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On the evidence of the table at least, these two clubs will be locking horns in League Two next season.
It is a fate many Wanderers fans have already accepted – a line drawn in the sand from which the club can build and grow again.
But as Keith Hill lays down some groundwork in the coming months, sorting out who will stay and who will be cut free for the next part of the adventure, let’s hope there are many more afternoons like this.
Playing with a delightful freedom and backed by a fanbase loving each second, Bolton outclassed their old foes Tranmere in every conceivable department.
Whereas on Tuesday night the ground echoed with groans and grumbles as Hill’s side struggled for a point against an equally cumbersome Bristol Rovers, the inexplicable rivalry between these two clubs lent a fizz to the atmosphere from the moment a ball was kicked.
It is hard to describe just why the supporters of these two clubs dislike each other so. About 40 miles separate the two grounds and beyond the late eighties, Bolton and Tranmere were practically strangers. A play-off defeat and a bit of John Aldridge wind-up merchantry later and the indisputable glee when one team beats the other is impossible to miss.
It was certainly there at Prenton Park back in August as Phil Parkinson took charge of his final game, his team that day possessing just three senior players in Remi Matthews, Luke Murphy and Jason Lowe. The 5-0 defeat stung badly for the 2,000 travelling supporters despite there being more important things to distract them off the pitch at the time.
The scoreline wasn’t nearly as pronounced at the UniBol on Saturday but the manner of victory was just as emphatic.
From the second Dennis Politic’s thunderbolt volley hit the back of the net Bolton were on top. Chris O’Grady’s second-half goal settled any doubts but, in truth, three points were only ever heading in one direction.
And credit where credit is due. Manager Hill has taken the brickbats in recent weeks as he mixed and matched, rebuilding a team for the umpteenth time. We will never know whether Wanderers could have built up the momentum they craved had they avoided injuries to the likes of Ali Crawford, Jack Hobbs and Co in October – but fingers crossed that the second generation of loans and free transfers fares better in the remaining 18 games.
The decision to go 4-4-2 with O’Grady pushed up alongside Daryl Murphy was exactly the right call. Tranmere were missing their biggest defensive asset, Manny Monthe, through suspension, and the Mersysiders struggled to cope with the added physicality, particularly if either striker pulled out wide.
O’Grady has struggled to find form for the Whites, used in fits and starts as a substitute or in a role on the left side which also requires him to do more of the defensive work. Here, he and Murphy kept Tranmere’s flailing back line on their heels, using every ounce of experience they have to offer.
Full-backs Josh Emmanuel and Brandon Fleming also kept the visitors pinned in their own half, tearing down the flanks at every opportunity.
Wanderers gave a debut to Sheffield United defender Kean Bryan, and while he may have busier afternoons, what we saw was a mobile player comfortable on the ball who read and snuffed out the rare moments of danger which came his way.
The opening goal is unlikely to be topped this season. Indeed, it is difficult to recall a strike in the last few years quite so spectacular. Daryl Murphy won the header, the ball dropping perfectly for Politic’s right foot on the edge of the box, his volley screaming into the top corner of the net. It was a thing of pure beauty, that much is true.
Tranmere never recovered. Morgan Ferrier blasted one angled effort over the bar but otherwise Wanderers had it pretty much their own way.
A lot of that was down to calm defending. Jason Lowe’s screening of the back four was exemplary and Toto Nsiala built on what had been a good outing against Bristol with another rock-solid display.
But in a game that brought 23 shots on goal for Bolton, it was always the attackers who really caught the eye.
Politic was hungry for more, setting sight on the visitors’ goal each time he got the ball within range.
Luke Murphy and O’Grady also had efforts blocked in the six yard box but though Wanderers were looking good for a second, they were never entirely comfortable until O’Grady supplied it in the 64th minute.
Ethan Hamilton – another excellent performer on the day – had a shot pushed away by Scott Davies and the ensuing scramble saw both Politic and O’Grady have efforts hacked away on the line.
Thankfully, the breakthrough came quickly. Hamilton was once again in the middle of it, pushing the ball back into the box after Emmanuel’s cross had been half-cleared, O’Grady did the rest with an acrobatic volley from shoulder height.
It was the veteran striker’s 100th league goal of his career and the angle he took the volley showed those yoga routines have been paying off.
Could the Whites have scored more? Well, yes. Nsiala headed over from a corner and the ever-energetic Fleming dragged a shot just wide from the edge of the area. Tranmere couldn’t wait to get off the pitch.
Wanderers’ fans were having a ball and with everything they have been through this season, who can blame them?
It is only when Bolton have put half a dozen of these victories together that we can realistically start talking about safety again – and until then, it’s all eyes on how Hill and Football Ventures tackle the plethora of players coming out of contract.
The contract extension for Politic was a hugely positive move and we can only hope the same will be accomplished with Ronan Darcy.
Wanderers have Jacob Mellis and Ryan Delaney to come into this group plus the likes of Jack Hobbs, Ali Crawford and Joe Bunney returning from long-term injury. There is, for the first time since those heady days in October, the possibility of a stronger squad assembling with the competition that the manager has craved.
The building blocks that Hill has been talking about for some time now need to be assembled, and then there can be more good times like this ahead.
