Match Report: Swindon Town vs Bolton Wanderers

Despite struggling for possession for most of the game, Bolton looked dangerous throughout the game. A top class performance from Swindon goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was the only reason Bolton didn't wrap the game up much earlier than their 86th minute winner, an own goal from Arsenal Academy graduate Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill.

Bolton continued their squad rotation after the midweek Checkatrade Trophy game against Blackpool and first team regulars Mark Beevers and goalkeeper Mark Howard returned to the starting XI among others.

Both teams started the game reasonably brightly and Yasir Kasim almost opened the scoring for Swindon inside the first ten minutes and Howard saved a close range effort down to his right. Bolton were particularly fluid when they were on the ball and Zach Clough and James Henry found space in wider areas of the pitch. It was Henry who had Wanderers' first chance as he fired wide from a promising area which unfortunately has been a feature of his time so far at Bolton.

Both sides continued to trade of chances as  the once promising youngster now journeyman forward Nathan Delfouneso missed with a header and Wanderers' Clough had an effort blocked.

The game very much continued in this fashion although in my view Bolton were shading it in terms of the quality of chances being created. Gary Madine and Zach Clough were particularly linking up well and Henry always seems effective when he gets on to the ball in space.

Bolton created two particularly dangerous chances later in the first half as firstly on load midfielder Tom Thorpe fired narrowly over from just inside the box and towards the end of the half James Henry squandered arguably the best chance of the match as he fired at Swindon goalkeeper Vigouroux when clean though from the right side of penalty area.

It has been a feature of Henry's loan at Bolton so far there is good work being done and his presence in the team makes us better, no question. There just needs to be more end product, particularly when it comes to taking chances. In our poor form there have been numerous game we have lost with a single goal in it and within those games, Henry has had real opportunities. He has been good, he just needs to be far more clinical.

Bolton went into half time level but probably will have been reasonably pleased. They looked solid, as they have all season since the arrival of Beevers, who in my opinion is better than any centre back we have had since we were in the top half of the Premier League. They have been that shite.

The second half started much slower and the chances for both sides dried up a little. Most of Bolton's attacking play came from wide areas as their full backs became more involved in the game as Swindon became a little more rigid as clearly they no longer wanted to afford space to Clough and Henry.

Jay Spearing, seen by many as someone who has excelled this season, struggled to get his foot onto the ball and Bolton's central threat was minimal. Phil Parkinson sensed that if Bolton were to get something more out of this game, they needed added impetus and Sammy Ameobi was introduced for James Henry.

It was a breathtaking performance from Ameobi as he really made his mark on the game. He looked particularly effective from a defensive aspect as he won the ball on numerous occasions in more advanced positions and it is this I think turned the game in Bolton's favour.

As the game moved on Bolton created a golden chance as Zach Clough escaped the Swindon defence only for Vigouroux to deny him once more. Bolton substitute Proctor also had a good effort saved by the Swindon stopper.
It looked as though Bolton were going ton continue their run of 8 consecutive league games without a win until from nowhere they had a winner. Former Arsenal defender Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill delicately bent the ball around his own goalkeeper to gift Bolton the three points they probably deserved.

The game then became a bit heated as some quite brilliant skill from Sammy Ameobi was followed by a horrible challange by Swindon defender Raphael Rossi Branco on Lawrie Wilson which incensed the Wanderers players.
Bolton were able to see the game out and have risen to 5th in the table as they got their promotion charge back on track.

Swindon

Vigouroux, Branco, Thompson, C Thomas, Furlong, Goddard, Murray, Kasim, Ormonde-Ottewill, Delfouneso, Norris,

Substitutes: Rodgers, Brophy, Henry, Iandolo, Smith, Evans, Twine

Bolton

Howard, Thorpe, Wheater, Beevers, Wilson, Spearing, Vela, Henry, Clough, A Taylor, Madine

Substitutes: Proctor, Anderson, Alnwick, Derik, Trotter, Ameobi, Perry

Referee:

Neil Swarbrick

Attendance:

7,023