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A tortuous cycle continues for Bolton Wanderers, with no end in sight.
Phil Parkinson wore a haunted expression as he walked into the press room to explain a performance and an outcome he had seen before; too often, in fact. He is growing weary of telling the tale.
Barry McKay’s brilliant strike put Swansea ahead 15 minutes in – but such is Bolton’s inability to work themselves back into a game these days, referee Graham Scott could have blown the full-time whistle there and then.
There were chances. There are always chances.
A matter of inches was the difference between Sammy Ameobi’s equally-spectacular shot dipping under the crossbar, rather than against it. The enigmatic winger thrilled and frustrated in equal measure on his return to injury and also missed a much easier opportunity in the second half.
There were moments of misfortune, of course there were.
Parkinson claimed a foul on Ameobi was missed in the build-up to McKay’s goal and that the Oxfordshire official should have awarded his side a penalty late in the game when Erhun Oztumer was felled by Mike van der Hoorn.
None of the finer details will be go into the record books, however, as this Bolton team became the first in 144 years to lose four consecutive home matches without scoring a goal.
Predicting Ken Anderson’s response to dropping into the bottom three is an exercise in futility. The owner has a whole international break to reflect on the evidence and must decide whether to stay loyal to the manager he appointed two-and-a-half years ago, or whether a fresh voice is needed.
When calls for change were at their loudest last season, Anderson made a brave choice to stand by his man, and was rewarded with Championship safety against all odds.
Once again the wilds of social media steamed with anger on Saturday evening but during the game itself frustration in those present was contained to the half and full-time whistle, a reflection perhaps on the respect still felt towards the man in the dugout.
One could look at the attendance, a little over 14,000, and question how many supporters voted with their feet and elected not to take advantage of the club’s well-publicised £10 ticket offer. Bigger gates have been attracted without such discounts, and maybe highlight what kind of walk-in fan is failing to be enticed by what the team has to offer right now. Therein lies Parkinson’s problem.
Without results, any logical argument explaining why the club is struggling falls almost entirely on deaf ears.
Supporters do not want to be consistently told that Bolton’s budget is dwarfed by the vast majority of the division, nor that the team played better football against Hull, Aston Villa and Swansea than they have all season.
For weeks the fact Wanderers are better off than they were last season has been used as a shield against criticism – yet their run of six points from 13 games now matches up. And being in the bottom three is not a good look for a manager trying to plead his case.
In Championship terms, Parkinson has had a pittance to spend. But one has to question with his two cash signings – Josh Magennis and Christian Doidge – on the bench and big-name loanee Yanic Wildschut kicking his heels in the stands, whether summer recruitment now bears some scrutiny.
Swansea’s enterprising early play was a real breath of fresh air, and the men from South Wales attacked at will down the left through Dan James and the wandering Bersant Celina.
Mark Beevers, back in the side for David Wheater, made a great challenge to prevent Oli McBurnie opening the scoring but no sooner had the corner been cleared, McKay’s thunderous effort from the corner of the penalty box hit the top corner of Ben Alnwick’s goal.
Bolton had not won in 72 previous attempts after conceding first, a statistic which has started to look like a millstone around the neck of the manager and his coaching staff.
The panic set in. James chipped a cross over Alnwick which nearly dropped inside the far post and Celina wasted a glorious chance from six yards.
The visitors’ verve was lovely to watch from a neutral’s point of view – but for those of a Wanderers persuasion, it was a slow form of torture.
Ameobi’s blockbuster provided the jolt Bolton needed and though Erwin Mulder’s fingertips denied him a fine goal, it became a more even contest from there on in.
Pressure had been put on Ameobi on his return from an ankle injury and after a slow 20 minutes he started to look comfortable as the team’s talisman. A few minutes into the second half, however, he was looking to the skies after screwing a shot wide from close in after Andy Taylor’s cross had found him at the far post.
Oztumer then sub Craig Noone lashed shots at goal but failed to find the requisite quality to beat Mulder. The belief started to ebb away on the pitch, and consequently, on the terraces too.
Whereas Wanderers will take encouragement from working their way back into the game, their lack of conviction in the last 15 minutes was a serious concern.
Parkinson and his assistant Steve Parkin protested in vain as a late barge on Oztumer failed to bring a life-saving penalty. And moments later, the whistle signalled a chorus of displeasure from those who had watched to the bitter end. But though audibly annoyed, nothing of note was directed at the manager himself.
After the game, Parkinson could offer little other than a promise he would work to make the club's fortunes change, and there are many who believe he deserves that opportunity. Whether he gets it, time will tell.
