Tuesday 14 April 2015

Bolton Wanderers 1 v Charlton Athletic 1

A 1-1 draw at Bolron is normally a reasonable result. Coming three days after a 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday, it probably looks even more respectable but the fact is it's now 3 points from the last 12 as we splutter to a finish.

We fielded an attacking line-up with Watt and Vetokele leading the line and support from Bulot, Buyens, Cousins and Gudmundson. Wiggins was a surprise returnee to left-back so Morgan Fox got a night off and Solly was joined in the back four by Johnson and Diarra. I am left wondering what Ben Haim and Bikey have done wrong? I can see either of them hanging around to play second-fiddle  next season.

Frederik Bulot opened the scoring for us after 9 minutes and it sounded like we were content after that to try and keep possession and make Bolton work for it. That appeared to be a successful approach until the 79th minute when Le Fondre levelled for the home side. A tad predictable and seven minutes after Watt and Vetokele were replaced by Church and Eagles.

The point keeps us just in the top-half, two clear of Cardiff and three in front of Birmingham and Leeds with a better goal difference. Leeds lost at home to Norwich and the wheels look like they have come off since Steve Thompson was dismissed and Neil Refearn visibly angered by the backroom shenanigans. If we can beat Leeds on Saturday we will take a big step towards ensuring a top-half finish. If we fail to beat Leeds, we leave ourselves open to being leap-frogged by Birmingham at St. Andrews the following week.

Elsewhere, lucky Millwall survived a woeful first-half to see Wigan reduced to ten men before Jimmy Abdou netted a 74th minute winner. A further player from each side was dismissed before Millwall wrapped up the points in the 90th minute. They now go four short of Rotherham who look likely to have three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in their recent 1-0 win over Brighton. If that happens, the Lions might find the energy to escape, especially if they can get something in South Wales on Saturday.

Football can be unrelentingly cruel at times. All we need is to see QPR get out of jail and Palace finish in 6th or 7th to really ice the cake.

3 comments:

  1. Davem I think Bikey and THB are carrying the can for the woeful winless run earlier in the season.

    Martin Cowan

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  2. To be fair, I thought that we'd only pick up 1 point out of the 2 games, so a bonus point for me, I just hope that we don't go into perceptual draw mode again.

    As for THEM, I just effing well knew that they'd try to spoil my seasons highpoint of watching them get relegated, I listened to their half time report of how poor they were but I knew that they'd win it. With the 3 points that Rotherham are certain to be deducted and looking at the remaining fixtures of both teams, I would put my money on them to scrape through, they are away to Cardiff this weekend and Cardiff are obviously in a bit of turmoil, talking openly about closing a stand next season, so I can see THEM getting a result there and Rotherham are at home to Norwich, which I can't see them getting anything from, the final day sees Rotherham going to Leeds, a Yorkshire Derbyshire which I'm certain the Leeds supporters will demand to win, giving the strange season they've had, THEY go to Wolves, season could be over for Wolves by then and to think that it was the victory against us that got THEIR ball rolling makes that defeat even more galling.

    PH

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  3. Have faith my friend. Millwall still need two wins minimum and I can't see it. Cardiff won at Leeds last week and I can't see them rilling over. A draw would be a good result for me as it helps our top-half finish and isn't enough for them. They are there for a reason - because they have been shit all season and belong in the third division - their rightful home.

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