FA Cup MOTM: Bolton Wanderers 5-2 Walsall - Clayton Donaldson

Firstly, I know what you’re thinking - how can Josh Magennis get a hat-trick and NOT be Man of the Match? How can Craig Noone not be in with a shout?

Well let me tell you.

The game was, for the first 45mins, diabolical and would surely have only meant more volume being given over to the PARKY OUT chants.

Walsall were hungrier, sharper and more dynamic than Bolton Wanderers who were, to put it politely, putting in a showing that would have been remembered forever as one of the absolute worst of all-time.

Then Donaldson came on.

He scored his first goal for the club soon after. Yes it may have been scruffy but that’s not the point. The game was finely poised at the time and Wanderers needed someone to step up. Clayton stepped up.

The goal seemed to inspire a change in his demeanour as his usual style - gambolling around the field like a Brontosaurus with a poorly leg - instead Donaldson became a focal point for our attack. The previously unflustered Martin suddenly began to struggle and this allowed Wanderers’ forwards more space to thrive, and thrive they did.

So, well done Josh, but you couldn’t have done it without Donaldson. My man of the match.

Oh and Noone didn’t win because assists are not a measure of performance because they’re so dependent on a million other factors. Don’t even @ me cos you can’t.