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Phil Parkinson wore a haunted expression as he walked into the press room to explain a performance and an outcome he had seen before; too often, in fact. He is growing weary of telling the tale.
Barry McKay’s brilliant strike put Swansea ahead 15 minutes in – but such is Bolton’s inability to work themselves back into a game these days, referee Graham Scott could have blown the full-time whistle there and then.
There were chances. There are always chances.
A matter of inches was the difference between Sammy Ameobi’s equally-spectacular shot dipping under the crossbar, rather than against it. The enigmatic winger thrilled and frustrated in equal measure on his return to injury and also missed a much easier opportunity in the second half.
There were moments of misfortune, of course there were.
Parkinson claimed a foul on Ameobi was missed in the build-up to McKay’s goal and that the Oxfordshire official should have awarded his side a penalty late in the game when Erhun Oztumer was felled by Mike van der Hoorn.
None of the finer details will be go into the record books, however, as this Bolton team became the first in 144 years to lose four consecutive home matches without scoring a goal.
Predicting Ken Anderson’s response to dropping into the bottom three is an exercise in futility. The owner has a whole international break to reflect on the evidence and must decide whether to stay loyal to the manager he appointed two-and-a-half years ago, or whether a fresh voice is needed.
When calls for change were at their loudest last season, Anderson made a brave choice to stand by his man, and was rewarded with Championship safety against all odds.
Once again the wilds of social media steamed with anger on Saturday evening but during the game itself frustration in those present was contained to the half and full-time whistle, a reflection perhaps on the respect still felt towards the man in the dugout.
One could look at the attendance, a little over 14,000, and question how many supporters voted with their feet and elected not to take advantage of the club’s well-publicised £10 ticket offer. Bigger gates have been attracted without such discounts, and maybe highlight what kind of walk-in fan is failing to be enticed by what the team has to offer right now. Therein lies Parkinson’s problem.
Without results, any logical argument explaining why the club is struggling falls almost entirely on deaf ears.
Supporters do not want to be consistently told that Bolton’s budget is dwarfed by the vast majority of the division, nor that the team played better football against Hull, Aston Villa and Swansea than they have all season.
For weeks the fact Wanderers are better off than they were last season has been used as a shield against criticism – yet their run of six points from 13 games now matches up. And being in the bottom three is not a good look for a manager trying to plead his case.
In Championship terms, Parkinson has had a pittance to spend. But one has to question with his two cash signings – Josh Magennis and Christian Doidge – on the bench and big-name loanee Yanic Wildschut kicking his heels in the stands, whether summer recruitment now bears some scrutiny.
Swansea’s enterprising early play was a real breath of fresh air, and the men from South Wales attacked at will down the left through Dan James and the wandering Bersant Celina.
Mark Beevers, back in the side for David Wheater, made a great challenge to prevent Oli McBurnie opening the scoring but no sooner had the corner been cleared, McKay’s thunderous effort from the corner of the penalty box hit the top corner of Ben Alnwick’s goal.
Bolton had not won in 72 previous attempts after conceding first, a statistic which has started to look like a millstone around the neck of the manager and his coaching staff.
The panic set in. James chipped a cross over Alnwick which nearly dropped inside the far post and Celina wasted a glorious chance from six yards.
The visitors’ verve was lovely to watch from a neutral’s point of view – but for those of a Wanderers persuasion, it was a slow form of torture.
Ameobi’s blockbuster provided the jolt Bolton needed and though Erwin Mulder’s fingertips denied him a fine goal, it became a more even contest from there on in.
Pressure had been put on Ameobi on his return from an ankle injury and after a slow 20 minutes he started to look comfortable as the team’s talisman. A few minutes into the second half, however, he was looking to the skies after screwing a shot wide from close in after Andy Taylor’s cross had found him at the far post.
Oztumer then sub Craig Noone lashed shots at goal but failed to find the requisite quality to beat Mulder. The belief started to ebb away on the pitch, and consequently, on the terraces too.
Whereas Wanderers will take encouragement from working their way back into the game, their lack of conviction in the last 15 minutes was a serious concern.
Parkinson and his assistant Steve Parkin protested in vain as a late barge on Oztumer failed to bring a life-saving penalty. And moments later, the whistle signalled a chorus of displeasure from those who had watched to the bitter end. But though audibly annoyed, nothing of note was directed at the manager himself.
After the game, Parkinson could offer little other than a promise he would work to make the club's fortunes change, and there are many who believe he deserves that opportunity. Whether he gets it, time will tell.
Source