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Wanderers’ flair for the dramatic continued with a breathless late win against Burton Albion which will live long in the memory.
Seemingly heading for defeat with three minutes to go, Amadou Bakayoko volleyed in an equalising goal that would have spared Ian Evatt’s side the worst of the crowd’s dissatisfaction on a difficult night against the most stubborn opponents imaginable.
But no sooner had Sam Hughes’s goal been wiped out, did Jon Dadi Bodvarsson step forward with a 97th-minute winner to make it two incredible comebacks in two games for a team that just doesn’t know when to quit.
Before a ball had been kicked, Burton joined exalted company in Marseille and Sporting Lisbon as the only teams in existence that remained unbeaten against Wanderers having played them more than once.
They finished the night as the 90th of 91 other clubs in the Football League that had finished off on the losing side against the Whites. Sutton United, your time is up.
Evatt made five changes from the team that clawed a result back at Accrington, bringing Aaron Morley back for his first league start since August 27 and the 2-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle.
Conor Bradley was back after suspension, George Thomason replaced MJ Williams at the base of midfield, Elias Kachunga came in for Bodvarsson up front and Jack Iredale slotted into the left side of the back three, meaning George Johnston failed to start a league game for the first time since February.
Wanderers made a bright start, Bradley seemingly recharged after his mini-break. The Liverpool loanee started off a flowing move just three minutes in which ended with Thomason passing up a chance to shoot and the angles getting the better of Afolayan.
A few moments later a wonderful ball from Bradley found Kachunga inside the box, he pulled the ball back for Afolayan but, again, the shot was just wide of the mark.
Bolton knew all about Burton’s threat from set-pieces. And it was local lad Tom Hamer who was again supplying the ammunition at every opportunity.
The Brewers provided little by way of guile or creativity, nor was that the intention. Dino Maamria’s side know their strengths and while set-pieces were there to contest, they were always in the game.
Former Oldham Athletic winger Davis Keilor-Dunn had one effort blocked by Gethin Jones, curling a second around the post. And while Ricardo Santos and Co coped comfortably with the minimal amount thrown at them in open play, the pressure would build steadily until Wanderers could make their territorial advantage tell.
While Burton were happy to put players behind the ball – Bolton did pick out the right pass on a couple of occasions, getting Kyle Dempsey, Kachunga or Bradley into an advanced position in the penalty box. Wanderers needed to find the right cross but continually came up short.
Frustration wasn’t helped by the fact Burton had slowed play down to a crawl by the half time whistle. Hamer’s long, winding road to each and every throw had the crowd on their feet in condemnation, just as they had been in the previous home game against Barnsley.
Burton had done their homework. And while the end result looks dreadful, it ain’t half effective.
Wanderers had to be braver on the ball, particularly in midfield where Thomason and Dempsey had struggled to make any serious impression on the visitors.
The exasperation continued into the second period, referee Sam Allison occasionally flashing a yellow card to prevent the flagrant timewasting – but doing precious little to stop it altogether.
Wanderers had been bumped out of their stride, exemplified when Afolayan picked up a booking for his protest as another free-kick was stalled.
Bradley continued to be the one player who consistently made things happen. The youngster got in behind Hamer again on the hour, putting in the best ball of the night toward Kachunga – but the striker was on his heels, with Ben Garratt able to make a good save.
Evatt brought on Kieran Sadlier and Kieran Lee for Charles and Thomason but we had little opportunity to see whether that would affect the shape of the team, as the whole stadium drew a collective gasp as Trafford raced off his line to swipe at fresh air in an attempt to clear, falling to the floor and clutching his knee.
With no keeper on the bench, the same conversation was being had among several thousand supporters watching on from the stands. Thankfully, a few minutes of treatment saw the Manchester City man back on his feet.
Almost immediately, Burton found the goal they had threatened. Sam Hughes got ahead of everyone to head Terry Taylor’s cross off the post and into the net, Trafford – hampered by injury or not – pinned to his line.
Evatt reacted again by making a triple substitution, and one replacement, Lee, nearly grabbed an equaliser as he turned well to bring a save out of Garratt.
Desperation levels were at maximum, and for a long time it looked like Bolton had just lost their heads. Then, with a long ball that was as anti-Evatt as they come, salvation arrived.
Trafford, now moving more freely, hammered a ball out of hands towards sub Bakayoko, who waited for the pass to drop across his body before belting a left-footed volley towards Garratt, who failed to get a good enough touch to stop it.
The mood around the UniBol shifted instantly, and Wanderers sensed three points were there to be claimed, more so when the fourth official signalled seven minutes of added time. On seeing the board, Evatt played cheerleader to lift the crowd further. And in the 93rd minute Lee so nearly snatched a winner. Sadlier’s shot had bounced around the Burton box – but when Bodvarsson drove the ball in, Lee produced a backheel which bounced off the inside of the post.
That looked like game over. Some folk headed to the exits to beat the traffic and complain about formations. But they should know better by now. Seconds after Bradley had brought a superb save out of Garratt, teed up well by Sheehan, Bolton kept the pressure on. Another goalmouth scramble, only this time Bodvarsson was there to bury the ball into the back of the net with virtually the last kick of the game.
Seven minutes plus into stoppage time – much of it of Burton’s own making – and another memorable moment in a week of high drama for the Whites.
