SM
Liverpool vs. Villa: 22 hrs 51 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
BL
Championship | Gameweek 36
Mar 9, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
ML

2-1

Olkowski (48'), O'Neil (60')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Gregory (87')

Bolton earn vital victory against fellow strugglers Millwall

:Headline: Result: Bolton earn vital victory against fellow strugglers Millwall: ID:352859: from db_amp
Pawel Olkowski and Gary O'Neil scored in the 2-1 win.

Pawel Olkowski and Gary O'Neil scored second-half goals as Bolton ended a rollercoaster week with a 2-1 Sky Bet Championship victory over FA Cup quarter-finalists Millwall.

Phil Parkinson's Wanderers stay in the relegation zone after only a second win in 11 games.

And after coasting towards three vital points they made life hard by conceding an 87th-minute goal to Lions top scorer Lee Gregory.

But with Ken Anderson's controversial reign as chairman coming to an end and a takeover on the horizon, this victory could just be the catalyst for a great escape for a second successive season.

Events in the week leading up to the game had put the contest in doubt because of unpaid wages to ground staff and stewards.

Given the poor quality for the opening period, plenty inside the University of Bolton Stadium might have wondered if the efforts had been worthwhile.

And while ground staff and stewards eventually received payment Bolton players kicked-off still without receipt of February's wages.

However, chairman Anderson has promised the money will be paid on Monday if a protracted takeover has not happened.

But any current personal issues pale into insignificance compared to the darkest day in the club's history.

So Bolton fans remembered the 73rd anniversary of the Burnden Park disaster when 33 spectators lost their lives during a game between Wanderers and Stoke.

And in the 33rd minute, the home fans stood in tribute to the supporters who died in one of Britain's greatest football tragedies.

Manager Parkinson, starting a two-game touchline ban following an outburst during a 2-1 defeat at Leeds, watched this relegation scrap from the television gantry.

Wanderers' chances were not helped either by suspensions for David Wheater, Craig Noone and Jason Lowe.

If the first half was instantly forgettable, Wanderers ensured the second was of far higher quality.

Callum Connolly picked out Olkowski three minutes after the re-start and the Polish full-back cut the ball back onto his left foot and fired into the bottom corner.

Crucially for Bolton, Joe Williams cleared off the line from Jake Cooper after the home defence were caught out by Shane Ferguson's inswinging corner.

And three minutes later Bolton doubled their advantage. The lowest scorers in the Championship have not got much of a catalogue this season but O'Neil's strike is a goal of the season contender.

Freed by Williams' pass, the veteran midfielder charged forward from halfway, checked his run inside the area before angling a right foot effort into the bottom corner of Jordan Archer's net.

Millwall were not finished and Ben Thompson's long-range effort was arrowing into the bottom corner before keeper Remi Matthews intervened.

A comeback looked on when Gregory flicked in his eighth Championship goal of the season. Tom Elliott also headed onto the roof of the net but Bolton held on.

amp_article__352859 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-09 17:50:42:
html db last update - 2019-03-09 17:50:42 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe1392231161529
2Birmingham CityBirmingham1292123111229
3Wrexham1374221101125
4Mansfield TownMansfield127322014624
5Lincoln CityLincoln137332016424
6Bolton WanderersBolton137242219323
7Huddersfield TownHuddersfield137151912722
8Barnsley136432118322
9Reading137152120122
10Stockport CountyStockport145632017321
11Exeter CityExeter126151310319
12Charlton AthleticCharlton135441514119
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough145362526-118
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham144551416-217
15Stevenage145271015-517
16Blackpool134452125-416
17Bristol Rovers135171520-516
18Northampton TownNorthampton134361720-315
19Wigan AthleticWigan133551211114
20Leyton Orient133281118-711
21Crawley TownCrawley143291225-1311
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge123181117-610
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1422101325-128
24Burton Albion130581325-125
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .