Bolton Wanderers 2 - Burnley 1 - Stats

18 attempts to 5?, Didn't seem like it...

A WIN! 3 Points! Beating Burnley! First on TFLS with more than 30 secs of video. Inspired substitutions by the Manager rubbing the faces of the idiotic boo boys right in it with a goal each for BOTH subs. As he said last week - he knows what he is talking about! I went home with a smile on my face! F'ing brilliant. Well done to the second half team for never giving up.

De Ridder looked awesome, can't understand why he went off rather than Eagles. But what a result, well done boys !

If we can't follow that up with a win over a struggling Forest, then we can forget this season. Only start playing when we're 1-0 down, familiar old story....

I think Freedman said he didn't want to take De Ridder off, but he's not fully match-fit. He is a slippery little sucker though... Craig Davis' movement a strength impressed me and it finally seems like someone's on the same wave-length as N'Gog! Bo Select' him, Dougie!!

Surprised C.Davies didn't start but then again team selection remains a puzzle. This time DF got out of jail and was most fortunate, which should keep the hounds at bay, however, for 75 minutes against a pretty ordinary opponent we did nothing and looked incapable of getting back in the game, but goals change everything and they did the trick yesterday. Once we see a true improvement in performance from the off and we hit the net more regularly I will get off DF's case but until that happens I fear we might continue taking one step forward and one step back. Anyway - 3 valuable points desperately needed, onwards to the next game.

Couldn't be at the game, so relying on reports. Sounds like we were much the same as always - slow pace and little purpose until we went behind, then a late effort to pull something from the fire? At least we got the result though. And a good job too seeing most of the bottom lot won. Trouble is, can we build on it? Frustratingly, form suggests a draw at best next week. As aussiemike points out out goals and results are everything now and we need to string some results together if the DF approach is to be seen as credible.

Something else struck me on Saturday: the difference between successful Premiership footballers and successful Championship footballers. Our Premier League players, who aren't cutting it in the Championship, are disappointing not because they lack ability but because they struggle to adapt to the Championship demands. We are good on the ball, composed and elegant in movement but struggle to unlock defences. That's because most of the defences I've seen don't have a lock to unlock. Championship sides, especially against us, defend deep and regimental. When Craig Davies came on, (a seasoned Championship player) he was fast, strong and direct. Then it hit me: when there's no lock on the door to pick, bust down the door! When he scored he seemed delighted, really pleased for him.

I agree with Aussie Mike up until the latter stages of the game it was just another lack lustre performance. The frustration of the crowd was warranted when De Ridder by far the best player we had out there was subbed. Bit over cautious of Freedman i thought he looked fit enough to me and jeez he will be off back to his own club in 3 weeks, by the time we have him fully match fit he will be gone! I felt sorry for sordell he recieved no service what so ever. He needs through ball to run onto, thats his game, didnt see him played one. Although Darren Pratley tries very hard and does put himself about its fair to say he is crap. His passing is woeful and his control is poor. Chungy - suprised to see him topping MOM poll, it want one of his better games. He gave the ball away on more than a few occasions and is still not taking on players as he used to, generally choosing a back or sideways pass instead. Adam Bogdan was at fault for their goal he has no command over his box, catching incoming balls like that should be bread and butter to keeper. His kicking was terrible. I thought it was Jussi with a ginger wig on for a minute. Bogdan is a number 2 keeper. Glad we won and hope it continues, but cant help feeling it was more luck than tactical genius. Bit of a critical point of view, but a realistic assessment i would say

entirely agree with the others about Bogdan, worst decision ever by Coyle Gartside to sell El Habsi to our opponents and let Juski walk away, leaving us with a no 3 at no 1 and a string of results to prove it ever since his promotion. Standing a mere 3 points above the relegation slots is worrying, we have yet to witness any real improvements in our play, the only hope remaining is once we see a full strength team assembled there will be positives flowing from it. Very difficult to speculate beyond that, I simply hope to see decisive decisions taken on team selection, cannot see SKD getting another full game, unless Craig Davies bombs it, albeit I would like to see him, N'Gog and Sordell as our attack with DeRiddear on the wing, Eagles or Chungy getting the other remaining slot. If it works fine, if not change it again. Midfield should be the new lad with Holden and one other from the mix. I do wonder how Gartside is coping and what his thoughts are - he took a gamble with DF and it remains to be seen how it will pan out - guess the compensation package would be large should it end in tears, but then again it seems Gartside is resigned to keeping DF regardless of what happens, survival does seem more realistic than relegation but you never know, the way we play anything can happen. No easy games coming up in the next 4, it appears to be make or break time, I cannot help but reflect on how poor Derby and Watford where at the start of the season, they are now organised playing to their potential while we are still flapping around treading water as if we have no real talent or potential.