STEVEN Schumacher was pleased with the way his side coped under pressure at Wrexham as they racked up a first clean sheet since he took charge.
Both sides had chances to take something from a scrappy lunchtime encounter but were forced to settle for a point apiece after the second goalless draw this season.
Wanderers had conceded seven goals in Schumacher’s first four league games in charge but had lost just one of their last six in the league.
As such, the Bolton boss was happy to consider it a point gained.
“The way the game was, really tight, scrappy, especially in the second half, I think it was a good point,” he said. “It isn’t one that we'll remember forever, but I was pleased that we showed a different side to us today.
“We have played some really exciting football over the last couple of weeks and looked slick at times, but today we had to grind the result out. So, I’m pleased for the boys to do that and it's another good point in the right direction.”
Wanderers had to defend their penalty box well, particularly in a 10 minute spell after half time where Wrexham’s Tom O’Connor missed the game’s best chance from close range.
The home side had other chances to nudge themselves ahead but Schumacher was pleased with what he got in a defensive sense.
“Wrexham put you under pressure, they don't overly play, they put long balls into your box, onto your back line, and you've got to deal with it,” he said. “I thought we dealt with it really well. There was obviously a couple of scary moments where the ball bounces around and they didn't make the most of it, especially the lad (O’Connor) who had probably the clearest chance of the game.
“But, as I say, that's kind of what we deserved. With the effort that we put in and the spirit that we played with, I think we deserved that little bit of luck from that moment.”
Mendes Gomes made his first appearance since January 14 coming off the bench in the second half and nearly won the game after a pull-back from Jordi Osei-Tutu on the left which was fired over the bar.
“You've got to hit the target and if it hits the target, it goes in,” Schumacher shrugged.
“And then Aaron Collins had a chance with a snapshot and their keeper made a good save, which I think was the only one of the game. So, that probably tells the story of what the game was like. It was two good sides, two well-organised sides who went at it and gave it their all. But the point is probably a fair result in the end.
“There will be probably other games similar to that towards the end of the season, because everybody knows what's at stake.
“And, as I say, if we showed the character and the commitment to play the way we did today, if we do that in the future, obviously we would like to play more football, which we will. But today I was really pleased that we showed a different side to us. It's a tough place to come and we got a positive result.”
