The defending for their goal was shite.

 

3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Agreed its a good point, .  But the season didn't start today unfortunately.  Dropped 2 points last week and currently averaging less than a point a game away and 2.33 at home.  If we carry on we'll get 73 or 74 points, might get top 6 but surely the target has to be top 2.

We're now 2 PTS below the same stage last season (after we'd played 17 games). I actually can't believe that as I was certain Evatt needed to go, but I'm firmly in the opinion SS is building a decent squad and we'll be challenging. 

The bare facts of points per game show we're way off it and need to improve asap.

14 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Biggest question mark for me is waiting until the 73rd minute to make the first change. That game was crying out to be switched up and shored up from about the 55th minute - I’ve no idea why he took so long. Did it cost us, not sure you can say that, but it didn’t help.

Poor for me from the manager poor ref so a Red was always on the card changes were  way to late for everyone could see game  was slipping away and Luton were on top 

Edited November 29, 2025Nov 29 by Farnywhite

10 minutes ago, Eddie said:

If we’d have nicked a win then it was true smash and grab. A point away at Luton is a good result, regardless - if we follow it up with wins against Mansfield and Exeter then the last 2 draws turn into really good results

Where I was before the game and still there after it. We got something out of the game in a difficult situation. We're not pulling any trees up at the moment and a few are struggling but are grinding some points out of hard games. 

If we can keep finding a way through December and are still well in the mix, the Jan window could be game changing.

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Very true, but the last two away results are certainly positive, especially against two decent sides.

If that trend continues against "weaker teams" and we pick up more wins, we should be there or there abouts.

Of course, it could go the other way, but for now, I think we are turning a corner.

Beating the lesser teams at home most times - tick.  Winning/not losing the bigger games at home - tick.

A decent points return going to bigger grounds/teams - tick (Barnsley, Blackpool, Huddersfield, Luton)

Crappy away grounds - big cross (Northampton, Burton)

Mansfield is a bigger game than it would normally be.

9 minutes ago, burnden said:

The defending for their goal was shite.

 

Taylor was shite. 

We're there any kid of chants or anything like that from us towards Wilshire? I always liked him and glad he had the chance to play in a Wanderers shirt, not that it really means anything as he was a loanee, but I'd like to think he got a decent reception from our lot?

3 hours ago, worthy10 said:

Well that was utter rubbish. We looked nothing like promotion candidates today. Backs to the wall, we defended quite well but away from home we struggle to control the game. Our midfield was anonymous today. Simons edging it, both his cards were harsh, but its a modern tactic to pretend your injured when tackled and both resulted in cards.

SS should have changed the midfield before the sending off by swaping either of Morley.or dempsey, both of whom were poor for eharehan.

Got battered by a physical side and lucky to get a point.

SS still doing little to prove his in game tactics today.

Morley, can't tackle or run forward with the ball, he's not "dynamic or robust" 

 

So Simons gets sent off (stupid tackle if you're on a yellow, regardless whether either of them were actually yellows) and your focus is on both other CM's? One of who scored our goal?

Make it make sense at least?

Just admit that Simons stupidity probably cost us the game and move on 🤣

15 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Taylor was shite. 

He was in that clip, but you could find examples like that all over, in pretty much any game.

It is interesting that some refer to Conway as being done in behind, in plenty of games.

I think this is a feature of how we play, and also the fact that whichever winger is in front of him, they're not as good as ACD.

He often goes forward, and is effective- as we saw today- but that obviously can leave space in behind.

Not sure any of our wingers are top drawer from a defensive point of view, but again, ACD does seem to work back a bit more.

Perhaps a more naturally left favouring midfielder helping on that side wouldn't go amiss. 

Just now, BoltonPro15 said:

So Simons gets sent off (stupid tackle if you're on a yellow, regardless whether either of them were actually yellows) and your focus is on both other CM's? One of who scored our goal?

Make it make sense at least?

Just admit that Simons stupidity probably cost us the game and move on 🤣

Hang on, if neither were yellow card challenges, then you can't blame him for making either.

If he has to be so careful, then the manager has to take him off.

Either way, whatever he may or may not have done, other players can be deserving of praise and criticism too.

