HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums.

"Pessimism is so last year, so last manager", "All in all, it's such a pleasure to watch us after the last two years", "I have got my interest back big style", "As a team, we're definitely improving", "Ten points out of a possible 12 in November", "I wouldn't say I'm happy, but I'm content."

Wanderers come into Saturday's game unbeaten in five matches, having secured home wins [over Huddersfield, Wigan and Cardiff] and away draws [at Reading last week and at Blackpool] under new manager Neil Lennon, the former Celtic boss having arrived at the Macron Stadium in mid-October.

Trotters are quick to accept that their team is a work-in-progress after a disastrous start to the campaign under previous boss Dougie Freedman. "We have got a very unbalanced side and every matchday squad looks a bit makeshift on paper, but we're chugging along very nicely."

"Lennon has a 100 per cent record at home — four wins, 10 goals and two conceded", "I'll settle for recovery this season, but I expect us to follow on from that next season by hitting the ground running", "I have got a much better feeling about it all. As a matter of fact I'm quite delighted."

Neil Lennon

"Lennon has been a revelation since he arrived", "He's having an incredible effect not only on results but on the whole mood and feel of the club. Fans are positive again. Even though the table doesn't look great, people are looking at the gap to sixth and believing that it can be bridged."

Wanderers have climbed out of the relegation places to 17th place in the nine games they have played under their new manager. Lennon is instilling confidence in the squad, getting them to play a passing game with an emphasis on pressing and playing the ball on the ground.

"We pass the ball so well under Lennon. It makes all the difference", "I have been really impressed in the last few games by our fitness levels and our desire to hassle the opposition. We don't let them push us back into defending our own box", "Every player is performing consistently well under him."

"I'm not complaining. I like the positive attitude. We need some quality in the transfer window, but so far Lennon has got it bob on." His honesty is also appreciated. "It's great that he is so rarely satisfied. He speaks honest common-sense", "He calls it like it is and doesn't try and mask anything."

Reading 0 — 0 Bolton

"That's it - a good point away from home. I thought we did very well", "I'm very happy with that", "An away point and up two places so I can't complain. We can be happier with a point away now that we know how to win at home", "A point at Reading isn't to be sneezed at."

Trotters were content with last week's result but felt the game lacked quality. "A poor game between two sides a very long way from play-off standard", "We needed to pick up the tempo", "We didn't look like scoring. We had some decent approach play but no cutting edge up front."

Concerns were voiced about their defending of crosses and set-pieces. "We need to defend corners better. We have been lucky not to concede on a couple towards the end of the first half", "Reading looked dangerous at set-pieces and some of our defending was alarming."

Bolton 1 — 0 Huddersfield

"Game over — three points gained and a great performance. There is great strength and confidence in the lads now. Brilliant", "It was not the prettiest to watch but a win's a win." The manner of Wanderers' win over a good Terriers team two weeks ago was as well-received as the result.

"I was impressed at the quick short passing", "We looked so much better when we passed the ball quickly and moved", "We had to be patient today as it was an even game, but we deserved the win in the end. Moving on up", "There is no way would we have got that result with Freedman."

"Everyone seems more committed all round." Trotters were happy with the fluency of the pass-and-move football they played. They were also quick to praise their work in closing the Terriers down, something which contributed to their match-winning goal.

Their full-backs were caught on the break several times by Terriers' wingers. "We were very fortunate to keep a clean sheet today. Huddersfield wasted four really excellent chances", "We gave them chances on the break when we were chasing the game and losing possession."

Formation

Bolton have been playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Lennon prioritising stability at the back by using two screening midfielders. They have only conceded seven goals in their nine games under the new manager.

"Our ball retention, passing and movement was excellent. We still lack pace and creativity up front, but we are trying to play good football and it is very good to watch", "We are capable but not penetrative, decent but not deadly", "As well as the idea, the execution is often sloppy."

