Saturday 15 December 2012

Bolton Wanderers 2 v Charlton Athletic 0

David Ngog came off the bench late in the second-half to score twice and break the Addicks resistance. It was tough to take because up until that point we had first matched Bolton through the first half and looked like we were going to take the lead ourselves. 

Lawrie Wilson had another impressive game down the right flank in front of Chris Solly and he was involved in creating several chances for Danny Haynes which went begging. Yann Kermorgant was preferred as the lone striker with Haynes playing behind him in a withdrawn role from the left and played his usual physical role in testing the Wanderers defence.

Dale Stephens sounded like he was keen to impress back up north and was unfortunate to be booked early on after Bolton players hammed it up to the referee. He will now miss Hillsborough next week through suspension but we are not short of options in midfield. Manny Frimpong and Johnny Jackson were alongside Stephens but it didn't sound like either made any telling contribution. 

The defence stood up pretty well until Ngog exploded onto the scene and Dervite and Morrison had little to deal with in the first half in particular. Seaborne was again at left back and Ben Hamer made one good save from Chris Eagles from a corner but could do little to stop Ngog.

The defeat disrupts our recent momentum but we get another chance to win next week at bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday who have lost seven in succession but are currently winning 1-0 at Oakwell in the late game. Still plenty left in that one and now's as good a time as any to get another result in Sheffield.

It was our first defeat in eight and we need to bounce back and establish ourselves in the top half of the table before New Year.

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