WANDERERS (3-5-2)
LUKE SOUTHWOOD…7.
Fingertip save to put Webster’s volley over the top and a couple of other important moments in what was a crowded penalty box at times.
EOIN TOAL…7.
Won plenty in the air in what became a land of the giants by the second half and also went on some eye catching gallops on the ball too.
WILL FORRESTER…7.5.
Warrior-like performance from the centre-half, who also lost a chunk of his lip somewhere in the six yard box. Went close to scoring and might have had a penalty.
ALEX MURPHY…7.5.
The youngster’s best game in a Bolton shirt to date. Looked after the ball, got stuck in and defended the far post well against a lot of deeper crosses.
JOSH DACRES-COGLEY…6.5.
Not quite as electric as he was against Birmingham but it was also very different type of game. Stuck to his guns, didn’t give a decent player in Dodgson much space.
JOSH SHEEHAN…8.
Came up with the game’s defining moment, a superb right-footed winner, but got stuck in with all the unseen stuff too which allowed Bolton to function.
AARON MORLEY…7.
Took his goal really well and wasn’t far away from a couple of others in a pleasing first half. Just had to chip away after the break with less of the ball.
GEORGE THOMASON…7.
Worked incredibly hard to get beyond the front men and into the penalty box. Yes, he should have scored and not passed to Collins, but a dynamic display nonetheless.
JORDI OSEI-TUTU…6.
A bit like Wrexham, Osei-Tutu had a few moments of quality but spent long spells without really getting into the game.
JOHN MCATEE…6.5.
Ran hard for more than an hour and showed a few classy touches around the penalty box. One for the team.
AARON COLLINS…6.
Like McAtee, did a lot of unselfish stuff which wasn’t going to grab headlines. Might have been tidier on the ball at times and fingers crossed his injury is not an issue.
Subs: Schon 6.5, 67 (for Osei-Tutu) – Added a lot of energy.
Randall 6, 67 (for McAtee) – Didn’t really get a chance to stretch the game out.
Lolos 89 (for Collins), Forino 89 (for Dacres-Cogley).
Not used: Baxter, Mendes Gomes, Matete.
Burton (3-5-2): Crocombe; Godwin-Malife; Sweeney, Armer; Lofthouse, Webster, Vancooten, McKiernan, Dodgson; Burrell, Bennett.
Subs: Stretton 84 (for Bennett), Chauke 84 (for Burrell), Kalinauskas 90 (for McKiernan) Not used: Isted, Larsson, Delap, Forde.
Referee: Lee Swabey – 4/10.
Wanderers didn’t get a great deal from the referee all afternoon. Failed to crack down on the overtly physical stuff, including a nasty shove on Forrester before half time which should have been a penalty. Lots of other elbows and digs that went unpunished. And then we have the Burton goal, which was a mess, pure and simple.
Attendance: 4,172
MAN OF THE MATCH – Josh Sheehan.
Came up with the classy moment when his team really needed to re-establish the lead but his overall performance was also a disciplined one, which gave Thomason and Morley licence to break forward and cause problems for Burton.
MOAN OF THE MATCH – While the Burton goal was farcical, Bolton have to look at themselves in the first half and wonder why they weren’t further ahead.
MAGIC MOMENT – Jon Dadi Bodvarsson walking out to applaud the Wanderers fans and passing on a signed ball to a young fan with a note of thanks. A class act.
ATMOSPHERE – Monumental noise from the 1,600 who travelled, and bonus points for informing Burton’s burly number 36 that there is only one Lofthouse!
