Bolton 1-1 Town
Saturday, 26th Oct 2013 17:03 David McGoldrick netted his first away goal for Town to see his side to a 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers. After a first half in which Ryan Tunnicliffe should have put the Blues in front, Medo Kamara opened the scoring for the home side with a freekick in the 65th minute with McGoldrick equalising with a left-foot strike eight minutes later.
Town boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side for the sixth game running with Dean Gerken and Daryl Murphy both fine to start despite having suffered with a dead leg and a groin strain respectively.
The Blues boss also named the same bench as last week with Anthony Wordsworth, Frederic Veseli and Jordan Adekunle also travelling, while ex-Blue Arran Lee-Barrett was amongst the home side’s subs.
Tommy Smith cleared an early cross from the right by Neil Danns, albeit not overly convincingly with the home side presenting the greater threat in the opening stages.
On six Jermaine Beckford hooked the ball over Gerken from just inside the area but too high to drop under the bar, then Matt Mills claimed a penalty after he and Christophe Berra clashed as a corner came over from the left but referee David Webb waved away the protests.
Town’s first opportunity came in the 12th minute. After Daryl Murphy had chipped a cross into Bolton keeper Andy Lonergan’s arms, the keeper gifted possession to Cole Skuse midway inside the Trotters’ half and the former Bristol City man sent a chip only just over the bar.
The Blues threatened again on the quarter hour when Paul Anderson latched on to McGoldrick’s flick but the midfielder’s shot was straight at Lonergan, who was a Town target during Jim Magilton’s time in charge at Portman Road.
A minute later Danns crossed from very wide on the right to Chung-Yong Lee at the far post but the South Korean headed into Gerken’s arms.
The Blues should have been in front in the 19th minute when Murphy crossed from the right beyond Luke Hyam but perfectly for the Ryan Tunnicliffe as he broke into the box. The on-loan Manchester United man seemed certain to score but slammed the ball against Lonergan as the keeper spread himself.
Berra did well to get in ahead of Beckford on 25 with both sides, then three minutes later David Ngog crossed low from the left, Hyam failed to clear and Beckford hit a shot on the turn only just wide.
Tunnicliffe’s 32nd minute strike was blocked with the Blues beginning to get on top, keeping the ball on the left for a long spell.
The action quickly moved back to the other end, however, with Mills finding Alex Baptiste in a dangerous position on the left with a clever pass, but Berra cut out his low cross.
As the half moved into its final five minutes McGoldrick’s low ball was too far ahead of Anderson, but the midfielder turned and sent a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box, from where Lonergan and Mills got in one another’s way ahead of Murphy and just about prevented the Blues striker from reaching the ball.
With two minutes left on the clock, Berra stuck in a toe to dispossess Beckford with the striker having found himself space just outside the six-yard box. Soon after, Hyam shot wide from 25 yards at the other end.
Boss McCarthy will have been pleased with his team’s first half display and will probably have been a little disappointed that they hadn’t gone in ahead with Tunnicliffe, who really should have scored, and Anderson having had the half’s best chances.
The home side made the early second half running, Mills heading a Lee corner from the left across the face of goal and wide with the home fans expecting the net to ripple. Moments later, Ngog half-volleyed wide after running on to a ball over the top.
McGoldrick scraped a shot wide on 56 on what was a rare Blues second-half foray forward, then two minutes later Gerken tipped over Lee’s shot from the edge of the area after he had cut in following a corner.
Murphy got behind Mills as the game moved towards the hour mark and squeezed between the ex-Leicester man and his central defensive partner Tim Ream before hitting a shot which deflected off the American and wide. From the resulting corner, Kamara nodded Smith’s downward but goal-bound header over the bar.
Christophe Berra picked up the first booking of the match in the 64th minute for tripping Beckford as the striker burst past him on the edge of the box and from the resultant freekick Wanderers went in front. Kamara curled a low shot round the wall to Gerken’s left, the keeper got a hand to it but he could only palm the ball into the net.
Smith made an important challenge on Ngog after the former Liverpool man had been sent away on goal in the 71st minute, Gerken claiming the loose ball.
The Bolton lead only lasted until the 73rd minute when McGoldrick finally broke his away duck for the Blues. The striker first smashed a right-foot shot against a defender, then when the ball looped back to him hit a left-foot strike which beat Lonergan down to his left. Although his first away goal for Town, it was the Town top scorer’s sixth goal of the campaign.
Jay Tabb and Frank Nouble replaced Hyam and Murphy for the final 15 minutes, Tunnicliffe moving into the middle of midfield, while Chris Eagles took over from Ngog for the Trotters.
