Bolton Wanderers fell to a 1-0 home defeat to last season’s League One champions Sheffield United last night. How did the players do? Well read on, readers:
Ben Alnwick - 6
Stood little to no chance with the goal, but was otherwise OK. Not keen on his tendency to punch over catch, but as long as it doesn’t go in then that’s just my preference.
Mark Little - 7.5
My co-MOTM with fellow full back Robinson, Little had a slow start to the game but was a threat on the attack, especially in the second half. I thought he did well.
Reece Burke - 5
I was looking forward to seeing him play and I left a little underwhelmed. He was part of a three man central defence that didn’t really do much to impress on the night.
David Wheater - 6
The best of the back three, Wheater kept Billy Sharp relatively quiet though was troubled by the Sheffield United attack whenever they employed someone to attack him with pace.
Mark Beevers - 5
I thought the first 45 minutes was the worst I had seen him play since arriving at the club. That said, the second half was much more like it and he redeemed himself from a poorer score.
Antonee Robinson - 7.5
Co-MOTM with Little, I was really impressed with his first half. Energetic running and aggressive tackling will always get a good mark from me. He tired a bit in the second but overall looks a good player.
Will Buckley - n/a
He didn’t touch the ball with any sort of significance until the 12th minute, but was really positive after that. I would’ve liked to have seen how he did for the full 90 but was subbed on 30’ out of the blue and replaced by Morais. Let’s hope his injury isn’t severe.
Josh Cullen - 6
Neat and tidy, the West Ham man was neither here nor there in terms of impacting upon the game but he did maintain possession and showed a pleasing willingness to keep the ball on the ground, unlike some of his teammates who only seemed to want to twat the ball as high in the air as possible.
Jem Karacan (c) - 4
Not good. I can’t work him out. Is he an attacking midfielder? He can’t be, I don’t think he took the ball on in the attacking third. Is he defensive? Not sure, I don’t remember him putting a tackle in all night. Was quick to fall over and spent a good amount of time with his arms flailing in the air appealing for non-existent fouls.
Gary Madine - 7.25
I was really keen to see the ‘new’ BGM, and I was definitely impressed by what I saw. There seemed to be a willingness to run and jump that was barely there before, so all credit to him. He was absolutely no threat to Jamal Blackman’s goal however, but I blame Madine’s teammates for that - he had no sort of quality service in front of their goal whatsoever. I also thoroughly enjoyed his spat with the Sheffield defence in the last half an hour.
Adam Armstrong - 5
I was disappointed in how we utilised the on-loan Newcastle United man and so I don’t want to put his lacklustre performance solely down to the lad himself. In this sort of formation under this manager he will be unlikely to get much of a shot playing as a proper striker.
SUBS
Filipe Morais - 5
Struggled when asked to play in about three positions. Set piece delivery was poor too.
Aaron Wilbraham - n/a
Barely involved.
Adam Le Fondre - n/a
Barely involved. Looks really frustrated.
REFEREE
Stuart Attwell - 2
What a twat. No wonder he has this reputation as being a terrible referee.