Sobering Defeat

After missing the Wycombe game (weekend away in Paris), glossing over the Papa Thingy in midweek, and having (I thought) got over the disappointment at the transfer window closing with no more additions, I was really looking forward to yesterday game. Another stern real test of where we are – and where we can have realistic hopes of getting to. We ended up getting several abrupt lessons, largely as a decent Bolton side were able to neutralise most of our threats, Rak-Sakyi being the obvious exception, largely control midfield, and use their shape in a fashion which caused us problems through the game. There were of course turning points, there always are; but we conceded three poor goals – and as we saw too often last season you usually don’t get anything from a game when you give up goals so easily.

The main team news was that Inniss would not be featuring, Lavelle replacing him in an otherwise predictable starting X1. With Sessegnon and Egbo still not available, there were places on the bench for Ness and Chin, which with no disrespect to them and their potential gave the impression that we are stretched pretty thin regarding defensive options. McGrandles and Blackett-Taylor returned to the squad, with Jaiyesimi and Henry missing out, which with Forster-Caskey still with us but also not involved indicated that despite Gilbey’s departure we are not short of numbers there. Up front it was as you were with CBT and Leaburn the options from the bench.

I’ll not dwell on the details of the game, it is Sunday afternoon after all (being on French time doesn’t help when it comes to squeezing in a match report before it’s aperitif time). The turning points were clear enough. First, having taken the lead in the third minute we only held it for five, with Bolton seemingly threatening with every attack. Nevertheless, surely there’s no doubt that their equaliser should have been ruled out for handball. The cross in from the left was inviting for sure, although it only made it to the back stick as a result of confusion between Lavelle and Wollacott, with the former leaving it (was there call?) and the latter unable to get to it. That left their guy with the simple task of tapping it into an empty net. He made a hash of it, the ball came up off his leg, hit one or both of his outstretched arms, and tamely bounced over the line. You could understand the ref not being able to see it, you expect a decent linesman to. May have been no intent, but the ball would not have gone in the net without his use of his hands. Who knows where the game would have gone if we’d held the lead longer? Probably the same way, but can’t be sure.

Second, we had a chance to retake the lead when Morgan broke in the clear, delivering a decent shot at the end of a drive forward only to be foiled by their keeper. Get into the break with a second and the game is different. Third, in the second half, having gone behind before the break to a disappointing goal (mishit shot falls to another guy but all our defenders rooted to the spot), we had the chances to level it when for a period of time we did more than match them. All three fell to Rak-Sakyi, in pretty quick succession. First two times he cut inside and put in decent shots saved by their keeper, the third and best one saw him switch to the outside and beat his marker ends-up but send the shot just wide of the far post. We didn’t score when we were on top, then it was game over when Bolton added a third, a result of more rabbits-in-the-headlights.

None of these turning points alter the overall story, which is that Bolton by and large outplayed us. My notes at half-time were something like ‘Stockley well shackled (as Curbs pointed out after the game he won’t come up against many tougher opponents than Santos), Kirk hugging the touchline, Rak-Sakyi often being crowded out (they’d done their homework), all leaving us with little threat, while we’re being outgunned in midfield and our defence is getting pulled around by their guys dropping deep; and without Inniss we don't look threatening from set pieces’. What was most worrying was that there was little we seemed able to do about it, by making changes from the bench and/or changing the formation. We got back into the game in the second half, for a while, largely through extra determination and managing to feed Rak-Sakyi in good positions. We did later change personnel (Leaburn for Kirk, Blackett-Taylor for Morgan) and with that also the formation, to a kind of 4-2-4 (or 4-4-2 if you prefer). But Bolton had scored their third two minutes after the first change and then it was all over.

We ended up, as against Sheff Wed, looking tired and rather dispirited. We can’t get away from two factors. First, we might have signed seven new players but we are currently without Sessignon, Egbo, Inniss and Aneke while Blackett-Taylor is just coming back from injury. In a small squad we just can’t cover for these absences. Second, two of the new signings, Payne and MacGrandles, have so far failed to make even a marginal contribution. We need more from them, could use JFC being brought back into the picture. Third, there’s no doubt we badly needed another signing or two before the window closed. The manager knew it, so did all the supporters. For perhaps good reasons that didn’t happen, it’s left everyone a little deflated (and some more than that).

The positives, for me, are that when Sessegnon is back hopefully he and Blackett-Taylor can combine on the left side, Rak-Sakyi has been outstanding (but he’s going to need a rest sooner or later), and Stockley may be struggling but remains a good central figure. There may be doubts about whether he is perfect for the way BG wants us to play but we need him – and need those either side of him to work to get the best out of him. Throwing Leaburn in from the start in a central position, on his own, is asking a great deal, and without Aneke and no Bonne there simply is no alternative. And while yesterday was a tough one for him, and he can't be unaffected by all the talk of bringing in another striker, he also played another game when not well, while in other games he has been pretty decent, has made runs to pull defenders away to allow others (especially Fraser) to benefit, just developed a bad habit of heading straight at the keeper. Nothing a few goals won’t cure, perhaps also an arm around the shoulder and a reminder of how important he is to the team. After all, he can't be blamed for the goals we let in yesterday.