The Rise and Fall of Bolton Wanderers

October

Bolton v Blackpool



A really poor match from us here as we just couldn't get going the whole match but we scrape through when Tilt turns the ball into his net when trying to clear the ball from 3 yards out.

EFL Checkatrade Trophy North Grp E
Bolton v Leicester City U23's



We put out a strong team here thinking that this was going to be a tough match here depending on who Leicester were going to drop into their U23's but luckily they decided not to and Murphy made them pay from the penalty spot with Buckley also getting two great goals off the left wing.

Bolton v Rochdale



Well we finally drop our finally drop our first points of the season and it was a really poor game here and came too soon after the Leicester game so it resulted on us rotating players here.

Bristol Rovers v Bolton



A game that we showed a great presance going forward but our defence also showed us up here. We were just lucky Brewster is such a god striker and was able to get the goal with less than 10 minute remaining.


Lincoln v Bolton



This result really flattered us here as Lincoln ran riot against us getting shot after shot off with only Ben Alnwick keeping us in the game with a Man of the Match performance

Carabao Cup 4th Round
Watford v Bolton




What a game here as we went out fully expecting to get battered by a much stronger team but Watford just didn't turn up for large portions of the game. When we went 1-0 down I really expected us to concede again quickly but we manage to hold it to half time. At half time I sit the lads down and tell them they can still go out there and cause a massive upset and it works as we go out and get two quick goals. I thought we were good value for the win until we conceded in the 80th minute. Luckily at the moment in the cups we seem to be able to beat anybody if it goes to penalties though as we now march onto the quarter finals.


League



The league is still looking really good for us as we now only sit 6 points off of top spot.


November

November

Bolton v Fleetwood Town



Going up against the team above us in the league and it was a tough match and we got very lucky here thanks to Brewster showing his quality in this league to get us a lucky point.

FA Cup 1st Round
Ebbsfleet United v Bolton



Thanks to playing a lower league team we are able to rotate a large amount of the starting XI here and able to play a few youngsters. We did struggle but luckily Crawford came on and was able to send us to the second round to face Rochdale.


[bMorecambe v Bolton



Everybody comes back into the starting lineup here and the quality shines through as we run out well deserved winners with Brown coming on for his debut and grabbing a nice goal to go with it.


Bolton v MK Dons



We get very lucky here as MK Dons manage to undo themselves with two terrible defensive errors that resulted in 2 own goals which was enough to give us a lucky 3 points.

Accrington Stanley v Bolton



We were really made to work for the 3 points here right up until the end when our extra fitness here helped with the two goals in the final 3 minutes.

FA Cup 2nd Round
Rochdale v Bolton



We put out a strong team here as the third round is the first decent chance of gate receipts so we needed to make sure we made it and it was Brewster who was the difference again.


League




December

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December
Burton Albion v Bolton



A very tough game here but Birdcutt is making a habit of scoring goals in these sorts of game and he guts us the three points.


Bolton v AFC Wimbledon



With games set to come thick and fast this month we try and rotate a couple of players and we struggle again but luckily Brewster grabs the only goal of the game.

EFL Checkatrade Trophy North 2nd Round
Bolton v Macclesfield Town



Another cup tie and another win by penalty win as we march onto the next round. I thought we were getting past this after last month but we march on so that is all that matters.


Bolton v Peterborough United



Conceding on the brink of half time meant I tear up my half time team talk but after a few changes we manage to bring it back to a respectable draw with 5 minutes to go


Carabao Cup Quarter Final
Bolton v Tottenham Hotspur



We are dumped out of the cup but its a great way to go out to only lose 1-0 to a team playing in the champions league. I really didn't want the two legs of the semi final in January to make fixture list even heavier.

Bolton v Southend United



This was such a disappointing game we got off to a flyer with a great opening goal in the second minute but we just couldn't capitalise on the quick start and Southend grab one back 20 minutes later. They then go down to 10 men but again we can't take advantage of it as we're lucky to stay in the game.