Bolton have dominated possession in recent games, but struggled to hurt opponents since their most creative central midfielder Mark Davies picked up a knee injury in late November, ruling him out for four months. "We need some fresh ideas at the sharp end."

Defence

"I like our defence under Lennon. I think we look pretty secure at the back", "Our defenders look like they can defend", "Without a functioning defence we would be going nowhere", "A clean sheet again — it just goes to show what can happen if you keep a settled side."

"It's noticeable that the keeper is rolling it out short to the defenders and they look reasonably unflustered on the ball most of the time", "There is an absence of long punts from our centre-backs", "It's good to see defenders working the ball out instead of clogging it."

"We could have conceded six from crosses into the box which Reading players won", "I don't want to see us look vulnerable every time the ball comes into the box. We have three centre-backs in the back four. I expect us not to be as dominated as we clearly were."

"Neil Lennon went on to the pitch and straight over to Andy Lonergan at full-time", "What a save — I'll say it again, what a save. He made himself massive." The 31-year-old ex-Leeds and Preston keeper was widely praised for a superb stop from a Terriers counter. "Take a bow, son. It was a match-winning save."

Wanderers have few concerns over their keeper and are quick to praise his reflexes. "Lonergan has played well and is in fine form since Lennon came in", "He has shown consistently high performance levels. The team has faith in him", "He was truly epic and imperious in his shot-stopping."

"I was impressed generally with Josh Vela. He seems to read things very well defensively and cut out the danger. He'll get better with more experience in that position", "He gets caught out of position, which is understandable considering he is not a right-back."

The 20-year-old youth product is more used to playing in a more advanced role on the right flank. "Some of his surging runs and overlap play with Liam Feeney are quite exciting. It makes me wonder how good he could be if he was given a crack in his normal position."

There has been little said about the Trotters first-choice centre-backs, Matt Mills and ex-Charlton man Dorian Dervite. "Mills and Dervite had everything covered against Huddersfield and look to be building a really good understanding together", "They are forming a pretty decent partnership."

Mills was handed the captain's armband, and the 28-year-old former Leicester man "looks two or three times the player I have seen before. Having the armband seems to have helped bring that on recently as well", "He was guilty of dawdling for one of Lonergan's saves against Huddersfield."

Tim Ream

"Reamo is the most composed man on the pitch." The 27-year-old USA international and former New York Red Bulls man "is an inspiration right now and there's a much better feel about it all", "I hope his calmness spreads it's way amongst the defence."

Normally a centre-back, Ream has regularly started at left-back under Lennon. "He's a classy and confident player and does really well putting himself around for the ball", "His passing is superb. He'd be amazing in that holding role, starting attacks from deep and protecting the defence."

"He is prone to the odd mistake", "He over hit a simple five-yard pass to Feeney. The move broke down and Reading were in our half seconds later, exploiting the space where Ream wasn't", "That example sounds a bit like Huddersfield's big chance last week."

Central Midfield

"Some of our tackling and ball-winning is less than classy but the effort is still there", "Our next big problem is choosing which pass to make. We are now dominating possession and we look more solid, but lack a cutting edge", "Our midfield misses Mark Davies, but is working well as a unit."

"We moved and passed the ball very well against Huddersfield but we chose to pass it wide several times when the defence splitting pass was on", "The whole midfield needs to use the final ball better when we are in the final third", "We have to make more chances as well as finishing them."

"Neil Danns and Darren Pratley in front of the back four provide a really solid platform for the front four to go and perform, which they are failing to do", "They are doing well covering the defence, making good tackles and interceptions in midfield."

Former Leicester, Palace and Colchester man Neil Danns "looks to move forward as soon as he is given the ball. Spearing and Pratley tend to play the ball back, which slows us down and allows opponents to cover back." The 32-year-old "really puts in a shift", "He's full of effort and no small skill on the ball."

Danns struggled when on the ball against Reading. "He was guilty of some poor distribution today", "His final third deliveries were shocking", "He was a bit mixed [against Huddersfield] losing the ball as much as he gained it."