Bolton sub Eagles shot straight at Gerken having been found on the right soon after coming on and will feel he ought to have done better.
McGoldrick was unfortunate to see the lively Nouble's cross from the right too late and the ball hit his shin and bounced through to the keeper.
As the game moved into its final 10 minutes, the Town scorer tried his luck again but failed to test Lonergan, then at the other end Beckford headed Eagles’s chipped cross from the right wide.
Baptiste was booked for pulling back Anderson as the game moved into its final four minutes with the momentum briefly moving back towards the Blues.
Late on, one-time Colchester midfielder Danns shot over before the referee’s whistle signalled that both sides would have to settle for a point.
Mick McCarthy is likely to be the manager who is happier with the draw with Dougie Freedman’s side, who were booed by their fans at the end, still without a home win this season.
While the Blues probably should have been ahead at the break, Wanderers were on top when their goal came but Town reacted well to going behind and in the end a draw was probably a fair result.
McCarthy has said on a number of occasions that he’s more than satisfied with single points picked up on the road as long as his team are winning at home with strugglers Barnsley at Portman Road on Friday for a live Sky game.
Bolton: Lonergan, Baptiste, Mills, Ream, McNaughton, Medo, Spearing, Danns, Lee (Hall 80), Ngog (Eagles 75), Beckford. Subs: Lee-Barrett, Knight, Pratley, Moritz, C Davies.
Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Skuse, Hyam (Tabb 75), Anderson (Edwards 89), Tunnicliffe, Murphy (Nouble 75), McGoldrick. Subs: Loach, Hewitt, Mings, Marriott. Referee: David Webb (Lancashire). Att: 15,222.
Photo: Action Images
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Bluetone added 18:17 - Oct 26
Just a shame we haven't got a young player who "has the happy knack of putting the ball in the net"
Oh we have - shame the manager has other more important things on his mind.
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therein61 added 18:38 - Oct 26
On my way back to Bath(what a flippin trip!!) after seeing what I have this afternoon although we have gained a point we could and would have folded and lost before MM came in so that to me is a positive the negative is that we seem to be in the frame of mind we have a point at kick off keep it!!!! away from home that is, we looked better with Tunnicliffe in the middle(Hyam looks like a game or two's rest would not be a bad thing)and movement was more creative but for all that we didn't look dangerous causing Bolton many problems we seem to lack what a certain Eric Gates used to do with great effect ie: drop back and link up play(perhaps Paul Taylor is the answer?) any way that's me done I know you will all mark me down as usual(makes me smile!) at least i'm one of the true supporters who go to games and not lay on my couch carping off!!! |  | |
runaround added 18:50 - Oct 26
Another winnable away game which we have not won. Yes it's fine to draw away if we win at home yet we will not win every home game & have lost 2 of those already. I could understand us playing for a point away against the top sides but our last 5 away games gave been against teams who had about 1 home win between them at time of playing yet we have not really tried to push home the advantage. I just think if you play for a point that's the best you can hope for yet trying to win is the, for me, the way to go. 1 win is worth 3 draws points wise & although you may lose the odd more match the points tally would be better.
I just would prefer us to go for it a bit more, not too much to ask is it? |  | |
michael99 added 19:29 - Oct 26
please can we support our team instead of being so negative all the time,look at the table and apart from the top3 who are flying(it wont last all season)we are looking ok only a few points off the top 6 and also our goals for are up there with the best so we cant be as negative and as boring as people keep saying can we? at least keep quiet until after christmas or do people expect us to be 10pts clear at the top?after all we were lucky not to be relegated last season | | |
michael99 added 19:33 - Oct 26
also,another point,look who were in the relegation zone with us last season barnsley and sheff wed they havent improved at all,but we most certainly are now going in the right direction | | |
ShropshireBluenago09 added 19:34 - Oct 26
Didnt go but a Bolton mate went and said both teams were cr*p - doesnt bode well. sound like we ned a plan b sometimes, especially away from home. |  | |
JWM added 20:59 - Oct 26
Moan! Moan! Moan! Moan! Moan!
