Bolton 3-0 Peterborough - PROMOTED!!!

I can't believe anyone wants to miss this game - surely you can trust your armchair on its own for a day?

Natasha Whittam wrote:I can't believe anyone wants to miss this game - surely you can trust your armchair on its own for a day?

Weirdly, I don't actually want to miss the game so it's a toss up between the Macron and the Italian Riviera, however not attending the Italian Riviera would mean a large fine i.e. whatever divorce costs these days.

wanderlust wrote:
Weirdly, I don't actually want to miss the game so it's a toss up between the Macron and the Italian Riviera, however not attending the Italian Riviera would mean a large fine i.e. whatever divorce costs these days.

I'm presuming your holiday was pre-booked, it's poor form to book it on the final weekend of the season. The Italian Riviera will still be there the following weekend.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

wanderlust wrote:
Weirdly, I don't actually want to miss the game so it's a toss up between the Macron and the Italian Riviera, however not attending the Italian Riviera would mean a large fine i.e. whatever divorce costs these days.

I'm presuming your holiday was pre-booked, it's poor form to book it on the final weekend of the season. The Italian Riviera will still be there the following weekend.

You're working on the assumption that I booked it. I didn't. The missus did and "surprised me" with a "romantic break".

How delighted was I?

That said the armchair is looking forward to making the acquaintance of a little leather art nouveau recliner in reception so I'm outnumbered.

Ref watch: Scott Duncan to officiate Peterborough United season finale

Scott Duncan will oversee Wanderers' decisive Sky Bet League One clash with Peterborough United at Macron Stadium on Sunday.


The Northumberland-based official will be running the rule over his sixth Whites match in total, having last taken charge of Bolton's televised 4-0 home victory over Gillingham back in December.

The man in the middle for 36 Football League fixtures so far this campaign, Mr Duncan has dished out 110 yellow cards and eight red cards.

Adam Crysell and Philip Dermott will run the line, while Graham Salisbury is the fourth official.

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Tweet from Iles just now -

Pratley back in training after a hamstring injury for #bwfc - and Spearing and Madine fit to play.

Preview: Five talking points ahead of Bolton Wanderers v Peterborough United

1. Automatic promotion decider

With just one game of the campaign remaining, Wanderers' hopes of securing an immediate and automatic return to English football's second tier rests on Sunday's clash with Grant McCann's side.

Currently two points ahead of third-place Fleetwood Town and boasting a superior goal difference to the Highbury outfit, Bolton are firmly in the driving seat.

And with Uwe Rosler's men hosting Port Vale in their final outing - a team who could possibly stave off relegation with victory against Town - there is still all to play for this weekend at both ends of the table.

2. Big crowd expected

As of Friday afternoon, over 20,000 tickets had been snapped up for the Whites' season finale against their counterparts from the ABAX Stadium.

The highest attendance seen this season at Macron Stadium meanwhile was for the visit of Chesterfield earlier this month, with over 23,000 packed into BL6.

With the stakes high however this weekend, the hope is that that turnout will be surpassed with the Trotters looking to book their place back in the Sky Bet Championship.

3. Sky Sports are in town

The Sky Sports cameras will be present for Sunday's lunchtime kick-off, with Wanderers set to feature on the channel for the fifth time this season.

On those previous occasions, they have won three against Bury, Gillingham and Oxford whilst losing just once to this weekend's visitors.

With the world watching on however, Phil Parkinson's men will be aiming to finish on a high this term having come agonisingly close to confirming promotion last time out against Port Vale.

4. Get here early

With a bumper crowd expected at BL6 this weekend, fans are advised to arrive in plenty of time ahead of the game.

Bolton Central will be open from 9am for fans wishing to buy tickets for the fixture on the day, but supporters are advised to pre-buy in advance by printing online [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

The club's retail outlet has also currently got numerous items on sale, including home and away shirts for just £9.99. To buy ahead of the game, please [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

5. Who will scoop the Golden Boot?

There looks set to be a fight for the club's Golden Boot award this Sunday with both Gary Madine and Josh Vela both boasting ten goals for the season apiece.

David Wheater is also coming up on the inside with eight efforts, but the race looks set to be a two-horse one.

And with Madine scoring his first goal since March 4 last Saturday, the big man will be aiming to continue his form in front of goal and finish the season with a flourish.

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....and breathe.

Well, we made hard work of it at times this season but we're finally there.

Get in!

Can't have been many better feelings in recent years.

Fantastic end to the season. Was beginning to think we were going to just grind out a draw and make hard work of it!

Excellent stuff! Plus the pie-munching barstewards that nicked our training ground are relegated. All I could hope for now is for rovers to go with them and what began as a survival exercise could end as the best season in ages.

