Burton Albion vs Bolton Wanderers 1-1 - match review

 The start of a bad run?

Another poor Bolton performance leads to a 1-1 draw away from home to 22nd place Burton Albion, there is no doubt that Evatt will not be happy with the result or some of the individual performances. Bolton have draw 1-1 with Burton two games in a row now, and with Middlesborough on the horizon, the bad form could continue for the Wanderers.

Statistical review

As always, Bolton dominated the ball over Burton (62% possession) and this lead to more chances and shots for the Wanderers. Bolton took 17 shots, with 6 on target, however they allowed Burton to have 13 shots, with 3 on target; the defence has been a strength for Bolton this season but 13 shots for Burton, highlights that it wasn't as impressive in this game. This could be due to the injury of captain and star player, Ricardo Santos, the centre back was forced off at half time due to a tackle in the first minute. In the interview after, Evatt said "We don't know. It was a really bad tackle in the first minute of the game" he continued "It seems to have got progressively worse as the half went on. It looks to be his ankle joint, which isn't ideal". It doesn't sound good for Santos and he will be a big miss, with Toal and Johnston already missing at the back. 

Yet again Bolton miss big chances that count them out of winning games, Bolton created 3 big chances and only converted 1, with Dion Charles scoring in the 58th minute, assisted by Kyle Dempsey. Both Thomason and Maghoma came in for Sheehan and Morley for this game and I do not believe this will be a long term change, Sheehan's creative output was missed and Maghoma is still adapting to the Evatt style of play. Williams and Dacres Cogley played 4 key passes each, very impressive for wide players, and based of these performances it is disappointing that Bolton couldn't get the win. 

Burton were good defensively and, despite having less of the ball, they forced Bolton to play in their own third - 36% of the game was played in Bolton's defensive third and Burton held a good line to play Bolton offside twice. They also blocked 6 of Bolton's 17 shots, perhaps showing the passion that just wasn't there for Bolton Wanderers. 

Overall review

After watching the highlights of the game (sorry I didn't have the opportunity to watch the game live) it appears that Burton had a better understanding of Bolton than Bolton had of Burton. To expand on this, Burton's pressing triggers were known by the entire team and this meant that they won the ball a lot in the middle of final third - this explains Bolton losing possession 170 times. This wouldn't be a big issue if Bolton were good in the build up and progression phases of play, however they were not (especially after Ricardo Santos went off). In build up, Bolton set up in a 3-1-6 shape with the wing backs high and Maghoma and Dempsey pushed on to create a 6 along the frontline. This means that if Bolton lose the ball in build up, they are in a lot of trouble, this is what happened in the first goal. Dempsey lost possession after receiving a pass from Iredale, he looked to pass to Williams but scuffed it and the Burton player intercepted and Dacres Cogley wasn't able to get back in time for the back post tap in. 

Paris Maghoma did show his quality and helped create a chance for Victor Adeboyejo, which he should have scored. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box and dribbled through two players, then played a 1-2 with Dion Charles and played it out wide to Dacres Cogley. He played the ball onto the foot and Adeboyejo took an acrobatic effort and hit it straight at the goalkeeper, this could have brought Bolton back into the game with long to go. 

For Bolton's goal, George Thomason used his physicality to win the header over the Burton player in the middle of the pitch. The ball fell to Kyle Dempsey who managed to flick it onto Dion Charles, who had sneaked behind the opposition centre backs and was played onside by a Burton full back. He showed his individual quality and composure to take the ball around the goalkeeper and make it 1-1, this was a very lucky goal but did show what Bolton could do. However, they didn't have the quality to score again and the game finished a draw - a very disappointing result for Bolton.

Again, Evatt appeared to be slow with his substitutions and his first non-enforced sub was Cameron Jerome in the 72 minute. Arguably, Mendes Gomes deserved to start the game and wasn't involved until the 73rd minute. All good managers are stubborn but, what can make you an elite manager is knowing when to make changes to your starting team, and through substitutions. Against Middlesborough, with a win not expected, Evatt should start his summer signing Carlos Mendes Gomes and Will Forrester: both have been impressive when they have come on but haven't been given a start with other "first teamers", Forrester will be forced into the team if Santos' injury is serious but he should have trusted him earlier. 

Let me know what you think, either on Twitter or comment on here.