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Wanderers’ flair for the dramatic continued with a breathless late win against Burton Albion which will live long in the memory.
Seemingly heading for defeat with three minutes to go, Amadou Bakayoko volleyed in an equalising goal that would have spared Ian Evatt’s side the worst of the crowd’s dissatisfaction on a difficult night against the most stubborn opponents imaginable.
But no sooner had Sam Hughes’s goal been wiped out, did Jon Dadi Bodvarsson step forward with a 97th-minute winner to make it two incredible comebacks in two games for a team that just doesn’t know when to quit.
Before a ball had been kicked, Burton joined exalted company in Marseille and Sporting Lisbon as the only teams in existence that remained unbeaten against Wanderers having played them more than once.
They finished the night as the 90th of 91 other clubs in the Football League that had finished off on the losing side against the Whites. Sutton United, your time is up.
Evatt made five changes from the team that clawed a result back at Accrington, bringing Aaron Morley back for his first league start since August 27 and the 2-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle.
Conor Bradley was back after suspension, George Thomason replaced MJ Williams at the base of midfield, Elias Kachunga came in for Bodvarsson up front and Jack Iredale slotted into the left side of the back three, meaning George Johnston failed to start a league game for the first time since February.
Wanderers made a bright start, Bradley seemingly recharged after his mini-break. The Liverpool loanee started off a flowing move just three minutes in which ended with Thomason passing up a chance to shoot and the angles getting the better of Afolayan.
A few moments later a wonderful ball from Bradley found Kachunga inside the box, he pulled the ball back for Afolayan but, again, the shot was just wide of the mark.
Bolton knew all about Burton’s threat from set-pieces. And it was local lad Tom Hamer who was again supplying the ammunition at every opportunity.
The Brewers provided little by way of guile or creativity, nor was that the intention. Dino Maamria’s side know their strengths and while set-pieces were there to contest, they were always in the game.
Former Oldham Athletic winger Davis Keilor-Dunn had one effort blocked by Gethin Jones, curling a second around the post. And while Ricardo Santos and Co coped comfortably with the minimal amount thrown at them in open play, the pressure would build steadily until Wanderers could make their territorial advantage tell.
While Burton were happy to put players behind the ball – Bolton did pick out the right pass on a couple of occasions, getting Kyle Dempsey, Kachunga or Bradley into an advanced position in the penalty box. Wanderers needed to find the right cross but continually came up short.
Frustration wasn’t helped by the fact Burton had slowed play down to a crawl by the half time whistle. Hamer’s long, winding road to each and every throw had the crowd on their feet in condemnation, just as they had been in the previous home game against Barnsley.
Burton had done their homework. And while the end result looks dreadful, it ain’t half effective.
Wanderers had to be braver on the ball, particularly in midfield where Thomason and Dempsey had struggled to make any serious impression on the visitors.
The exasperation continued into the second period, referee Sam Allison occasionally flashing a yellow card to prevent the flagrant timewasting – but doing precious little to stop it altogether.
Wanderers had been bumped out of their stride, exemplified when Afolayan picked up a booking for his protest as another free-kick was stalled.
Bradley continued to be the one player who consistently made things happen. The youngster got in behind Hamer again on the hour, putting in the best ball of the night toward Kachunga – but the striker was on his heels, with Ben Garratt able to make a good save.
Evatt brought on Kieran Sadlier and Kieran Lee for Charles and Thomason but we had little opportunity to see whether that would affect the shape of the team, as the whole stadium drew a collective gasp as Trafford raced off his line to swipe at fresh air in an attempt to clear, falling to the floor and clutching his knee.
With no keeper on the bench, the same conversation was being had among several thousand supporters watching on from the stands. Thankfully, a few minutes of treatment saw the Manchester City man back on his feet.
Almost immediately, Burton found the goal they had threatened. Sam Hughes got ahead of everyone to head Terry Taylor’s cross off the post and into the net, Trafford – hampered by injury or not – pinned to his line.
Evatt reacted again by making a triple substitution, and one replacement, Lee, nearly grabbed an equaliser as he turned well to bring a save out of Garratt.
Desperation levels were at maximum, and for a long time it looked like Bolton had just lost their heads. Then, with a long ball that was as anti-Evatt as they come, salvation arrived.
Trafford, now moving more freely, hammered a ball out of hands towards sub Bakayoko, who waited for the pass to drop across his body before belting a left-footed volley towards Garratt, who failed to get a good enough touch to stop it.
The mood around the UniBol shifted instantly, and Wanderers sensed three points were there to be claimed, more so when the fourth official signalled seven minutes of added time. On seeing the board, Evatt played cheerleader to lift the crowd further. And in the 93rd minute Lee so nearly snatched a winner. Sadlier’s shot had bounced around the Burton box – but when Bodvarsson drove the ball in, Lee produced a backheel which bounced off the inside of the post.
That looked like game over. Some folk headed to the exits to beat the traffic and complain about formations. But they should know better by now. Seconds after Bradley had brought a superb save out of Garratt, teed up well by Sheehan, Bolton kept the pressure on. Another goalmouth scramble, only this time Bodvarsson was there to bury the ball into the back of the net with virtually the last kick of the game.
Seven minutes plus into stoppage time – much of it of Burton’s own making – and another memorable moment in a week of high drama for the Whites.
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