Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley - e-Football Report

Article by e-Bolton Correspondent Alan Houghton

We are looking for Bolton and Barnsley fans as writers. Interested? email e-football@live.co.uk

Fresh from the delights of the Bradshaw Cricket Club beer festival, we assembled in the Fanzone before the match to chew the fat and see if Barnsley were for the chop. The debate on who we would like to see at the Reebok next season and who to let go enlivened our pre-match talks. Rumours abounded of pre-transfer deals allegedly done. There are persistent rumours about Mark Davies and Manchester United and the way Dougie Freedman is protecting him is doing nothing to quell these rumours.

As usual, Dougie Freedman didn’t disappoint when he made wholesale changes to the team. Alex Baptiste, Jermaine Beckford, Rob Hall, Matt Mills, Andre Moritz and Liam Trotter all started in place of Neil Danns, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Medo Kamara, Zak Knight, Joe Mason and David Wheater. Now that we are as good as safe, the remaining matches are an ideal chance to have a look at other players to help the big decisions he has to make for next season. Maybe we’ll see some of the younger players in the next matches.

Before the match, there was a minute’s silence for our fellow fans who died at Hillsborough. The fans joined in singing ‘You’ll never walk alone’. I can remember a time when we used to sing that song before it became Liverpool’s anthem. Let’s hope the victim’s families finally get justice and some peace.

As expected, Barnsley were certainly up for the match and they started the better team. We took time to settle and without the Duke up front, we had no-one to aim at. Jermaine Beckford is no target man. Dale Jennings missed a glorious chance for Barnsley while Andre Moritz and Rob Hall got in each other’s way for Bolton’s best chance. Rob Hall had another chance but spoilt it with a weak shot. Jermaine Beckford went close and then Chung Yong Lee fired over when he should have done better. Just before half time, Jermaine Beckford put us one up in slow motion as he beat the offside trap, from a glorious ball from Mills.

The second half continued with Barnsley creating and missing the best chances. Once again we had to thank Adam Bogdan for outwitting Chris O’Grady after Alex Baptiste, who otherwise had had a good game, gave away another penalty. I think Alex Baptiste owes Adam Bogdan a crate of ale as he has now saved three penalties given away by him in the last six games.

Barnsley deserved something from this game. But if you don't take your chances, you will struggle and not win. It was a poor performance with not many positive answers from the changes Dougie Freedman made. Matt Mills, Alex Baptiste and Liam Trotter did alright and probably furthered their cause. But Andre Moritz, Rob Hall and Jermaine Beckford didn’t impress or anything to support their cause. Alex Baptiste is not doing himself any favours giving so many penalties away and Dougie Freedman showed his annoyance by substituting him with Zak Knight immediately after the penalty was saved. Lucas Jutkiewicz and Neil Danns came on for Andre Moritz and Rob Hall.

At the end of the day it was another three points and a clean sheet, so we mustn’t grumble. Barnsley had more to play for as they are in desperate trouble and have a six pointer at Charlton in mid-week, before we take on Charlton at The Valley on Good Friday. In fact, Bolton could have quite a say in who goes down as we’ve just beat Doncaster and Barnsley and we’ve got Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City to play.

Well done to Joe Mason for his second loan spell. He’s welcome back anytime, especially if he brings the Duke with him. He’s a lot better player with the big man along side him.

© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football