Sunderland v Bolton



And our world comes v crashing down as we get our first defeat of the season against a much better team on the day as they just blew us out the water. Hopefully after the draws and this the wheels aren't going to come off.

Bolton v Shrewsbury Town

A very important win here after our dip in form over the last few games but we leave it late and its another youngster who is taking their chance.



League



January



Youth

We get our youth update and it certainly looks promising with those golden words that every manager wants to see "Golden Generation"



Finances

So with the year coming to an end I thought I would give a quick update on our finances since we are paying out £400,000 a month in loan repayments and it doesn't make pretty reading



With this the board have been very generous and slashed our wage budget by £20,000 a week so there will be no new signings in January



One positive piece of news is that I can sell a sell on clause for Rob Holding for £6.5 million but I would rather hold onto that until the same to make the most of any funds got from it.

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January
Bolton v Burton Albion



Nothing like starting a game really well and then trying your best to throw it away with going down to 10 men but luckily we are able to keep our run going of winning by a single goal.

FA Cup 3rd Round
Bournemouth v Bolton



What a game. When going a goal down I really thought the game was over but the goal on the breath of half time gave us a new lease of life for the second half. We come back out fighting and we snatch a quick second early to give us the advantage before putting the game to bed with 9 minutes to go. Its our biggest win to date.

Blackpool v Bolton



We come back to the league with a bang to make us remember where our level really is.

Rochdale v Bolton



We bounce back with a good win to get us back on track after the blip against Blackpool. Was also a great hat-trick for Brewster and was a great way for him to end his goal drought.

EFL Checkatrade Trophy North 3rd Round
Bolton v Sunderland



This game was a slog for both teams as neither really had any real chances until Brewster popped up with the only goal of the game.

Bolton v Portsmouth



I'm not sure how but this team just keeps finding a way to put teams away when we really deserve a point or less at the most as Portsmouth were the much better team here.

Shrewsbury Town v Bolton



We rotate here with the wolves game in mind and yet again we manage to snatch a win through Murphy

FA Cup 4th Round
Wolves v Bolton



Our FA cup run comes to the end against a much stronger opposition.

Bolton v Bristol Rovers



The opening 10 minutes was where it all was in this match and after that it all fizzled out as neither team had any real chances.

League




February




There was no transfer business done this window as after the wage budget being slashed I needed to keep everybody we have as I couldn't get the wages together to replace them.

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February
Bolton v Tranmere



Brewster making the difference again here and showing how important a signing he's been as I really don't think we'd be doing this well without him.


Coventry v Bolton



Its a nice steady win again and it was nice to win by more than a single goal again along with keeping a clean sheet.


Doncaster Rovers v Bolton



We get off to an absolute flyer thanks to a striker from 20 yards out from Gilmour and thought we were going to be onto a good thing after that but we just couldn't get another and then it was so disappointing to concede with the final kick of the ball.

Bolton v Wycombe Wanderers



Not much can be said about this game as neither team deserved the 3 points here

EFL Checkatrade Trophy North Quarter Final
Fleetwood Town v Bolton



AHHH we concede the equaliser with seconds left on the clock and the ref even makes us do the kick off before blowing the whistle. But the penalty specialists step up and send us through to the semi finals to face Rotherham.

MK Dons v Bolton



With games coming thick and fast we rotate her and kind of sacrifice the game by doing so. If I was a betting man I would of had a good punt on us losing the match.

EFL Checkatrade Trophy North Semi Final
Rotherham United v Bolton



Everybody comes back into the starting line up as I have decided to take this competition seriously to get some silverware into the club and it shows as the game was all over in the first half as the second was one of the most boring halves of football the world has ever seen.

Bolton v Accrington Stanley



Accrington really made us work here as they took the lead before the main man Brewster pegs one back withing 7 minutes to get us back on level terms before getting the winner right at the death and it gets our league form back on track with it being our first win in 4 games.

League



March

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