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The thought of heading back to the scene of the Madejski Massacre was giving Andy Lonergan sleepless nights.
Six of Neil Lennon’s line-up on Saturday also started for Dougie Freedman that fateful day in January, when Wanderers were handed their soundest beating in 32 years.
None felt the 7-1 defeat like goalkeeper Lonergan, though, and it was only after leaving the pitch with a third clean sheet in five games he felt happy talking about the effect it had on his form last season.
“I didn't want to come back,” he told The Bolton News. “I was dreading this fixture. But we were disappointed after the game because we should have taken more.
“Looking back now I didn't think it affected me but it did. I felt the ball was doing its best to avoid me that day and it continued for a week or two afterwards.
“It happens though. I watched the goals back the other day and I don't think there was one I could have done anything with.”
Any restless nights in the Lonergan household are now more likely to be caused by the family’s new arrival Grace – although the Whites keeper admits he forced himself to stay awake into the small hours of last Sunday morning to watch a repeat of his miraculous save against Huddersfield Town.
“It must not have been that good because the Football League show didn't show it,” he joked. “I stayed up until about 12.30 to watch it so I don't know how good it was because I didn't see it.”
Lonergan pulled off a few more saves for the scrapbook at Reading, including one particularly impressive effort to tip Glenn Murray’s second-half header over the bar.
But the one which had all the Wanderers fans talking last weekend doesn’t even rank in the 31-year-old’s top two.
“Lee Turner and me work a lot on that,” he said of the sprawling stop to deny Jacob Butterfield at the Macron. “There is no right or wrong way when the ball goes close and you are blocking it. We watch a lot of foreign keepers and they do it differently.
“Luckily for me the ball came off my shoulder. We had worked on it in the week so it was pleasing.
“Of course, I’ve made better saves. The one at Birmingham was better and the one against Forest at home was better when I scooped it out.
“The one at Birmingham was probably my best save because I managed to get a hand to it. But I am just happy to be contributing so they are all as important as each other.”
Lonergan admits Saturday’s result at Reading was the kind of performance Wanderers just wouldn’t have managed at the start of the season.
Improvement since Neil Lennon’s arrival has been recognised by fans but the keeper believes the biggest changes have happened behind the scenes.
“It is chalk and cheese now to what it was,” he said. “Everybody is at it. Lads are nervous in training because you know if you are not on it, the gaffer is going to give you one!
“I throw the ball out, if it nearly gets there or doesn't get there, then you get an ear full. You have got to be 100 per cent with every pass - it's brilliant.
“It's all about belief and that comes with keeping clean sheets and winning games. If you win at home and pick up points away you will go far.”
Wanderers moved up to 17th with their point against the Royals but Lonergan has no target in mind over the Christmas period.
“I have said before you don't want to get ahead of yourself,” he said. “We forget about this game now and start thinking about Ipswich. It will be a tough game but we are ready for it.
“As long as we keep doing what we are doing we will be okay.”
Source
Six of Neil Lennon’s line-up on Saturday also started for Dougie Freedman that fateful day in January, when Wanderers were handed their soundest beating in 32 years.
None felt the 7-1 defeat like goalkeeper Lonergan, though, and it was only after leaving the pitch with a third clean sheet in five games he felt happy talking about the effect it had on his form last season.
“I didn't want to come back,” he told The Bolton News. “I was dreading this fixture. But we were disappointed after the game because we should have taken more.
“Looking back now I didn't think it affected me but it did. I felt the ball was doing its best to avoid me that day and it continued for a week or two afterwards.
“It happens though. I watched the goals back the other day and I don't think there was one I could have done anything with.”
Any restless nights in the Lonergan household are now more likely to be caused by the family’s new arrival Grace – although the Whites keeper admits he forced himself to stay awake into the small hours of last Sunday morning to watch a repeat of his miraculous save against Huddersfield Town.
“It must not have been that good because the Football League show didn't show it,” he joked. “I stayed up until about 12.30 to watch it so I don't know how good it was because I didn't see it.”
Lonergan pulled off a few more saves for the scrapbook at Reading, including one particularly impressive effort to tip Glenn Murray’s second-half header over the bar.
But the one which had all the Wanderers fans talking last weekend doesn’t even rank in the 31-year-old’s top two.
“Lee Turner and me work a lot on that,” he said of the sprawling stop to deny Jacob Butterfield at the Macron. “There is no right or wrong way when the ball goes close and you are blocking it. We watch a lot of foreign keepers and they do it differently.
“Luckily for me the ball came off my shoulder. We had worked on it in the week so it was pleasing.
“Of course, I’ve made better saves. The one at Birmingham was better and the one against Forest at home was better when I scooped it out.
“The one at Birmingham was probably my best save because I managed to get a hand to it. But I am just happy to be contributing so they are all as important as each other.”
Lonergan admits Saturday’s result at Reading was the kind of performance Wanderers just wouldn’t have managed at the start of the season.
Improvement since Neil Lennon’s arrival has been recognised by fans but the keeper believes the biggest changes have happened behind the scenes.
“It is chalk and cheese now to what it was,” he said. “Everybody is at it. Lads are nervous in training because you know if you are not on it, the gaffer is going to give you one!
“I throw the ball out, if it nearly gets there or doesn't get there, then you get an ear full. You have got to be 100 per cent with every pass - it's brilliant.
“It's all about belief and that comes with keeping clean sheets and winning games. If you win at home and pick up points away you will go far.”
Wanderers moved up to 17th with their point against the Royals but Lonergan has no target in mind over the Christmas period.
“I have said before you don't want to get ahead of yourself,” he said. “We forget about this game now and start thinking about Ipswich. It will be a tough game but we are ready for it.
“As long as we keep doing what we are doing we will be okay.”
Source