"Another manager trying to fit Darren Pratley in somewhere, knowing he's got something but not quite sure what it is." The 29-year-old former Swansea player "is trustworthy in possession and doesn't give away many fouls", "He's a stable influence in the middle of the park."

Pratley's work with the ball has been criticised. "I just feel he's limited in what he does. He neither creates nor scores. He has poor ball control and fails to make the early pass when he should", "His tracking to win the ball back is commendable, but his passing is not quite so impressive."

"Jay Spearing has to go. He spends all his time telling everyone where to go but does nothing himself. The Blackpool goal was his fault." The 26-year-old ex-Liverpool player was heavily criticised for an unnecessary foul which led to the Seasiders' opening goal two weeks ago.

"I think we have looked much better without Spearing. I thought he was having a bad run, but he might just be a poor player", "He's suffering from a dip in form but he'll be back", "It depends who we come up against. Spearing can do the bullying work much better than other midfielders."

Chung Yong Lee

"Teams are catching on to the fact that we play everything through CYL. He seems to be man-marked all game with a second player coming in at times", "He didn't have a bad game against Reading but made the wrong choices too often given that most of the play went through him."

The 26-year-old South Korea international has played in the central playmaker's role since the injury to Mark Davies. "The way Huddersfield held us on the 18-yard line was nothing short of expert. It was always going to take a piece of genius to spring it and Chungy provided it."

"CYL needs others to be aware of him. He's holding the ball up so give him options." His work off the ball in such an advanced role is appreciated. "He is a constant thorn in opponents' side", "He's one of the best tacklers in the side", "He's playing more like a utility player, all around the pitch."

Wide Midfield

Wanderers' threat from the flanks is in development. There is a regular pattern of comment highlighting missed runs, ineffective crosses and miscommunication in their build-up play, but the sense is that this is being addressed. "Please hit it to a full-back when they join you on the wing."

"Liam Feeney and Max Clayton have the speed to get behind a defence. Any through ball or chip into the penalty-box will be dangerous if they make lots of those runs", "After the break they have changed positions more than before." The pair has switched flanks regularly in recent games.

"Max Clayton has shown some class at times and looks like he can grow into a real player for us." The 20-year-old former Crewe player "needs to get more involved in games. He's obviously a decent footballer. He's composed and gives us balance when on the left but he needs to be more creative."

"Young Clayton needs to involve himself and be available more often", "Perhaps he lacks a bit of bottle but time will tell", "He was tidy but quiet when on the left wing, but he has started to link up well with Josh Vela when on the right", "Given time, he'll be a good 'un."

Liam Feeney

"Liam Feeney made some excellent runs to get in behind the Huddersfield defence. He needs to do this more and the player on the ball needs to be aware of his movement", "His problem is often his delivery of too many 'hopeful' crosses. That said he found his man for the Huddersfield goal."

The 27-year-old ex-Millwall man "makes pacey runs up the right and gets in some decent challenges on his full-back, but gets bullied off the ball and is quite weak when on it", "He doesn't use his pace effectively and sometimes had the footballing brain of a five-year-old."

Feeney has been noticeably quieter when operating on the left flank. "Putting him on his weaker left foot means he loses fluency, fatally hesitating and losing the ground his pace has gained", "He doesn't cross as well on the left flank and missed a free man in the box on a number of occasions."

Strikers

"We are capable but not cutting, organised without being threatening", "We just need to find some purpose and teeth in the final third", "We had an ex-manager who loved signing central midfielders by the dozen and couldn't see the point in strikers."

"To make 'competent' into 'good', we need a scorer, someone who can do something a bit different in the middle", "We still need that striker that can put the ball on target when it's most important. We don't make many clear-cut chances, so a finisher would make us far more dangerous."

Youth product Conor Wilkinson made his debut during the second half at Reading. The 19-year-old "did his chances no harm", "We came alive after he came on", "He certainly needs more match fitness. He was nearly on his knees 15 minutes after coming on", "A prospect but not ready yet."

