Blackpool 1-1 Bolton Wanderers - The Big Match Verdict

There were some signs of the exciting future Steven Schumacher hopes to bring in an electric opening 15 minutes at Bloomfield Road, and periodically thereafter.

But connections in this circuit are still loose. Partnerships are not fully formed, new signings still feeling their way to top form and fitness, and six games into the new campaign it is still difficult to interpret Bolton as anything other than a team in transition.

More than half of the team-sheet handed into referee Tom Nield was made up of new signings, who have settled thus far with varying degrees of success.

To respond in the way they did to going a goal down completely against the run of play and gradually assume control before equalising speaks well of an improved team mentality compared with the ones who have buckled under pressure on this very ground in the last few years.

The Curse looked like it had been lifted when Xavier Simons drilled a shot into the back of the net with seven minutes left – but the linesman’s flag cut short the delirious celebration in a sold-out away section. Oh, what might have been.

Both managers can point to an element of misfortune in the goals that did count, yet from Schumacher’s viewpoint this was another 90 minutes where being completely dominant in possession did not feel like an advantage.

Blackpool had nudged ahead when Dale Taylor skinned George Johnston and bounced a tame shot off the post and then Teddy Sharman-Lowe’s back before the ball trickled into the net.

A more cynical person may suggest Johnston could have halted Taylor’s progress before he reached the penalty box – but the incident paved the way for an uncharacteristically nervous performance from the centre-back.

Wanderers had been rampant to that point. Amario Cozier-Duberry had two sighters after cutting in from the right, one saved well by Bailey Peacock-Farrell, and the wobbles had set into the home defence, who had conceded more than any in the division to that point.

The own goal served to give the Seasiders something to protect. They did so well, and though Peacock-Farrell’s flapping always offered Bolton some hope, the football either side of half-time had settled into safe mode.

Josh Sheehan should have had a penalty after being caught by Olly Casey on the right side of the penalty area, but referee Nield curiously awarded a free kick against the Welshman.

Mason Burstow had already snapped an overhead kick narrowly wide after some dithering between goalkeeper and defender presented him with an unexpected opportunity. The Hull City loanee continued to hustle in a manner which is endearing him to the Wanderers fans, and on the hour his hard graft paid off.

Max Conway and Cozier-Duberry made ground, with the latter shooting from the edge of the box. The ball bounced off Casey and Hayden Coulson, landing perfectly for Burstow to blast into the net from eight yards out for his third goal of the season.

It would be wrong to say that Blackpool had no threat from there on in. Tom Bloxham had already been an awkward man to mark but when ex-Bolton academy player Ashley Fletcher came out to pair with Taylor, both had good chances to regain the lead for the home side.

Wanderers did retain the majority of possession and pressure, however, and when they brought on Sam Dalby 20 minutes from the end, it seemed the perfect opportunity to go a little more direct into the penalty box and test out the new signing’s much-vaunted aerial ability.

Other than a very late cross from Josh Dacres-Cogley, headed just over the bar, Dalby got precious little of the service he would have wanted. Bolton’s build-up again became too intricate, over-complicated, and though the team shape had altered to give them one extra attacking body, you would never have thought it.

Set plays always offered a chance, however, and with the game in its final stages Sheehan picked out Simons on the edge of the area and his shot took a deflection past Bailey-Peacock to launch an explosion of noise in the away end. Forty eight years since Frank Worthington and Neil Whatmore last helped a Bolton team to victory on this ground, the wait was over. Or was it?

Assistant referee Alistair Nelson stood, unnoticed by anyone wearing white, with his flag raised and a satisfied look on his face. To his credit, he had correctly spotted that Thierry Gale was blocking the goalkeeper’s view from an offside position.

Sheepishly, Bolton’s players continued about their business. Six minutes of stoppage time failed to produce any similar drama.

And so, for the first time in Wanderers’ history a fourth consecutive league game finished 1-1.

Blackpool may be a team in poor form lacking their best striker in Niall Ennis, but the way Bolton controlled the contest must have been pleasing to Schumacher. He insists only minor details are missing before the singular points turn into three.

Others remain unconvinced, and it has been forever thus. There can be little argument against folk’s frustration with the club sat 14th in the table and in their fifth consecutive season as a League One club.

The question to be answered is whether Schumacher is right in his belief that things will change for the better, and whether on the evidence of a tough first month of the season, things will eventually improve. This writer is leaning towards the positive, but other opinions are available.

Two more signings, including Middlesbrough striker Marcus Forss, are due before deadline, with two players likely to leave. That still leaves Schumacher with a large squad, and some expensive players who will still be outside his matchday squad each weekend. Managing that situation will be its own challenge.

Wanderers have not yet shone as brightly as we would have liked but with a chance to sharpen up some of the unused players on Tuesday night in the Vertu Trophy against Rotherham United there is a good chance that Schumacher will have his strongest set of options yet for next weekend’s game against Wimbledon.

Can Bolton flick the switch?