Match Report: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

Today was Jimmy Phillips second (and likely final) match in charge of Bolton Wanderers' first team. After a thrilling match and outstanding result on Saturday, the pressure was on to get another three points. Phillips named the same starting XI as he used against Bristol City at home on Saturday. This was certainly aggressive for an away match at Wolves.

And Bolton paid the price for that aggressiveness. Wanderers conceded two goals in the first twenty minutes against City, it took Kevin Doyle 29 minutes to get his brace for Wolverhampton, although he grabbed both goals within a three minute window. That was after Benik Afobe's first goal for the club gave Bolton an early lead. It did come against the run of play, as Wolves were the better side early. Ironically, by the time Doyle go this goals, Bolton had started to come into the game.

Unfortunately, the lads hung their heads a bit after the second goal, and were lucky not to concede another just before halftime. Wolverhampton Wanderers hit the bar right at the death of the first half, and probably considered themselves unlucky not to have a 3-1 lead at the break.

Whatever Jimmy Phillips is doing at halftime is clearly the polar opposite of what Owen Coyle did, and is working great. Bolton came out on fire in the second half, creating chances, dominating possession, and basically running over Wolves in the process. They just couldn't finish. David Ngog replaced the goal scorer Afobe at the half but he never got a really good opportunity. Kevin Davies missed a good chance. Chris Eagles and Martin Petrov both peppered the goal from distance, forcing several good saves by the Wolves keeper. It just wasn't happening though. Where would the goal come from?

Finally, at the 90 minute mark, the answer came. It was Wolves old boy Mark Davies, a Gary Megson buy, who burst into the box and finished brilliantly with the left foot. It was probably his best match of the season overall. He looked particularly good in the second half, when Bolton dominated possession and he was allowed to come forward in a freer role. Bolton threw everything forward to go for a winner, save for Kevin Davies, who joined Tim Ream and Sam Ricketts in a 3 man defense for the final five minutes.

The winner didn't come, but it was still a good result, and a great day for Bolton Wanderers.