"Craig Davies is toiling manfully." The 28-year-old ex-Barnsley striker "works hard but has no pace", "His lack of pace allowed Reading to play a high line and compress our creative midfielders", "He charges around somewhere near the ball", "He's the striker with everything in his pocket but goals."

Many Trotters would like to see Cardiff loan signing Joe Mason start, given the paucity of options. "He has shown he can score goals at this level, so I'd play him. Wilkinson and Eidur can both offer something different off the bench. I feel that Mason is a lad who has to play his way into a game."

The 23-year-old "has shown an understanding with Chung when played together", "Mason's movement would probably be a bigger threat to the Ipswich defence than just playing a long ball up to a striker which will almost certainly playing to Ipswich's strengths. "

Come On Eidur

"The Iceman returns", "Get in there and give us our pride back!", "This is fantastic, excellent news!", "Once he gets up to speed, he'll be a real asset. The reaction Eidur Gudjohnsen gets when he comes on at the Macron will be brilliant. Lennon has certainly brought the feel-good factor back."

The 36-year-old Iceland international and former Chelsea and Barcelona striker has been signed as a free agent until the end of the season. He played his last game for the Trotters in 2000, scoring in the 2-2 first leg play-off draw in Bolton against us, missing the memorable second leg through injury.

Then-Blues boss George Burley tried to sign him that summer but a fee couldn't be agreed and he eventually moved to Chelsea.

"Does anyone remember Eidur's goal against Ipswich in the play-offs in the last season he was with us? I would be a nice game for him to score in next week", "It's pretty funny that his first game back will most likely be against them. Hopefully he can banish a few demons."

Trotters are not sure whether he will play as a frontman or behind the striker. "He'll be a yard or so slower, but he'll open up defences in this league regularly as he is such a clever thinking player", "Pace was never his strong suit. If he still has his touch and his eye for a killer pass we'll be laughing."

Some fans are underwhelmed. "This is more about flogging half-season tickets and shirts that about moving the team on to another level", "He won't be poor, but he won't be the player we signed 73 years ago", "I'm yet to be convinced", "We have to trust Lennon's judgement on this one."

Trotters' Views on ITFC, the Game and that Play-Off

"This will be a real test of how far we have come under Lennon. We've played bottom half clubs and by and large come out of these well. We've risen from the bottom to be relatively safe for now. If we are to make the strides we want up the league we have to now beat the teams above us."

"I can see us scoring but also conceding." Prediction polls have 54% of Trotters forecasting a home win and 7% going for an Ipswich victory. As with Leeds last week, a low proportion (22%) expects the hosts to keep a clean sheet with a 2-1 home win and 1-1 draw the most popular predicted scores.

Their optimists are relying on their home record, solid defence and the return of Eidur Gudjohnsen. "Home advantage and all that, so let's say a 1-0 win", "I'll go for a very tight 1-0 home win as well", "Come on Lennon, take the bull by the horns with this one and go at them."

"This is our toughest task yet. I'll be happy with a point and I think we'll get it", "I'm going for an entertaining 2-2. Our defence will come under more pressure than we have before but Ipswich will come to win which will lead to our strikers having more chances."

Not everyone is optimistic. "This one is a reality check", "I'm not looking forward to next week. Ipswich will hammer us if they turn up", "We'll get dicked. They're the first decent team we've played since Neil took over", "It'll be a tough game. They're flying and McCarthy knows how to win."

There is much praise for our manager. "I see big Mick has got them flying after they were all but doomed when he took over. Imagine if we had taken a chance with the squad we had then", "I bet all those idiots who didn't want Mick McCarthy when Coyle got the push are feeling a bit stupid."

"Ipswich are better than the others Lennon has come up against. We'll lose 1-4 - sorry for the negativity but that's what I feel", "McGoldrick is a good striker. I can see him causing the Whites problems given half chances", "I have a feeling that Daryl Murphy will be a bit of a handful for us."

