Match Report: Bolton Wanderers 3-0 Peterborough United

I can’t have been the only fan feeling increasingly nervous throughout the week and on the day I felt anything could happen. As it happens I had nothing to worry about as Bolton Wanderers completed a relatively easy and routine 3-0 win.

The game began slowly with neither team threatening too much. But over a five to ten minute spell the Bolton pressure began to increase as a few testing balls flew into the box. Bolton were looking lively, especially Jem Karacan but I have something else in the pipeline looking at out little Jem.

The pressure came to a crescendo as the ball spilt back to Dorian Dervite who, with a tackle coming in, swung over an unbelievable first time cross which found that man Karacan who smashed be ball home. Cue a slightly subdued rendition of we are going up.

Peterborough grew into the match over the course of the half. This culminated in them breaking through the middle. Bolton were scrambling back, a challenge went in but nothing was given. From my perch you could not see what went down there, but whatever happened it was a massive let off at 1-0. The away team had a few more moments but struggled to create any clear cut opportunities despite looking threatening.

Bolton’s other moment of note in the first half was Dorian Pique dribbling the ball out of the defence and a one two later being through on goal. He couldn’t bring the ball under control for what would have been the best goal of the day.

As the second half got underway Peterborough looked strongest keeping hold of a lot of early ball without really threatening a goal. Bolton were not doing much, beyond taking their time over any and every set piece. But then that man Filipe Morias swung in a corner. It was headed towards Adam Le Fondre who headed it across goal to where David Wheater was reading and waiting to smash it home. 2-0 and we are going up rings out once more with far more confidence.

At this point Bolton really took control of a game which had slowed down with neither team seeming all that bothered. Bolton did create further chances though. Mark Beevers had a thunderous shot tipped away and Josh Vela danced through the defence on a couple of occasions.

With Bolton moving forward almost at will a third was highly likely and Le Fondre was not going to be left out of the party. Vela played ALF in and there was never any doubt as he smashed the ball into the back of the net.

At this point the party began and for some reason we even got a trophy at full time.