WANDERERS (4-2-3-1)
JACK BONHAM…5.5.
Will feel he should have got more on Nombe’s second goal but did produce one marvellous save in the second half from Gray.
JORDI OSEI-TUTU…5.5.
Below par. Didn’t see his usual hustle down the right in a new partnership with Burstow and things did improve with the introduction of Christie.
CHRS FORINO…6.5.
Got Bolton back into it with an opportunistic finish and defended stoutly enough against a decent front two in Nombe and Gray.
GEORGE JOHNSTON…5.
Guilty of ball-watching a couple of times and exposed by the space left in behind Conway as he ventured forward. Not one of his finest hours.
MAX CONWAY…6.
Some excellent work on the ball but Wanderers have to find a way of balancing his natural attacking instincts against leaving themselves short at the back.
JOSH SHEEHAN…6.
Improved dramatically after a disappointing first half where he uncharacteristically wasted a lot of possession. Got himself on top by the end.
ETHAN ERHAHON…5.
Just seemed off the pace in the first half, which led to his withdrawal. Wanderers had stopped winning the battle in the middle of the park.
MASON BURSTOW…5.5.
Ran hard but lacked composure around the penalty box, especially as the minutes started to tick down in the second half.
RUBEN RODRIGUES…5.
Handed his first start after some impressive cameos but the ball just didn’t stick with him and it was no surprise to see him hooked at the break.
COREY BLACKETT-TAYLOR…6.
Offered a good outlet for the opening 20 minutes on the left and should have scored when played through on goal. Hopefully not a major injury.
SAM DALBY…7.
Marooned in the first half as none of the attacking players really got near or beyond him. Started making life tougher for Jules once Kenny came on.
Subs: Gale 6, 46 – His pace got him into some great positions. Might have been more clinical and definitely needs to anticipate more around goal.
Dempsey 6.5, 46 – Added some snap to the midfield which had been missing. Almost came up with a winner.
Kenny 7, 46 – Two assists and very nearly claimed a stoppage time winner for himself. Can’t ask for more than that.
Not used: Harrington, Christie, Simons, Dempsey, Apter, Gale, Kenny
Rotherham: Cann; Agbaire, Jules, Baptiste; Rafferty, Powell, Cover, Martha, James; Gray, Nombe.
Subs: Benson 58 (for Rafferty), Watmore 78 (for Martha), Adeboyega 89 (for Agblaire), Bianchieri 89 (for Gray).
Not used: Dawson, Sousa, Holmes.
Referee: James Oldham – 4/10.
A low score, and only because he redeemed a dreadful first half with a slightly more consistent performance after the break. Lost control of the game completely before half time and though he booked goalkeeper Cann for timewasting quite early on, he took no further action on the umpteen other occasions. Disappointing.
Attendance: 9,348 (2,067)
MAN OF THE MATCH – Sam Dalby
Johnny Kenny arguably changed the game in Bolton’s favour but it was the ever-reliable Dalby who made sure they got something for it, with a great header at the end. Nice to see his hard work is now being recognised but really needs someone working around him.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
No clean sheet since Wimbledon seven games ago, a reliable Wanderers back line is now wobbling. No Toal was a blow, but the big concern is how Johnston and Conway are used, particularly away from home. Nombe saw the weakness and played on it.
MAGIC MOMENT
Wanderers didn’t have a lot of composed moments in that frantic second half but Dalby came up with one in front of the Bolton supporters, glancing a perfect centre-forward’s header into the net for the equaliser.
ATMOSPHERE
Once again the Bolton’s away support dominated. “We’re Bolton Wanderers, we love extra time,” the 2,000-plus sang, but alas they did not get the telling moment they deserved.
Share