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It says something of how far the bar has been raised since Keith Hill’s arrival that this mediocre display felt so incongruous with what Wanderersnow seem capable.
Even though results have only recently tallied with improved performances, there has been for several weeks a feeling that the team was building towards something.
In each game there was a positive aspect to reflect on, a step forward, even if a steady stream of injuries have made the bigger picture harder to appreciate.
Other than the odd bout of sniffles and chilblains, there was no such takeaway from this cup encounter, which will quickly be consigned to the deep and dark recesses of the memory of anyone who shivered their way through it.
Whether it was the absence of Thibaud Verlinden – withdrawn from the squad by his parent club Stoke City to stop him being cup tied for future rounds – or perhaps that of Ali Crawford, now side-lined for several months, there was simply no snap when Wanderers had the ball.
In comparison, Ryan Lowe’s Plymouth showed enough enterprise to fully deserve the first-half lead given to them by another ex-Shaker, Callum McFadzen, and might have had more had it not been for the brilliance of Remi Matthews, playing against one of his former clubs.
Bolton’s midfield triumvirate of Jason Lowe, Luke Murphy and Sonny Graham had all hard work you would want, but none of the penetration.
And though Joe Dodoo looked like he had the measure of his full-back in the opening 20 minutes on the right side of attack, build-up play too often reverted to the overtly direct, almost hopeful, brand of football employed all too often in the recent past.
An exit from the cup will have little bearing on the biggest aim of this season, to escape the bottom three in League One. Yet missing out on the prize pot for this round – and potentially a route through to the lucrative third round - certainly stung the manager’s recruitment plans.
A question this result most certainly raises is Wanderers’ ability to break down teams who sit deep and look to attack, particularly at the University of Bolton Stadium.
It was an issue that Phil Parkinson’s team struggled to overcome in their promotion season, yet Hill’s team have seldom found themselves in such a position. Given everything that has happened at Bolton, and the fact they are still propping up the table, the onus has almost always fell on the opposition to push forward.
Once Plymouth got the goal they needed they were content to sit in and spring forward using a pacey attack. Danny Mayor’s quality should come as no surprise to people in these parts – but mobile midfielder Antoni Sarcevic also caught the eye in a game desperately lacking in quality.
For the first 10 minutes there really was no sign that this would be such a disappointing day. Wanderers pressed high, created a few very decent opportunities, and looked in the mood to register a fourth straight win in all competitions.
Dodoo swung a shot a foot wide of the post, Chris O’Grady also went close and Daryl Murphy – who had a real day to forget – just failed to connect with a low cross from the right with the goal gaping.
Then, with impressive precision, McFadzean blasted the game’s only goal after neat build-up down the left by Mayor and Byron Moore had exposed full-back Josh Emmanuel and covering defender Yoan Zouma.
Anyone expecting a reaction from Wanderers are still stood waiting for one to arrive. Things became very sloppy for 15 minutes as Matthews came to his team’s rescue on a handful of occasions, including one superb stop one-on-one with Moore after Daryl Murphy had played a blind pass.
At that stage Bolton seemed more concerned with the haphazard decision-making from referee Robert Lewis than forcing the issue themselves. A big shout for handball was turned down by the Shrewsbury official when McFadzean seemed to have handled Murphy’s flick, but Hill won’t be happy that his team failed to deal with the frustration.
The game descended into a succession of scrappy set pieces and though Dodoo did force Pligrims keeper Alex Palmer into a save just after half time with a volley, there really was little for the home fans to warm their cockles.
Josh Earl made an appearance off the bench after 55 minutes and made a positive impact. The Preston North End loanee has been desperately unlucky with injuries this season but he fired in a handful of good crosses from the left and always looked to support. Adam Chicksen, the man he replaced, has been one of Wanderers’ most consistent customers but Earl’s lively cameo will definitely have given him something to think about.
Dennis Politic was also sent on to try and pick the lock of a Plymouth defence now protecting their penalty area with stubborn determination. Connor Hall also got his chance – a first taste of football for Bolton in some 15 months – but one that lasted a depressing 20 minutes before he limped off with a hamstring injury.
It is impossible not to have sympathy for the young striker who would have been part of the young group who started the season had it not been for an ankle injury picked up just a couple of days before the curtain raiser at Wycombe.
Hall has shown all the appetite and desire you would want from a young player looking to force his way into the team but had absolutely none of the luck needed.
Plymouth played out time professionally, forcing no fewer than six corners in succession at one stage as Wanderers found themselves nailed into their own half.
Every available second was eaten up, leaving many of the home fans turning on their heels and heading out to find somewhere warmer to spend their evening.
One header from O’Grady 10 minutes before the end briefly sent hearts a flutter as it bounced across the Plymouth goal, but alas with nobody in white to turn it into the net.
It was with a shrug that fans greeted the final whistle. A cup run would have been nice, especially if Wanderers are looking to boost their squad in January and beyond. The momentum created by three straight wins also came to a juddering halt.
This result is not, however, one that will define Bolton’s season. If a positive light is to be shined on that 90 minutes of football, it is to show the players that there must be significant improvement in the hat-trick of vital League One games on the immediate horizon.
