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Phil Parkinson says Jason’s Lowe’s star show at full-back against Rotherham did not come as a surprise.
Despite starting the former Blackburn Rovers man in the centre of midfield in every league game for which he has been available this season, the Wanderers boss surprised a few people by moving Lowe to the right side of his defence on Boxing Day.
The move paid off, even though it meant moving another one of this season’s mainstays, Pawel Olkowski, to the bench.
Lowe helped the Whites record an overdue win and finished the game at left-back when Andy Taylor limped off with a calf problem, drawing praise from the Bolton boss.
“Lowey has played a lot of his career at right-back and when we brought him in over the summer a few managers said ‘he’s a good midfielder but he’s a better right-back,’ Parkinson said.
“We knew if we moved him there he gives us quality on the ball and experience as well.
“Then we had to stick him in at left-back as well and he handled it brilliantly.
“I was just in with all the staff and Nick Allamby said, for him, Lowey was man of the match. We had put him on the wrong side and they put some fresh legs up against him as well but he coped with it really well.”
One of the key moments against Rotherham was a second-half effort from Michael Smith which was blocked by no fewer than four Wanderers defenders.
Summing up his side’s impressive second-half resilience, Parkinson will be asking for more of the same as Stoke City come to town tomorrow.
“That was a big moment for us,” he said. “Julian Darby jumped up behind me and said ‘that’s as good as a goal’ and he’s spot on.
“We say that in training, getting those important blocks in, and we pride ourselves on our defenders putting bodies on the line. That’s what you need to get a win.
“You go in the dressing room after every game and the lads are out on their feet. Unfortunately that is the only way to get victories because every game is so tight.”
Stoke were beaten 2-0 by Birmingham City on Boxing Day and Ashley Williams, the Wales international defender on loan from Everton, is hoping for a speedy response.
“Bolton is now a big game for us,” he said. “We need to try to get another run going against a team who aren’t in a great position in the league, but are going to make it difficult and try to win the game. They’ve got a lot of good players in their team, so we need to expect a difficult game.
“This is the Championship, and a team can hurt you if you are not at your best.
“They will be desperate for the points, but for us it is an important game which we want to win and go into the New Year on a high.”
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Despite starting the former Blackburn Rovers man in the centre of midfield in every league game for which he has been available this season, the Wanderers boss surprised a few people by moving Lowe to the right side of his defence on Boxing Day.
The move paid off, even though it meant moving another one of this season’s mainstays, Pawel Olkowski, to the bench.
Lowe helped the Whites record an overdue win and finished the game at left-back when Andy Taylor limped off with a calf problem, drawing praise from the Bolton boss.
“Lowey has played a lot of his career at right-back and when we brought him in over the summer a few managers said ‘he’s a good midfielder but he’s a better right-back,’ Parkinson said.
“We knew if we moved him there he gives us quality on the ball and experience as well.
“Then we had to stick him in at left-back as well and he handled it brilliantly.
“I was just in with all the staff and Nick Allamby said, for him, Lowey was man of the match. We had put him on the wrong side and they put some fresh legs up against him as well but he coped with it really well.”
One of the key moments against Rotherham was a second-half effort from Michael Smith which was blocked by no fewer than four Wanderers defenders.
Summing up his side’s impressive second-half resilience, Parkinson will be asking for more of the same as Stoke City come to town tomorrow.
“That was a big moment for us,” he said. “Julian Darby jumped up behind me and said ‘that’s as good as a goal’ and he’s spot on.
“We say that in training, getting those important blocks in, and we pride ourselves on our defenders putting bodies on the line. That’s what you need to get a win.
“You go in the dressing room after every game and the lads are out on their feet. Unfortunately that is the only way to get victories because every game is so tight.”
Stoke were beaten 2-0 by Birmingham City on Boxing Day and Ashley Williams, the Wales international defender on loan from Everton, is hoping for a speedy response.
“Bolton is now a big game for us,” he said. “We need to try to get another run going against a team who aren’t in a great position in the league, but are going to make it difficult and try to win the game. They’ve got a lot of good players in their team, so we need to expect a difficult game.
“This is the Championship, and a team can hurt you if you are not at your best.
“They will be desperate for the points, but for us it is an important game which we want to win and go into the New Year on a high.”
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