On today though, it seems a bit harsh to be going overboard on any of them.

Conway was bloody awful today and hasn't been at the races now for a few games.

Give the lad a rest.

54 minutes ago, Domcarey1 said:

A hard fought point today.  Had to dig in 2nd half but I think we’ll need another forward in January, Burstow tired today & the ball didn’t stick up front & led to us being under more pressure. Dalby huffed & puffed when he came on. Could have made the other subs earlier on as well.  Game was crying out for Erhahon in midfield even before the sending off & Dempsey had a great 1st half but faded badly in the 2nd.
 

I don't expect a professional footballer in his early 20s to be more tired than the opposition, and if he is, play someone that isn't.  TBH he's played like he's tired for a while.

For the last few seasons, going back to the JDB/Bakayoko/Charles era to Collins/McAtee/Charles last season it always felt like we were only a game or 2 from at least one of them scoring.  Now it doesn't feel like a goal is coming from the forward line, its all so laboured.  SSs no.1 priority in January.  He tried to solve it in the summer but by the looks of it didn't, very toothless currently and massively relying on ACD staying fit.

1 minute ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Hang on, if neither were yellow card challenges, then you can't blame him for making either.

If he has to be so careful, then the manager has to take him off.

Either way, whatever he may or may not have done, other players can be deserving of praise and criticism too.

On today though, it seems a bit harsh to be going overboard on any of them.

Well said, completely agree.

Just think the focus is wrong.

Gotta be careful on a yellow.

34 minutes ago, Stig said:

We're now 2 PTS below the same stage last season (after we'd played 17 games). I actually can't believe that as I was certain Evatt needed to go, but I'm firmly in the opinion SS is building a decent squad and we'll be challenging. 

The bare facts of points per game show we're way off it and need to improve asap.

 

To be fair even accounting for the fact that he'd had a couple of attempts at promotion already, the majority of Bolton fans were probably still on Evatt's side at this exact point. And many did fancy us to go on a run.

From the start of Dec through to him being sacked we won three out of 10, including Wigan at home and getting twatted by Rotherham on TV. If we go on another bad run from here, SS will be getting plenty of stick too.

8 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I don't expect a professional footballer in his early 20s to be more tired than the opposition, and if he is, play someone that isn't.  TBH he's played like he's tired for a while.

For the last few seasons, going back to the JDB/Bakayoko/Charles era to Collins/McAtee/Charles last season it always felt like we were only a game or 2 from at least one of them scoring.  Now it doesn't feel like a goal is coming from the forward line, its all so laboured.  SSs no.1 priority in January.  He tried to solve it in the summer but by the looks of it didn't, very toothless currently and massively relying on ACD staying fit.

It's just so frustrating....good build up play mostly ruined by a poor decision or shocking first touch in the final third....perfect example first half, a lovely flowing move puts Tutu  clear and should be in on goal and his first touch under no pressure ends up with the ball about 10 yards in front of him and let's the keeper clear. 

Edited November 29, 2025Nov 29 by RONNIE PHILLIPS

I just can't fully go along with the 'good point' notion, because that only applies if we weren't playing catch-up. 

It's not a bad result either, I just need us to get to the bit where we're not just staying in touch and waiting for better results in the future.

Luton are 14th on home form this season, so I don't know whether they're being slightly overrated too.

18 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

He was in that clip, but you could find examples like that all over, in pretty much any game.

It is interesting that some refer to Conway as being done in behind, in plenty of games.

I think this is a feature of how we play, and also the fact that whichever winger is in front of him, they're not as good as ACD.

He often goes forward, and is effective- as we saw today- but that obviously can leave space in behind.

Not sure any of our wingers are top drawer from a defensive point of view, but again, ACD does seem to work back a bit more.

Perhaps a more naturally left favouring midfielder helping on that side wouldn't go amiss. 

I don’t disagree, but it wasn’t when he’d gone forward that he was caught in behind. Time after time in the first half it was a simple ball over his shoulder that he was underneath and their winger got in behind. Most of the time Johnston made it across and covered him.

I don’t want to get on his back because he’s had an overall great start to the season, but he looks poor at the moment. Not sure Taylor is the answer though - hard to show anything with 20 mins here or there but he looks like he’s away with the fairies.