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Even though results have only recently tallied with improved performances, there has been for several weeks a feeling that the team was building towards something.
In each game there was a positive aspect to reflect on, a step forward, even if a steady stream of injuries have made the bigger picture harder to appreciate.
Other than the odd bout of sniffles and chilblains, there was no such takeaway from this cup encounter, which will quickly be consigned to the deep and dark recesses of the memory of anyone who shivered their way through it.
Whether it was the absence of Thibaud Verlinden – withdrawn from the squad by his parent club Stoke City to stop him being cup tied for future rounds – or perhaps that of Ali Crawford, now side-lined for several months, there was simply no snap when Wanderers had the ball.
In comparison, Ryan Lowe’s Plymouth showed enough enterprise to fully deserve the first-half lead given to them by another ex-Shaker, Callum McFadzen, and might have had more had it not been for the brilliance of Remi Matthews, playing against one of his former clubs.
Bolton’s midfield triumvirate of Jason Lowe, Luke Murphy and Sonny Graham had all hard work you would want, but none of the penetration.
And though Joe Dodoo looked like he had the measure of his full-back in the opening 20 minutes on the right side of attack, build-up play too often reverted to the overtly direct, almost hopeful, brand of football employed all too often in the recent past.
An exit from the cup will have little bearing on the biggest aim of this season, to escape the bottom three in League One. Yet missing out on the prize pot for this round – and potentially a route through to the lucrative third round - certainly stung the manager’s recruitment plans.
A question this result most certainly raises is Wanderers’ ability to break down teams who sit deep and look to attack, particularly at the University of Bolton Stadium.
It was an issue that Phil Parkinson’s team struggled to overcome in their promotion season, yet Hill’s team have seldom found themselves in such a position. Given everything that has happened at Bolton, and the fact they are still propping up the table, the onus has almost always fell on the opposition to push forward.
Once Plymouth got the goal they needed they were content to sit in and spring forward using a pacey attack. Danny Mayor’s quality should come as no surprise to people in these parts – but mobile midfielder Antoni Sarcevic also caught the eye in a game desperately lacking in quality.
For the first 10 minutes there really was no sign that this would be such a disappointing day. Wanderers pressed high, created a few very decent opportunities, and looked in the mood to register a fourth straight win in all competitions.
Dodoo swung a shot a foot wide of the post, Chris O’Grady also went close and Daryl Murphy – who had a real day to forget – just failed to connect with a low cross from the right with the goal gaping.
Then, with impressive precision, McFadzean blasted the game’s only goal after neat build-up down the left by Mayor and Byron Moore had exposed full-back Josh Emmanuel and covering defender Yoan Zouma.
Anyone expecting a reaction from Wanderers are still stood waiting for one to arrive. Things became very sloppy for 15 minutes as Matthews came to his team’s rescue on a handful of occasions, including one superb stop one-on-one with Moore after Daryl Murphy had played a blind pass.
At that stage Bolton seemed more concerned with the haphazard decision-making from referee Robert Lewis than forcing the issue themselves. A big shout for handball was turned down by the Shrewsbury official when McFadzean seemed to have handled Murphy’s flick, but Hill won’t be happy that his team failed to deal with the frustration.
The game descended into a succession of scrappy set pieces and though Dodoo did force Pligrims keeper Alex Palmer into a save just after half time with a volley, there really was little for the home fans to warm their cockles.
Josh Earl made an appearance off the bench after 55 minutes and made a positive impact. The Preston North End loanee has been desperately unlucky with injuries this season but he fired in a handful of good crosses from the left and always looked to support. Adam Chicksen, the man he replaced, has been one of Wanderers’ most consistent customers but Earl’s lively cameo will definitely have given him something to think about.
Dennis Politic was also sent on to try and pick the lock of a Plymouth defence now protecting their penalty area with stubborn determination. Connor Hall also got his chance – a first taste of football for Bolton in some 15 months – but one that lasted a depressing 20 minutes before he limped off with a hamstring injury.
It is impossible not to have sympathy for the young striker who would have been part of the young group who started the season had it not been for an ankle injury picked up just a couple of days before the curtain raiser at Wycombe.
Hall has shown all the appetite and desire you would want from a young player looking to force his way into the team but had absolutely none of the luck needed.
Plymouth played out time professionally, forcing no fewer than six corners in succession at one stage as Wanderers found themselves nailed into their own half.
Every available second was eaten up, leaving many of the home fans turning on their heels and heading out to find somewhere warmer to spend their evening.
One header from O’Grady 10 minutes before the end briefly sent hearts a flutter as it bounced across the Plymouth goal, but alas with nobody in white to turn it into the net.
It was with a shrug that fans greeted the final whistle. A cup run would have been nice, especially if Wanderers are looking to boost their squad in January and beyond. The momentum created by three straight wins also came to a juddering halt.
This result is not, however, one that will define Bolton’s season. If a positive light is to be shined on that 90 minutes of football, it is to show the players that there must be significant improvement in the hat-trick of vital League One games on the immediate horizon.
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