Another team that are having a fruit salad season - proper mixed bag of results although their surprise loss to Plymouth on Tuesday brought a 12 game unbeaten run to an end - a run that included a lot of draws so they are mid table.
Another conundrum for SS to solve. I think Duff sets them up to be a “hard to beat” team, usually 4231, rather than an attacking force although they are strong on the right with Jack Grimmer at the back and the dangerous Fred Onyedinma ahead of him.

 

3 minutes ago, Roger_Dubuis said:

Failing to score at home to Bradford was the gamechanger for me this season.Bolton don't have a team that can go away from home and defend  under pressure like that

I thought Bolton had the standard of attacking player to win the hard home games but Bradford showed they don't.Sadly it will be the play offs.

Cardiff are losing, Bradford drawing, Stockport drawing and Stevenage drew - are they all going to be in the play offs?

Dalby, Dempsey not involved enough.

Wingers great going forward but liabilities defending. Started going their way when we slowed it down at the back 

3 hours ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Collins was shocking in the second half of last season and seems to have got no better despite dropping down a league.

Like many before him the lad’s ultimately wasted his talent. 

I'll discuss Collins to take my mind off Wycombe 😕

Agreed he wasn't as good 2nd half of season, but despite this scored 8 league goals and missed quite a few games with injury (without checking stats).  2 of his goals were winners v Huddersfield away, Brum home.  If we could get just one of our 3 strikers to replace his goals now we'd be top 2 no problem, if Collins was "shocking" how are you describing those that replaced him?

He's missed most of this season through injury but started today and scored.

It’s too easy to pop it round at the back, we had a throw first half edge of 6 yard box and next thing it’s with TSL, get some bloody crosses in. What’s the point of starting Dalby? Corners throws anywhere round the edge of the box and it needs to go in 

13 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

How can we look so utterly dominant for 40 minutes and then go in at half time 1-0 down? 🙃

 

9 minutes ago, Krimzon said:

A slip from Gale for the first , a slip from Conway for the second. 

It falls into the category of typical Bolton Wanderers. Just as we take a deserved lead and look like we may get a second and get to comfortable status, we ridiculously find ourselves 2-1 down after two different players slipped and we get punished with 2 goals!

Get back to our best, keep calm, cut out the mistakes and take our chances, we win this 

15 minutes ago, JimmyRiddle said:

He's clearly all left foot, he goes inside Conway, then what, has a free shot at goal, it's fucking pub level defending.

Sheehan lost the ball higher up and we never recovered. Not great from Conway but there should be cover inside. Not a lot gets said about Simons form but he’s been poor for a couple of months now. 
 

Also pointless playing Dalby if we don’t actually use him as a target man and get some crosses in. 

1 hour ago, jmjhb said:

There's definitely a reason why we sold Collins at a loss

To get some funds in to buy other players, and because he wasn't physical enough, hence replaced by 2 stronger centre forward types rather than goalscorers.  Give and take, a pity he had to go to make way because its left a goalscoring gap while improving our hold up play.

1 minute ago, CumbrianWhite said:

Sheehan lost the ball higher up and we never recovered. Not great from Conway but there should be cover inside. Not a lot gets said about Simons form but he’s been poor for a couple of months now. 
 

Also pointless playing Dalby if we don’t actually use him as a target man and get some crosses in. 

Aye, defending is a team effort.

Said it before- there is an issue on the left in midfield, with a lack of cover.

Think EE helps with that.

That said, we simply have to get better all over- take the chances and keep on the front foot.

To be honest, we were the better team and we need to give them time this half but we’ve got to approach this in the manner it needs, it’s a must win for me if we’re going to do anything this season. Gotta make that dominance count

Any of Dempsey , simons , dalby can  come off here done nothing 

Edited December 20, 2025Dec 20 by Farnywhite

I’d go Burstow and forss for Dalby and demps

17 minutes ago, Roger_Dubuis said:

Failing to score at home to Bradford was the gamechanger for me this season.Bolton don't have a team that can go away from home and defend  under pressure like that

I thought Bolton had the standard of attacking player to win the hard home games but Bradford showed they don't.Sadly it will be the play offs.

Just stick to the red filth please

10 minutes ago, CumbrianWhite said:

Sheehan lost the ball higher up and we never recovered. Not great from Conway but there should be cover inside. Not a lot gets said about Simons form but he’s been poor for a couple of months now. 
 

Also pointless playing Dalby if we don’t actually use him as a target man and get some crosses in. 

Absolutely my thoughts to a tee. Simons flatters to deceive.

20 minutes ago, waffer cup 07 said:

Dalby's not the reason were losing. Shocking defending is the reason.

Drop in concentration to cruise level when we were winning, drop in concentration when they equalised and Gale’s missed sitter are the reasons. Plus playing against strong opposition.

They know we’re going to push on now, so they’re going to hit us with Bell and Onyewhatsits pace. 
 

Need a goal and soon.

5 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

Any of Dempsey , simons , dalby can  come off here done nothing 

They all worked their asses off.

Id keep Dalby on tbh, not on him this

To many players just playing it safe at the moment, easy for Wycombe to defend. Can’t get either winger involved either.

So frustrating this, i can see why people are being critical of Dempsey and Dalby but honestly i dont really see what they can do. It's back to being 422 again. We're treating the wingers like theyre strikers. 

Ffs hit the post again 

Just now, JimmyRiddle said:

Id keep Dalby on tbh, not on him this

Not using him though, pointless 

23 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

If your playing wingers you don’t need over lapping full backs just some one solid at defending 

You do when the wingers are inverted.

1 minute ago, bwfc4ife said:

Not using him though, pointless 

Have we given him one cross? Duberry again with a chance to cross and doesn’t take it. 

Sheehan rather Simon's?

Suprised Sheehan is off as been better than Simons 

Would of left Sheehan on