Source
It is a fate many Wanderers fans have already accepted – a line drawn in the sand from which the club can build and grow again.
But as Keith Hill lays down some groundwork in the coming months, sorting out who will stay and who will be cut free for the next part of the adventure, let’s hope there are many more afternoons like this.
Playing with a delightful freedom and backed by a fanbase loving each second, Bolton outclassed their old foes Tranmere in every conceivable department.
Whereas on Tuesday night the ground echoed with groans and grumbles as Hill’s side struggled for a point against an equally cumbersome Bristol Rovers, the inexplicable rivalry between these two clubs lent a fizz to the atmosphere from the moment a ball was kicked.
It is hard to describe just why the supporters of these two clubs dislike each other so. About 40 miles separate the two grounds and beyond the late eighties, Bolton and Tranmere were practically strangers. A play-off defeat and a bit of John Aldridge wind-up merchantry later and the indisputable glee when one team beats the other is impossible to miss.
It was certainly there at Prenton Park back in August as Phil Parkinson took charge of his final game, his team that day possessing just three senior players in Remi Matthews, Luke Murphy and Jason Lowe. The 5-0 defeat stung badly for the 2,000 travelling supporters despite there being more important things to distract them off the pitch at the time.
The scoreline wasn’t nearly as pronounced at the UniBol on Saturday but the manner of victory was just as emphatic.
From the second Dennis Politic’s thunderbolt volley hit the back of the net Bolton were on top. Chris O’Grady’s second-half goal settled any doubts but, in truth, three points were only ever heading in one direction.
And credit where credit is due. Manager Hill has taken the brickbats in recent weeks as he mixed and matched, rebuilding a team for the umpteenth time. We will never know whether Wanderers could have built up the momentum they craved had they avoided injuries to the likes of Ali Crawford, Jack Hobbs and Co in October – but fingers crossed that the second generation of loans and free transfers fares better in the remaining 18 games.
The decision to go 4-4-2 with O’Grady pushed up alongside Daryl Murphy was exactly the right call. Tranmere were missing their biggest defensive asset, Manny Monthe, through suspension, and the Mersysiders struggled to cope with the added physicality, particularly if either striker pulled out wide.
O’Grady has struggled to find form for the Whites, used in fits and starts as a substitute or in a role on the left side which also requires him to do more of the defensive work. Here, he and Murphy kept Tranmere’s flailing back line on their heels, using every ounce of experience they have to offer.
Full-backs Josh Emmanuel and Brandon Fleming also kept the visitors pinned in their own half, tearing down the flanks at every opportunity.
Wanderers gave a debut to Sheffield United defender Kean Bryan, and while he may have busier afternoons, what we saw was a mobile player comfortable on the ball who read and snuffed out the rare moments of danger which came his way.
The opening goal is unlikely to be topped this season. Indeed, it is difficult to recall a strike in the last few years quite so spectacular. Daryl Murphy won the header, the ball dropping perfectly for Politic’s right foot on the edge of the box, his volley screaming into the top corner of the net. It was a thing of pure beauty, that much is true.
Tranmere never recovered. Morgan Ferrier blasted one angled effort over the bar but otherwise Wanderers had it pretty much their own way.
A lot of that was down to calm defending. Jason Lowe’s screening of the back four was exemplary and Toto Nsiala built on what had been a good outing against Bristol with another rock-solid display.
But in a game that brought 23 shots on goal for Bolton, it was always the attackers who really caught the eye.
Politic was hungry for more, setting sight on the visitors’ goal each time he got the ball within range.
Luke Murphy and O’Grady also had efforts blocked in the six yard box but though Wanderers were looking good for a second, they were never entirely comfortable until O’Grady supplied it in the 64th minute.
Ethan Hamilton – another excellent performer on the day – had a shot pushed away by Scott Davies and the ensuing scramble saw both Politic and O’Grady have efforts hacked away on the line.
Thankfully, the breakthrough came quickly. Hamilton was once again in the middle of it, pushing the ball back into the box after Emmanuel’s cross had been half-cleared, O’Grady did the rest with an acrobatic volley from shoulder height.
It was the veteran striker’s 100th league goal of his career and the angle he took the volley showed those yoga routines have been paying off.
Could the Whites have scored more? Well, yes. Nsiala headed over from a corner and the ever-energetic Fleming dragged a shot just wide from the edge of the area. Tranmere couldn’t wait to get off the pitch.
Wanderers’ fans were having a ball and with everything they have been through this season, who can blame them?
It is only when Bolton have put half a dozen of these victories together that we can realistically start talking about safety again – and until then, it’s all eyes on how Hill and Football Ventures tackle the plethora of players coming out of contract.
The contract extension for Politic was a hugely positive move and we can only hope the same will be accomplished with Ronan Darcy.
Wanderers have Jacob Mellis and Ryan Delaney to come into this group plus the likes of Jack Hobbs, Ali Crawford and Joe Bunney returning from long-term injury. There is, for the first time since those heady days in October, the possibility of a stronger squad assembling with the competition that the manager has craved.
The building blocks that Hill has been talking about for some time now need to be assembled, and then there can be more good times like this ahead.
Source