- Jan 7, 2006
- 15,291
On the train home now, feels like a defeat with the result at the end but can't dwell too much on that as we are still unbeaten and still top.
Hughton appeared to be very unhappy on the sidelines in the final stages as March was informed to go up front but didn't and we played like last 15 minutes with no striker on the pitch and just cleared the ball forward straight to the Bolton defence inviting pressure on. For the life of me I can't understand why he didn't bring Elvis on instead of either March or Calderon, at least we would have had someone in the final third who could have held the ball up top for a while, ultimately I think this is the decision that cost us.
First 30 mins or so of the game it was pretty much all Bolton, exploiting the wings and playing good possession football. Madine was a handful for them up front and won the majority of battles in the air. We had a good 10 minute spell after that and credit to Zamora for being the creative one today. Could have been 3 up after 40 mins with Greer's glorious chance with a header from a corner. Bolton got their goal before half-time against the run of play but nothing Stockdale could do to stop it going in to the bottom corner.
Second half we came out on the front foot trying to put the game to bed and find the third, we had a few chances but couldn't just find that final touch. Ince coming on after 60 mins was so predictable and took the attacking intent right out of us and then Botlon began to boss the game.
Murphy's red card at the time looked like the right decision by the referee - whom I may add was very poor and certainly favoured the home team - as it appeared he went in with both feet. Pretty much every one around us agreed it was a straight red however reading through Twitter it appears it may have been the wrong decision. After that we played with no one up top, much to Hughton's dismay and you could see him on the sidelines shouting to both Calde and March to push further forward but neither player did. After that you could sense the equaliser was coming as we were just inviting so much pressure on to us. I fully expect Hughton gave the team a good earful in the dressing room after the final whistle.
Disappointed but still happy at the end of the day as we are still top. On to Cardiff next week and hopefully we can put our October hoodoo to bed, hopefully Leeds can do us a favour tomorrow.
Credit to Botlon, they played a good game today and on that performance they should do fine this season.
Hughton appeared to be very unhappy on the sidelines in the final stages as March was informed to go up front but didn't and we played like last 15 minutes with no striker on the pitch and just cleared the ball forward straight to the Bolton defence inviting pressure on. For the life of me I can't understand why he didn't bring Elvis on instead of either March or Calderon, at least we would have had someone in the final third who could have held the ball up top for a while, ultimately I think this is the decision that cost us.
First 30 mins or so of the game it was pretty much all Bolton, exploiting the wings and playing good possession football. Madine was a handful for them up front and won the majority of battles in the air. We had a good 10 minute spell after that and credit to Zamora for being the creative one today. Could have been 3 up after 40 mins with Greer's glorious chance with a header from a corner. Bolton got their goal before half-time against the run of play but nothing Stockdale could do to stop it going in to the bottom corner.
Second half we came out on the front foot trying to put the game to bed and find the third, we had a few chances but couldn't just find that final touch. Ince coming on after 60 mins was so predictable and took the attacking intent right out of us and then Botlon began to boss the game.
Murphy's red card at the time looked like the right decision by the referee - whom I may add was very poor and certainly favoured the home team - as it appeared he went in with both feet. Pretty much every one around us agreed it was a straight red however reading through Twitter it appears it may have been the wrong decision. After that we played with no one up top, much to Hughton's dismay and you could see him on the sidelines shouting to both Calde and March to push further forward but neither player did. After that you could sense the equaliser was coming as we were just inviting so much pressure on to us. I fully expect Hughton gave the team a good earful in the dressing room after the final whistle.
Disappointed but still happy at the end of the day as we are still top. On to Cardiff next week and hopefully we can put our October hoodoo to bed, hopefully Leeds can do us a favour tomorrow.
Credit to Botlon, they played a good game today and on that performance they should do fine this season.