission for breach of rule E.20, which governs pitch incursions.
“It was a bit of over-exuberance,” reflected Parkinson after the game. “I didn’t see any major trouble.
“That’s what happens at this stage of the season. Tensions are running high, the pressure is on, it’s been a long old nine months.”
Saturday’s win also confirmed it is no longer possible for either Bradford City or Scunthorpe United to secure automatic promotion.
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Celebrations were dulled on Saturday as a late winner for Fleetwood at Gillingham meant the Whites’ 2-0 win at Port Vale was not enough to complete the job.
But a return to the Championship would be guaranteed if they avoid defeat at home to Peterborough United on the last day of the season.
After putting Champagne on ice Parkinson admitted there was a slight sense of anti-climax in front of 4,400 travelling fans at Vale Park but the manner of victory convinced the Wanderers boss his players were ready to finish the job.
“You can’t hide away from the disappointment of Fleetwood’s late goal,” he told The Bolton News. “I tried to ignore the scores but you could tell from the fans’ reaction that it was going favourably for us and then Lee Butler (Wanderers’ goalkeeping coach) gave me the great news they’d scored the winning goal. Someone had to do it, I suppose.
“The lads were feeling a bit flat but I said to them – imagine how Fleetwood are feeling? They’ve come back heroically and got a great win but when they see our result I think it will help to quiet them down too.
“It goes to the last game and I think the lads are in good shape. If we hadn’t beaten Port Vale I wouldn’t be feeling as positive as I do.”
A pitch invasion after David Wheater’s opening goal briefly threatened to take the shine off a solid performance, with referee Carl Boyeson taking players back down the tunnel for nearly 10 minutes as police cleared the playing surface.
It is likely Wanderers will receive a heavy financial penalty from the Football Association’s regulatory commission for breach of rule E.20, which governs pitch incursions.
“It was a bit of over-exuberance,” reflected Parkinson after the game. “I didn’t see any major trouble.
“That’s what happens at this stage of the season. Tensions are running high, the pressure is on, it’s been a long old nine months.”
Saturday’s win also confirmed it is no longer possible for either Bradford City or Scunthorpe United to secure automatic promotion.
Source