Bolton v Charlton - Post match thread

best performance for a very long time .. at last, skill, bottle and luck combined in one outstanding all round performance ...
the sending off was a 50/50 decision that went against us, could have been just a yellow on another day .. I really thought that all was lost after Page was off (he's had a tough intro to the club .. early injury on debut, even earlier dismissal on his return)

Their goal would have been scored against any keeper and even if we had had 11 on the pitch ..
I do wonder if we would have won this with 11 ? .. the 'injustice' galvanised the team and us fans and perhaps lulled an out of form Trotters into a false sense of security ..

we equalised with a great Bauer header from a F-Caskey free kick and the winner was a classic breakaway of the sort that we have recently missed time after time, a terrific pacey attack right down the middle of the Trotters defence caught too far upfield in the search for a winner which never happened

fortunately for us Bolton were dire throughout .. sideways passing, no real pace, too much arguing and pouting, taking too much for granted

all our players were immense .. toss up for m o m between Rudd who was superb under the high ball and Bauer .. but that is picking the diamonds from the gold dust .. F-C and Aribo bettered a very experienced and supposedly very talented Bolton midfield, Chicksen, Konsa and Solly were super, Watt had a blinder until he tired, he really rattled the Bolton central defenders, little Byrne is a good signing, Crofts was a terrific organiser and was always available .. all in all it looks as though the players are doing it for Robinson and have found some pride and form .. LONG may it last ((:>)

Got back from the game at 18.00, but have been drinking pinot noir and reading the match thread before posting.
What a result! Came away from the game really buzzing, that's why I had to get stuck into a bottle of wine to continue the euphoria.
To the game, In the first 10 min Bolton started strongly, but after 7-8 minutes we were starting to get some control. Bauer was at fault for missing the challenge, then Page came in and wiped the forward out. Having said that I was not sure it was a red card. There were covering players around the fringes who could have put in a challenge. It depends what the referee writes in his report, was it serious foul play (3 game ban) or stopping a goal scoring opportunity (1 match)
I went for a pee after the sending off and missed the Clough free kick.
For the rest of the first half Bolton had more posession, but apart from the fierce shot that deflected off their own player, they didn't force Rudd into a save of any note. One tactic Bolton did (and other teams before them) was to put a big bugger against Solly and send every free kick in that direction. It worked, to be fair, and Solly was beaten in the air on most ocassions, something for the coaching squad to sort out.
Back to our players, I thought the axis of Crofts, (who had an outstanding game), JFC and Byrne worked superbly. Crofts provided the anchor, played the ball around simply, worked tirelessly. JFC, Byrne and Aribo were providing the outlets, with pace, to try to relieve the pressure. Watt was also very good and looked a lot fitter than against Millwall. Held the ball up well and gave Wheater a torrid time when running at him.
The defence, with Chicksen moving back into left back were immense for the rest of the game.
With regards the goals, an accurate delivery from JFC for BFG's header, then Crofts breaking up an attack, releasing JFC to dribble two thirds of the pitch, weaving past Bolton attempts to foul him, laying off Byrne to blast it past Alnwick. Cue hysteria amongst the away fans, hugging and jumping as one, fantastic.
Second half was tense, Rudd was superb in controlling his box with catches under pressure and punches from some corners.
It was a bit like attack against defence, and the defence came out well on top. The whole team put themselves on the line, and Rudd didn't have to make a save of note.
From about 60 minutes on, my mate Glen, next to me started counting down the clock, minute by minute. Others around caught on, 80, 81, 82 and so on. It added to the tensness!
Players looked ecstatic at the end and Karl did a few fist pumps.

I just don't get the few posters on here who post after such a great result, that they feel nothing, that they are still disconnected from the club. I will be accused as being an appeaser, its happened before, but if you can't enjoy the moment like today, I'm not sure what you are doing supporting a football team.