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Five Things: Bournemouth 3-0 Bolton Wanderers

We raise five burning issues in the aftermath of Wanderers' 3-0 disappointment at Bournemouth

Oscar Threlkeld deserves a first team opportunity ahead of senior pros Dervite and Moxey
Oscar Threlkeld deserves a first team opportunity ahead of senior pros Dervite and Moxey
Clint Hughes/Getty Images

By now we're all well aware that Bolton Wanderers were absolutely dreadful in front of the live TV cameras at Bournemouth last night. It's also painfully clear that this isn't the first disappointing result we've had on our travels this season.

Are there any positives to take back to Bolton, or is it all doom and gloom heading into the season finale with Birmingham at the Macron? Here are our five key takeaways from last night's match.

1) Bogdan was brilliant

To start on a positive note, Bogdan was absolutely superb at Bournemouth. He made a string of saves to keep Bournemouth's tally down to three goals, and gave us some hope that we could spring a surprise by keeping us in the match for 38 minutes. His quickfire triple saves from Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie and Yann Kermorgant showed exactly why he is now established as our number one goalkeeper. The only negative is that this return to form could put him in the shop window with his contract expiring this summer.

2) We need to trust in youth

The performances of Dorian Dervite and Dean Moxey were of no surprise to anyone - including Neil Lennon. We had two youngsters sat on the bench in Quade Taylor and Oscar Threlkeld, who played well at Brentford the previous week, who I'm sure would have showed more passion and interest than the two senior professionals had they been selected.

Given Lennon's likely lack of funds as he looks to rebuild this summer, putting the focus on youth may be a necessity. We have a promising flack of talent emerging, with the likes of Zach Clough, Max Clayton, Tom Walker, Josh Vela all now first-team regulars and Kaiyne Woolery, who came off the bench at Bournemouth, Filip Twardzik, Sanmi Odelusi could potentially be pushing for places. So in that sense, there's an argument that the future could be bright.

3) No more 3-5-2

Lennon may have been left with little choice in his formation selection last night, but it's clear that 3-5-2 does not work with our current crop of players. Last night was a painful reminder of that fact. Yes, it allows Lennon to go with his favoured two strikers and a creative player in behind, but it leaves us painfully exposed at the back.

The biggest problem it causes us at the moment is that no-one knows who is marking the opposition wingers - should the centre halves split, or is it the wing-backs' responsibility? Last night Ritchie and Marc Pugh were given the freedom of the pitch faced by our makeshift full-backs Liam Feeney and Walker, both of whom are clearly wingers and can't defend. Next season we either need to sign full-backs that are full backs (i.e. not Vela and Twardzik) and play 4-4-2, or sign players that can play at wing-back and aren't simply pushed back wingers.

4) Bye-bye Moxey

He was awful at left-back, and he certainly can't play at centre-back. I think it's time for Mr Moxey to find a new club this summer.

5) Our away form has been a disgrace

Wanderers' record on the road this season has been nothing short of disgraceful. In our 23 matches away from the Macron we have lost 15, drawn four times and also winning just four times. We've scored less than a goal a game, with just 19 goals, and conceded just over double that figure, letting in 40 goals. As a result we've only amassed 16 points on the road, which is the worst in the league bar the joke that is Blackpool. That away record simply has to improve next season if we're going to have the slightest chance of improving our fortunes.