"Ipswich are unbeaten in seven in the league, with five wins and two draws. They're one of the best defensive units in the division, so breaking them down will be tough and we'll have to watch them on the counter. A 1-2 defeat sounds about right. They have a bit more quality than us at this stage."

Feelings over their 2000 play-off semi-final defeat never dissipate. "Who can ever forget that night of sheer delight at the excellence of Mr Knight?", "Let's hope they concede three penalties and have two players sent off", "One of the few teams I have a chip on my shoulder about. Twats!"

"Eidur scores a great goal and the ghost of Barry Knight appears and disallows it. Then he books Mills for raising his arm and hitting no one. Then he books our left back for arguing with him. Then he disappears in a cloud of smoke. Asshole", "I can't stand Ipswich - any win will do, anyhow."

"A former player told me that Bolton players were over roused that evening and wound up by the current West Ham manager into a frenzy. He'd never seen a group of players 'so highly strung'", "Frenzy??? He should have been in that away end watching Barry Knight kill us!"

Websites

There are a good number of active Trotters' message-boards. Two busy and well-informed forums are The Wanderer and Burnden Aces .

Photo: Action Images

Kieron_FJ added 10:42 - Dec 12 Class again HarryFromBath always put up a great post hopefully we play well and bring the 3 points back to Portman road!! COYB !!
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ManLikeRob added 10:42 - Dec 12 Makes me emotional, great achievement!
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AwwightGuys added 10:53 - Dec 12 I can't believe this, I am so scared right now, please help me, someone is keeping me hostage, It is like a huge wave brushing my feelings, COYB COYB
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Steve_M added 11:00 - Dec 12 Still blubbing 14 years on I see. It's very simple if you play like a team of thugs, then you'll be treated as such.
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charsfield added 11:19 - Dec 12 watched the 25 minute highlights of that game again last Friday instead of working - they were absolutely brutal, more brutal than i remember - no complaints! All the penalties were stonewall and ref showed alot of patience before finally dishing out the cards. The second red was a bit harsh but no sympathy by than. Holdsworth, what a piece of work. Anyway, 2-1 win for us tomorrow i hope.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 11:21 - Dec 12 Cheers Harry, tip top as always, this is tough, Gudjohnesesn might be 36 but he was hell of player, still has the capacity to be a proper fox in the box and needs to watched, wins over wigan and cardiff are not to be sniffed at, their form is good and I think this could be a really tough game, I think Lee is very good player who I would actually love to see in Town Shirt, think he would be the perfect foil for MCG and Murph. They have their tails up (Thank god Narrrich didnt get Lennon when they had the chance) and I hope we can stub out some of that optimism . COYB!!!

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DrDre added 11:24 - Dec 12 Marcus Stewart's first goal in the first leg was amazing. And the frustration of the Bolton players when he scored his second was brilliant. Same again please!
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Carrotblue added 11:27 - Dec 12 How big are those shoulders in bolton? Must be massive for all those chips!
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horsehollerer added 11:28 - Dec 12 Great stuff, Harry, and fair play to most of the Bolton fans quoted here. They give us a ton of respect, acknowledging the "quality" in our team, rather than giving it all the usual "long ball/physical/typical McCarthy side" nonsense that we hear every week. Refreshing. COYB. Of course,
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AbujaBlue added 11:47 - Dec 12 Great work as ever, Harry. I just watched the highlights of that match and what an absolute biased trouts the commentator and the studio team were, pretty much ignoring what utter thugs the Bolton team were. The fact that some of them still harp on about that team of thugs speaks for itself.
3

ManLikeRob added 11:51 - Dec 12 Started from the bottom now were here
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SouperJim added 11:55 - Dec 12 I've watched the highlights of that second leg many times (as well as being there on the night of course), and with all club bias aside, the referee did a very good job of managing a really tough game. The only decision he got wrong was to send Whitlow off for stumbling into Stewart, however, Bolton played such a dirty game that night with countless fouls, niggles, trying to wind our players up etc, that they left themselves wide open to the ref eventually getting fed up with it all and/or getting one wrong. The three penalties are all cast iron, as is the second sending off for a diving-in horror tackle from behind. The Granada commentary and reaction is a joke, particularly the second penalty where Ritchie totally misses the ball and cleans Stewart out from behind two-footed. How anyone can call that a "good tackle" and that he got "the whole of the ball" is beyond me.