Report: Bolton 3-0 Peterborough United

IN BRIEF


Bolton Wanderers will play Sky Bet Championship football next season after easing to a convincing 3-0 victory over Peterborough United on Sunday lunchtime and securing second place in the process.

The deadlock was broken halfway through the first period, with Jem Karacan coolly guiding the ball home from close range and it was two soon after the restart as David Wheater headed the ball past Luke McGee.

It was three with 14 minutes remaining too, with Adam Le Fondre getting in on the action with a drilled effort - the icing on the cake of what was an afternoon to remember for all associated with Bolton Wanderers Football Club

TEAM NEWS

Wanderers were unchanged from the side who started against Port Vale eight days ago, with Jay Spearing retaining the captaincy as Darren Pratley returned to the matchday 18.

FIRST HALF

The game got underway at a sun-soaked Macron Stadium and it was clear to see from the outset that Wanderers were up for the fight.

The visitors were under pressure from the outset, with Bolton looking to get an early foothold in the clash and Gary Madine causing problems for the Posh.

Jem Karacan meanwhile saw a 20-yard half-volley fly narrowly wide of the upright with 11 minutes on the clock.

It was very much one-way traffic in the clash, with Mark Howard virtually a spectator for the opening quarter-hour.

On the 17th minute of the game however, a round of applause went up around Macron Stadium in honour of Ivan Klasnic who was present.

During that minute meanwhile, Madine saw his drive from a corner smothered by Luke McGee.

With the first period halfway through however, the deadlock was broken and it was Karacan who steered his volley home from five yards out following a beautiful cross into the area from Dorian Dervite.

No more than Bolton deserved given their dominance, it was one greeted with the loudest of roars from the Macron faithful.

Wanderers continued their pressure, with Dervite even coming close himself after finding himself in unfamiliar territory in Peterborough’s 18-yard box, only to be dispossessed at the crucial moment.

On a rare foray into Bolton territory however, Tom Nichols looked set to pull Boro level after finding the ball at his feet with just Howard to beat, but a superb sliding tackle from Mark Beevers at the death ensured that the Whites’ lead was preserved.

Another last ditch block meanwhile saw the scoreline remain in Bolton’s favour, with Wheater a rock at the back to keep another Nichols effort out.

Up the other end, Madine was denied only by the legs of McGee while Le Fondre spurned a glorious opportunity when failing to connect with the ball just a matter of yards out.

Come the half time whistle however, Bolton’s lead was just the one goal.

SECOND HALF

With no changes for either side at the break, proceedings got back underway at Macron Stadium.

And it was the visitors were looked lively early on, with Chris Forrester’s long range drive straight down the throat of Howard.

The tempo of the game was fairly relaxed, with Bolton easily dealing with anything coming their way from the visitors.

And with the second half seven minutes old, their lead was doubled as Wheater forced a header home from close range after the ball had been bouncing around in the penalty area.

A sucker punch for the visitors, it was just the tonic needed for Wanderers with Macron Stadium and had the Whites oozing with confidence on the ball thereafter.

Not content with just the two however, Bolton continued to pen Peterborough into their own area as the clock ran down.

Beevers almost had a goal too, with McGee somehow keeping his thunderous strike out of the net.

Wanderers just kept on going though and were eventually rewarded with a third as following some superb build-up play by Vela, Le Fondre drilled home past a helpless McGee.

It was party time at Macron Stadium as the game entered its final ten minutes, with the Bolton faithful in superb voice while the remainder of the game passed without much action of note.

Come the final whistle however, it mattered not with Wanderers officially a Sky Bet Championship outfit once again!

FULL TIME

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Suddenly the world's a better place!

I don't think any of us thought automatic promotion was a possibility,  when we started this season back in August 2016.

KA and Parky have done a great job together.

Fantastic achievement considering what state we were in at the end of last season.

Recognition must be given to Anderson and Parkinson for what they have achieved - particularly with the ST massively trying to fuck Anderson by toadying to the Football League and backing Holdsworth against him most of the season.

Parkinson may not be the best manager in the world but he's done extremely well in a difficult season with such constraints placed upon the club.

We are not out of the woods yet by being back in the Championship and will face many difficulties yet to come - particularly Holdsworth's BluMarble loan debacle but at least things are beginning to look brighter for us.

Let us enjoy the moment for now and look forward to the challenges we will face next season!

Thank you to the mods for another season of Nuts... and a big shout out to Karly for providing us with radio commentary this season.  Have a good summer everyone!

observer wrote:Thank you to the mods for another season of Nuts... and a big shout out to Karly for providing us with radio commentary this season.  Have a good summer everyone!

 top work and its a top forum.  Ups and downs but just the same as Bolton anyway!!!!