Town came from two goals behind to draw in a dramatic Play-off first leg at the Reebok Stadium. Goals from Dean Holdsworth and Einar Gudjohnsson put the Trotters ahead in a first disastrous half an hour for Town. Both Tony Mowbray and David Johnson went off during this period. A brilliant strike late in the first half from Marcus Stewart put Town back in contention before substitute Martijn Reuser put Stewart through one-on-one with the Bolton keeper, who the Town record signing walked round before placing the ball in the corner of the net past the waiting defenders. It all sets up a big night on Wednesday at Portman Road.
Town lined up with Mark Venus returning instead of Wayne Brown, Jamie Clapham continued at left wing-back with Gary Croft on the bench.
Town took the early initiative and David Johnson was unlucky not to score when put through on-on-one with the keeper. Johnson tried to flick the ball past the keeper to his right but his feet put the ball away and Marcus Stewart mis-kicked the rebound.
Bolton went ahead shortly oafterwhen a corner was headed in by Dean Holdsworth. Town were looking shaky at the back and it wasn't long before Bolton went two up. Tony Mowbray was by this time nursing a head injury sustained in a collision with Dean Holdsworth, an injury which saw him leave the field not long later. Wanderers' second goal was a shot from Gudjohansson which crept inside Richard Wright's right hand post. It was a bitter blow for Town and it looked like the play-off hoodoo was to continue.
Then up popped Marcus Stewart who picked up a pass from Martijn Reuser and hit the ball from thirty yards into the top right corner of the Bolton net. Town were back in it and ant the right time. Reuser had only just come on for David Johnson who had injured his neck in a collision with Mark Fish. He is rated as doubtful for Wednesday.
The second half saw Town dominate and get back on terms through Marcus Stewart's second. Bolton missed a good chance early on through Jenson, but in the main it was Town. It was the Wanderers who had the injury problem this half with Gudjohnsson injuring himself in a tustle with Mowbray's replacement Brown.
An exciting game and a superb, spirited fightback from Town against a backdrop of a poor pitch and a poor referee. Men of the day were Stewart, Reuser (who surely must start in Wednesday), Clapham and Magilton. It could be our year after all...