Some of you need a serious reality check! This time last year we were rock bottom and staring at relegation. A year on we are a stable mid table team with only one loan player in the team and the prospect of some good young kids coming through. Oh but I forgit we should be in the top 4 by now! Good grief just grow up its embarassing having to read some of this negative carp every time I log onto this site. | | |
Kirbmeister added 21:05 - Oct 26
I see most of the comments are still negative. What do you expect. MM took over relegation fodder less than a year ago and now we are a settled mid table side. Its next season we should be looking toward the play offs. For gods sake - some of you are just ignorant but if you think we should be riding high then call for the head of MM!! Perhaps you would rather we did a Crystal Palace miracle promotion. | | |
blueboy1981 added 21:54 - Oct 26
JWM - DON'T BOTHER THEN. | | |
JWM added 22:18 - Oct 26
With Tw@ts like you on here blueboy perhaps I wont! | | |
MickMillsTash added 23:03 - Oct 26
Poor performance, good point
Few positives in the game- poor passing, little creation or confidence on the ball. we were lucky
Berra good, Noubile when he came on made a difference- good
Cresswell played like he had a hang over, Chambers is no right back, Hyam ponderous I think he needs a break.
We would though definitely have lost this under Jewell
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Walk_the_Wark added 23:09 - Oct 26
Good. Finally it is dawning on the majority that Mick will get us nowhere. Meeting is on Monday. See ya Mick- thanks for keeping us up, and best of luck | | |
BlueMachines added 23:14 - Oct 26
Where was our Champions League style play today?? | | |
chepstowblue added 23:45 - Oct 26
After a shocking journey i arrived at half time and witnessed a very poor 45minutes of football but a reasonable result against a team who will get better. A lot more long ball stuff on show which was disappointing. We do have flair and creativity but unfortunately it is currently on loan at Peterboro ! | | |
spanishblue added 09:00 - Oct 27
Irishtim how right you are no money to buy those flair players who knows what's going on in the background come Xmas we,ll be soaring passing them budgies on the way | | |
cornishblu added 09:17 - Oct 27
...always funny to read these posts....the "never mind great point" posters clearly didn't go to the match, the disappointed frustrated supporters have an objective view, and would seem that some went, absolute negative posters clearly never go to a football game so should ideally be ignored.....bottom line this performance wasn't good enough against Bolton....if we have serious expectations of improvement we need to beat these teams when they are down....can't understand a post that says when Bolton rise up the table then we will look back and think this was a good point....they are fourth from bottom now and we should have beaten them at this point....Sheffield Wednesday...a poor side...we should have beaten them, derby are improving but we were 4-1 up we should have beaten them.....630 mile round trip from Cornwall (would love to live in bath for that shorter trip!!)....and the team were poor.....absolutely agree with the post that we lack different options from the bench...although pleased that both tabb and nouble made impacts when they came on. We enjoy watching town but also have the right to say not good enough when it isn't......for all those others join us on the next away trip and then post actual experiences rather than briefly interrupt X factor viewing and write dross...COYB | | |
bluemikey100 added 10:10 - Oct 27
i see we only team in championship to see a penalty awarded for us or against hope we get a few for us to get few more wins
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ChrisFelix added 10:19 - Oct 27
The difference between current mid table & the top 6 is winning away games. We need a striker to support Mcgoldrick & midfielders who can actually get into the opponents box.
Hoping that the return of Taylor & playing Tunnicliffe in the centre will do the trick | | |
blue_moon09 added 11:10 - Oct 27
Moaners are out in force again, how many of you actually go to games 1 or 2 maybe? I was there yesterday and were are 3 players short of taking up the table.
A reality check is needed Town were bottom this time last year we are doing ok now! stop moaning go and support the team, in MM we have a quality manager be careful what you wish you mugs. | | |
TimmyH added 11:30 - Oct 27
It beggars belief that a few people on this forum can't see we have slipped somewhat backwards this season, last season we would have been in 6th place under Mick when he started, probably after the full Championship fixtures have been completed this weekend we will probably be 14th. We show a lack of creativity, do not show the same defensive qualities of last season under Mick and have this strange mentality that a point away from home is 'good' whoever we play. Pretty certain we will end up middle of the pack come May. |  | |
blueboy1981 added 13:22 - Oct 27
JWN - quick with the insult I notice - very clever man !!! - I DON'T THINK.
Go and do whatever if that's all you can post. | | |
blueboy1981 added 13:27 - Oct 27
...... I notice that all the sad, easily satisfied posters, are ALL too quick to be insulting, if anyone posts anything that remotely indicates not being satisfied with mediocrity. VERY SAD PEOPLE.
Maybe that sums the Club up of today. | | |
essextractorboy93 added 13:52 - Oct 27
Despite not playing that great I think a draw was probably a fair result, although we shaded it generally because of our first half performance. Mick has certainly made us solid and hard to beat which is important in this division, we just need to be a bit more clinical up front, we can't rely on McGoldrick all the time to score the goals. Nouble actually looked decent when he came on but he isn't a Championship striker in my opinion. But it's another point on the board away from home, onto Friday and hopefully 3 points. COYB!! |  | |
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