Well after arriving at the ground with 1 minute to kick off thanks to a disrupted train service, things did not auger well. However a bright start to the game in swirling wind. Playing a 4-3-3 signalled a welcome intent but the bright opening seemed to fade after Cole Skuse suffered a nasty looking whack from Berra and needed to be replaced by Wordworth. The rest of the first half seemed to just frustrate with little of note except and absolute thunderbolt of a shot from Aaron Cresswell which was tipped over for a corner. The second half saw us attacking the North stand end and with a bit of the early intent back. The penalty was earned by persistence and some poor defending by Bolton but up stepped McGoldrick to smack it in.

Overall it was a workmanlike performance, the midfield 3 seemed to lack something but Wordsworth had some decent touches, although he himself was substituted towards the end. McGoldrick looks a class apart, time on the ball and great touch, and Murphy and Nouble worked hard, chasing lost causes. Berra had a bit of a nightmare first half but improved after the break.

On balance a just about deserved 3 points, but perhaps a team better than Bolton may have taken advantage. I still think we rely too much on McGoldrick to deliver

3

Not the most exciting way to spend a freezing saturday but 3 points is what counts.Plus points for me were Mcgo ldrick as usual was a class apart but is having to do too much for everybody.Murphy makes a big difference for me when he is up front and Berra is solid.Minus point for me is Wordsworth who i was excited about when he signed but for a guy who has been thrown a lifeline just doesn't look interested enough ( i was told by a colchester fan that he was lazy ).Lets hope we can keep up the pressure on Reading

0

Terrible performance in the first half, Bolton probably can count themselves unlucky not to go in ahead, two good chances one well saved by Gerks.

We improved a bit in the second half, fortunate to get the Pen, poor defending by Bolton. After that you could see they were a team low on confidence and they became even worse than us and never threatened an equaliser, though we also did not create one clear cut chance all game.

Almost zero entertainment. Well done to the SBR stand for creating a good atmosphere in the second half. I do fear with the negative football we are being served up our attendances will not grow anytime soon.

1

The departure of Ryan Tunnicliffe clearly gave the Town boss a conundrum, an already thin midfield four became a central trio of Tabb, Hunt and Skuse pitched against Bolton’s five in the middle. If it hadn't have been for the ex Manchester United midfielder Town could now well be nursing a bruised ego bogged down in mid table, the first forty minutes was less than desirable for Town, even to the eyes of the neutral it was easy to say that Bolton made more of the lion share.

The visitors had a handful of clear goal scoring opportunities before the break, Gerken yet again showed why he remains the blues no.1. Town were very fortunate to be goalless at half time and if the loss of one central midfielder was hard enough to bear then it got worse when Skuse took a bad knock to the head and had to be replaced with Wordsworth after half an hour.

Town now clutching at straws after having lost their stalwart form had to make do with little Jay Tabb, utilized as a wide player of late gave a dogged defensive display was the stand out performer in the makeshift midfield.

Once again the 2nd period was town's strongest although they had to wait until the 55th minute when the referee awarded a penalty from what looked like a dubious challenge from the Bolton keeper. The decision looked harsh; McGoldrick was quick to pounce on a loose ball just after the Bolton keeper tried to force a corner. The blues top marksman was presented with his third spot kick and an opportunity to make up for two failed efforts, the net virtually exploded as McGoldrick claimed his 15th goal of the season.

The penalty outcome determined the result of the match which was welcoming because too often this season Ipswich have taken an early lead then failed to kill off their opposition and ended up conceding a soft equalizer.

The stand out performers were Tabb for his dogged midfield display and Berra for being instrumental at the heart of Town’s defence ensuring a 7th clean sheet, on another day Town would have ended up the losing team but fortunately they faced a Bolton side badly lacking in organisation and togetherness.

-1

Dour game, but a welcome 3 points. Losing Scuse so early in the match meant Town were without the three first choice centre midfielders used this year and it showed against a very poor Bolton side. Tabb and Hunt normally associated with wider rolls along with a couple of excellent saves by Gergin and a dubious penalty well dispatched by McGoldrick helped us to gain the spoils.

-1

A poor game to watch in very cold conditions.

Gerkin played well, McGoldrick was busy, Smith solid and Hunt all action... aside from that, I felt most of our players looked average.

Berra went from hero to embarrassed in one week where, during the first half, he failed to win pretty much any header against Jutkiewicz. Fortunately Bolton apparently failed to realise this and barely used Jutkiewicz in the 2nd half.

Hunt impressed me with his all action style, clearly annoying to the oppo, and one of the only 2 likely players to spark a chance (with McGoldrick)

Loved seeing Wordsworth coming on, but he didn't seem helped by the fact our midfield was numerically over-run by Bolton. Tabb looked like a boy against men in the first half (visually and metaphorically), fortunately he buzzed around a little more in the 2nd, although with minimal invention.

And that was pretty much the game... a small amount of chances (a couple well saved by Gerkin), a pretty un-entertaining performance. Dismally cold. Tat said, if we had of drawn or lost, I'd be moaning like hell, but as we got the 3 points it all became worth it!

1