4 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

I just can't fully go along with the 'good point' notion, because that only applies if we weren't playing catch-up. 

It's not a bad result either, I just need us to get to the bit where we're not just staying in touch and waiting for better results in the future.

Luton are 14th on home form this season, so I don't know whether they're being slightly overrated too.

We’re 3 points off automatic promotion, and that’s Stevenage who will drop away in the new year (if not before). We’ve caught up.

It’s a shit league, it’s an even league, the whole 2ppg thing is almost irrelevant if nobody else is. Fact of the matter is that after a start that has hardly been anything special, we’re 1 result away from our aim for the season.

47 minutes ago, Stig said:

We're now 2 PTS below the same stage last season (after we'd played 17 games). I actually can't believe that as I was certain Evatt needed to go, but I'm firmly in the opinion SS is building a decent squad and we'll be challenging. 

The bare facts of points per game show we're way off it and need to improve asap.

For context as well, the wheels came off from our 18th game last season, 8 points from the next 9 ending with Ju Darby in charge.  Hopefully we beat that this season.  Bizarrely both seasons have included home and away games v Mansfield in the 4 weeks from early December to 1st Jan, the fixture computer has decided we only play them at Christmas.  And we only go to Wycombe on 20th December 😀  Rotherham, Exeter and Wigan both seasons around Christmas/New Year too, so comparisons will be valid.

6 minutes ago, Eddie said:

We’re 3 points off automatic promotion, and that’s Stevenage who will drop away in the new year (if not before). We’ve caught up.

It’s a shit league, it’s an even league, the whole 2ppg thing is almost irrelevant if nobody else is. Fact of the matter is that after a start that has hardly been anything special, we’re 1 result away from our aim for the season.

Folk keep saying Stevenage will drop off but then convinced we will romp up. We are poor away from home. Not promotion form at all 

3 minutes ago, Big E said:

Folk keep saying Stevenage will drop off but then convinced we will romp up. We are poor away from home. Not promotion form at all 

We are 3 points off autos.

 

2 minutes ago, Big E said:

Folk keep saying Stevenage will drop off but then convinced we will romp up. We are poor away from home. Not promotion form at all 

There’s in not a fucking chance that Stevenage make the top 2 this season. They are 10/1 to be promoted and are second in the league with a game in hand. We’re 3/1. They just won’t sustain it, we’ve seen it every season. They might cling on to a play off spot but even that I’d be surprised.

Our away form has been poor. And yet we’re 3 points from our aim. Of course it needs to get better (we’ve just got 4 points from Luton and Huddersfield so are improving), but then again it doesn’t need to by much if our home form stays so ridiculously good.

1 hour ago, burnden said:

The defending for their goal was shite.

 

It's a clear foul on Cogley. The guy jumps too early and is all over cogley. Id even argue that jerry Yates dies the same to Toal. Both Luton players jump early and foul Bolton players. 

Way too much negativity in here tonight.

Off to a Blackpool forum to cheer myself up. 

14 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I don’t disagree, but it wasn’t when he’d gone forward that he was caught in behind. Time after time in the first half it was a simple ball over his shoulder that he was underneath and their winger got in behind. Most of the time Johnston made it across and covered him.

I don’t want to get on his back because he’s had an overall great start to the season, but he looks poor at the moment. Not sure Taylor is the answer though - hard to show anything with 20 mins here or there but he looks like he’s away with the fairies.

Even at the start of the season, his positioning and getting done by balls played round his back were an acknowledged area of improvement. To be fair, he's shown some and it's been less of an issue, but a bit of tiredness may be contributing to it resurfacing

It's unfortunate that him and Burstow have had a dip, and a bit earlier in the season than I'd have hoped, but the issue then is SS feeling he can trust lads he's brought in to make a contribution. Neither Dalby or Taylor appear to have shown enough yet to fully earn that trust in them doing enough over a run of games, not just 20 minutes, to allow for Burstow and Conway to have a breather.

Teams are, unsurprisingly, getting wise to ACD and trying to mark/hustle him out of the game, but if he's occupying defenders to that extent we have to find other ways to score, till reinforcements come in during Jan. We need some experience up front and some cover for ACD