5

scooby added 12:07 - Dec 12 From what I remember of that fantastic night they should count themselves lucky they finished with 9.the number of times they chased the ref like a pack of wolves was unforgivable
5

bugledog123 added 12:10 - Dec 12 Watching those highlights again was simply fantastic. What a match! COYB!
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bohslegend added 12:11 - Dec 12 Cheers Harry, top notch as usual! Roll on tomorrow and a 2 nil win - COYB!
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RioNicolaou added 12:24 - Dec 12 Tyro Mings looking for a transfer is that right?
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radiogaga added 12:42 - Dec 12 Oh Bolton fans, bless their cottons, still whinging about the play off defeat, how funny is that. Can't believe they are still incapable of admitting that they lost their heads that night (remember 4 or 5 tackles that were just pure thuggery, in particular Robbie Elliott going right through the back of Reuser's legs with his studs showing). Maybe Bob Peeters, Uwe Rosler, Eddie Howe, Jokanovic and Mad Magath should watch highlights of that game - then they'd realise what a "dirty physical long ball team" really is.

4

menacinho added 13:04 - Dec 12 I hate Bolton almost as much as I hate Norwich. A bunch of whingeing babies who can't accept that a referee didn't allow them to kick, hack and judo throw us off the park that night back in 2000. And STILL they don't shut up about it. I hope we absolutely stuff them. Great work Harry by the way!
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DrDre added 13:16 - Dec 12 menacinho - I agree, I hate them almost as much as Naaarwich
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StowTractorBoy added 13:40 - Dec 12 I also am not a great lover of Bolton except when they play Norwich. 'That night' at Portman Road they were a disgrace to the game and thankfully we had a Referee who was strong and brave enough to handle it. I do not like their ground which is in the middle of nowhere and nor their fans for continually whinging. Come on Town do your stuff.
2

Kropotkin123 added 13:46 - Dec 12 Nice read, as usual :) As for the ref, they should have little complaint with regards to the decisions... 1st penalty, the guy clearly swings a leg out when his is passed, then they get violent. 2nd penalty he crunches our guy. A decision that would have been 50/50 back then, but wouldn't be acceptable now. Straight red? Bolton had lost the plot by that point. He was clearly going to be 1-on-1 with the keeper. He deliberately fell into him. Easy decision. 3rd penalty, you can see the commentator is bias to Bolton and doesn't want to admit it. But he is man-handled and thrown to the ground. second sending off... crunch. You can't make any other decision. I think Bolton fans need to look at their teams conduct on that night, and take their due responsibility.

4

itfcserbia added 14:19 - Dec 12 Wooow 15 years old sour grapes... those must taste awful... stuff'em again lol
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naa added 14:42 - Dec 12 Funny that Bolton fans hate us for that night, as I hate them for the same reason. We booed the ref off at half time because he'd let them get away with near murder and done nothing about it. Then he gives 3 clear penalties (though I may accept that the second one was soft - but we missed it anyway) and they moan about it for 14 years (and counting). The first red was soft too I'll accept, but they were lucky to have 11 on the pitch by then anyway. Wonder what they see when they watch those penalties and their team surrounding and pushing the ref for about 5 mins.

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RegencyBlue added 17:22 - Dec 12 Still whingeing after all these years! You lost - get over it!!
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86wsblue added 19:55 - Dec 12 I didn.t think I would come across a more deluded bunch of muppets then the leeds scum but Bolton take the biscuit,the fouls in that game were so obvious its shameful they cant realise it.
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