AS we downed our pre-match pints in the Fanzone, most fans were plotting their trip to Anfield in a fortnight’s time, made easier by the club’s generous offer of free travel.

The good news didn’t stop there as details of the resurrection of the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association emerged with Neil Lennon kicking it off next Thursday.

Former favourite Mike Whitlow was a welcome guest who has been encouraged by the appointment of his former Leicester colleagues, Lennon and Garry Parker and the recruitment of Emile Heskey. - "Good, honest, hard-working men who will get it right for the Wanderers”. As the “Dead Beats” belted out a lively set, the bets were on a comfortable win for the Wanderers.

Full marks to the thousands of Leeds fans who had braved crossing Windy Hill on a very windy day.

At least the weather was exciting, which is more than could be said of the match and of the Wanderers in particular.

The effort was there from both sides but sadly the creativity was not.

Leeds were the better side in the first half and got off to a flyer when Andy Lonergan brought down Sam Byram for a clear penalty in the third minute. Surprisingly the referee, Mr Woolmer didn’t take further action against our goalie, which meant Lonergan was on hand to pull off a brilliant save later from Steve Morrison.

By one of football’s nice touches of symmetry, we equalised from a penalty, awarded for a trip on Darren Pratley in the third minute of the second half. It was tucked away easily by Eidur Gudjohnsen for his first Bolton goal for 14 years.

Let’s hope we don’t have to wait as long for the next one.

This match exposed the frailty and shortcomings of our squad with several players unavailable for a variety of reasons.

It’s not quantity we’re short of but the right quality of player.