Bolton Wanderers Threw “Shades” On Birmingham City Even Many Days After Their Match Victory, And Vows That Burton Albion Is…

Bolton Wanderers fan column: Birmingham win and Burton trip

There was a moment on Tuesday night when Birmingham City – runaway leaders in League One – were threatening to put another team to the sword, just as they have all season, when they took the lead against Bolton Wanderers.

If this was the Bolton side from two months ago then that may have been the case, but ever since Steven Schumacher walked through the door there is something different about this team.

In six league games under the new gaffer Bolton have won four times, drawn against Wrexham and were beaten by Reading (which was undeserved if we are being honest). We see a ‘new manager bounce’ all the time in football, but you truly get the feeling here that this is not just a flash in the pan.

Players are buying in again so a new voice is obviously being heard on the training ground. In-game tactical tweaks are being made, with reactive substitutions as opposed to like-for-like. There is also a sense of humility with Schumacher, and no ego, whenever he speaks.

The 3-1 win against Birmingham was so impressive, even when viewed outside of the final score. This was another game in which Bolton came from behind to win, which has now happened four times under Schumacher. Although he would undoubtedly like his team to score the first goal in games, it says a lot about the mental resiliency within this squad.

This wasn’t just a game in which Bolton sat back and absorbed pressure either. Yes, the first half an hour was mostly Birmingham, but once Bolton drew level thanks to John McAtee it was all one way traffic.

It was a complete performance, Birmingham did not get a sniff for the last hour of the game. George Thomason and Aaron Morley pressed in midfield, Chris Forino stepped in at the back and was rock solid and Carlos Mendes Gomes showed what he can offer to this team, because he brings something different to the table that no one else in the squad can really offer.

Speaking of bringing something to the table, Jordi Osei-Tutu does all of that and then some. I think at this point you have to acknowledge if Bolton are to secure a play-off spot and even think about a serious push for promotion, he is going to be key to that ambition.

There is a lot to be excited about, not only because this team are on a good run but you feel like they have only scratched the surface in terms of what they can offer. Getting past the Wrexham and Birmingham games with four points is an impressive start, but every single game from now until the end of the season is going to hold that same importance.

It is a completely different viewpoint from mid-January, but it’s exciting to be a part of. So we can enjoy the win on Tuesday, but at the same time it’s all a bit redundant if Bolton don’t continue this momentum.

Right now, it’s hard to bet against them

Last week, I wrote that anything more than three points against Wrexham and Birmingham would be a positive. Seven days, four points and 180 minutes of intense League One football later, Bolton kept their first clean sheet under Steven Schumacher as they held Wrexham to a goalless draw, before upsetting the league leaders in stunning fashion under the lights of the Toughsheet. 

The game against Wrexham was a gritty encounter, where both sides felt they could have won it. In the end, a draw was probably a fair result, although Aaron Collins very nearly snatched it at the death for Bolton. 

However, the most exciting game would be at home against Birmingham, unbeaten in 18 and the league champions to-be. It was clear in the opening 10-15 minutes why they were so strong, passing the ball with purpose. That pressure eventually told as Emil Hansson’s smart first time finish put the visitors ahead. 

Bolton then came alive. Josh Dacres-Cogley has been vastly improved under Steven Schumacher and his smart pass set John McAtee in behind, another player revitalised by Schumacher’s arrival. McAtee fired in for his 10th league goal of the season, cueing huge celebrations inside the Toughsheet. 

With the scores level at half-time, Bolton began to press Birmingham with even more intensity, forcing errors and mistakes from a team that had been virtually flawless up until this point. Aaron Morley’s set piece delivery was strong all night and a deep free kick was nodded into the danger area by McAtee, and finished off by George Thomason. 

The third goal was even better – Luke Southwood’s long kick found Aaron Collins, who set Joel Randall on his way. Randall cleverly found Collins again, and Bolton’s top scorer this season added another with a curling effort to seal the deal. 

Carlos Mendes Gomes showed promise against Wrexham but was excellent on Tuesday night. His return to the starting side for the first time in over a year feels like a new transfer, and he will hopefully get to prove his worth in the run-in. 

And whilst the attacking players got to show their flair, the back three stuck to their tasks brilliantly. The centre-backs look so much more confident playing with freedom, not afraid to clear the ball downfield. Eoin Toal and George Johnston headed everything away, and Chris Forino’s first start since the League Cup game against Arsenal was excellent. 

A special mention needs to go to Jordi Osei-Tutu as well. His ability to glide past players is exceptional for this level, and him leading four Birmingham players towards the corner flag before keeping the ball showed incredible touch. 

What’s more, this team want to fight for each other. When Osei-Tutu was hacked down in injury-time, Chris Forino sprinted the length of the pitch to let Birmingham know he had his mate’s back. That is the type of fight us fans want to see, and we weren’t disappointed. 

Wanderers under Schumacher have turned a corner, and they have shown us the standard they can play at. But all that good work can come undone with complacency, and Bolton must back it up in the coming weeks, starting immediately against Burton on Saturday. 

Notice how I mentioned every single player who played over 15 minutes on Tuesday in this piece? Every single player ran their heart out on Tuesday, and not just this XI but every player in the squad has a part to play over the next two months. 

Let these high standards become normal, and I’m sure Schumacher will drill that into his side. Hold onto your hats folks, these last 12 games will be exciting!

Well what a week that was!

The performances and wins since the new regime have been in the place have shown that this team had plenty in the tank to call upon. I’m sure that stood us in good stead for what was a very difficult set of fixtures to navigate.

Going into last Saturday, confidence and hopes were high of the potential success this season could yet bring. The points we’ve picked up are, of course, vital for our ambitions but that alongside that the mammoth shift in mood with everyone involved at BWFC feels like a breath of fresh spring air.

First up it was Wrexham and Phil Parkinson – a formidable combination this season, and I do think they may well get automatic promotion. You know exactly what to expect and they didn’t disappoint.

Bolton had to dig deep, we came up against raw power and a pitch that probably wasn’t best suited for our style. We had very few moments to break them down but survived the barrage, claimed a draw and passed the test. A big point gained.

With that out of the way, it was just the easy matter of Birmingham to face! After a very hard 20 minutes and going 1-0 down, something clicked and the response was something special.

McAtee started the ‘belief’ with a wonderful goal and for me he was the player of the match. Both his attitude and determination was matched with yet another goal, one of quite a few enjoying a new lease of life under Schumacher.

I was sat in the stands and watched what was one of the most memorable games unfold that I’ve witnessed in quite some time.
The second half was relentless, we never stopped running, creating chances and putting tackles in. Fast, fluid, exciting football with a purpose that got the reward it deserved.

The whole team played to the highest level to earn the win, but extra credit must go to Carlos Mendes Gomes and Chris Forino. To have that effort and display on their first starts in what seems an age… magnificent!

The atmosphere from the fans was fantastic and it did feel we could’ve taken anyone on that night and given them a game.

The last seconds of the match created a moment that showed a prime example of the players’ unity. A coming together became a free for all, with players from both sides involved in a mass melee. It had shades of the Battle of Burnden!

While that kind of escalation is far from ideal, this is a team that certainly showed it is ‘one for all and a for one’. That in itself could be pivotal in the run in.

The race for the top six is truly on. Exciting, isn’t it!