Defying the odds

If you’d had asked any Bolton fan where the team would be in the table at the end of August, the vast majority would have replied ‘bottom’ half.

On paper, Wanderers have faced a couple of tricky teams in the opening four games of the season. Just look at the first game against West Bromwich Albion. The favourites for relegation, heading to the Hawthorns to take on one of the promotion favourites.

Going off the predictions of the pundits, fans & myself, Wanderers had no right to win that game. Nobody saw the outcome of Bolton winning. A team who were so poor last season, particularly away from home, defying the odds to create the first major upset of the season.

Wanderers have continued to defy the odds in their following three league games.

Unwanted records have been destroyed. For the first time in four years in the Championship, Bolton have won back-to-back away games. We’ve won more times away from home this season than in the previous two Championship campaigns combined.

What Phil Parkinson has so far managed to achieve this season is nothing sort of extraordinary.

It’s officially the best start Bolton Wanderers have made to a Championship season since 2000.

The start Wanderers have made and the good feeling surrounding the club is fairly reminiscent of England at the World Cup. That mantra of ‘It’s coming home’.

We all know that Bolton aren’t going to be table toppers for the entire season. At some point, the bubble is going to burst. So we need to enjoy it while it lasts.

As Chris mentioned in an article a few weeks back, these moments are what supporting a ‘shit’ team is all about.

Watching your team wind up the opposition, grind out deserved results and get points on the board.

On Saturday, Wanderers are facing Sheffield United at home.

Whilst the whole club is riding a huge wave of euphoria, get behind the lads and buy a ticket (if you haven’t got one already). Be the 12th man, or 13th in Reading’s case.

If you want to see a side full of confidence and to watch an expert example of Scheiß Housery, get yourself to the UNIBOL tomorrow.