Report: Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday

In a result that came as a shock to absolutely nobody, Bolton Wanderers rolled over last night against Sheffield Wednesday to remain adrift in the Championship relegation zone.

Despite Saturday’s win over Millwall pushing some to forget that this is the worst squad that we have had in many a year, there was a sense of optimism as the game began which soon wore away as Wanderers, who defended fairly well, again looked completely devoid of any attacking sense whatsoever.

Wednesday, under the impressive leadership of Steve Bruce, were always in control and would take the lead thanks to another Mark Beevers brainfart, this time as he lost Steven Fletcher who, by making a simple run, was able to escape his ‘marker’ (note the sarcasm) and finish low beyond the helpless Remi Matthews.

The Whites had begun the game with a change in shape and personnel as Jason Lowe inexplicably came back into the side despite his horrendous recent form. This prompted Parkinson, for some reason, to switch Callum Connolly to left back and Lowe to return to the midfield where he has failed to impress all season.

As the game wore on and Wanderers’ began to look ragged, Wednesday, via the little magician Barry Bannan, began to dictate the game from the centre circle and showed the Wanderers midfield up with every pass, every move and every attack.

The second goal was inevitable and it came in the second half via Rolando Aarons’ strike past Matthews after yet more lacklustre Wanderers defending.

You would have been forgiven for thinking that the players might’ve been galvanised by the takeover talk, by them being paid at last - but no, they reverted to type in the second half as they slipped to another defeat.

The game (and season) was summed up by a moment between Clayton Donaldson and Will Buckley in the second half which forced the entire stadium into a collective groan and ‘doh’ moment when the former tried to perform an overhead kick which - you may be shocked to hear - went horrifically wrong. It was followed up by Buckley, as ineffective as ever, stumbling over the follow-up as the ball trickled out for a goal kick.

So we go to Wigan Athletic at weekend, without even the hope that being bobbins would normally bring about. We can only hope that the takeover is done by then and the manager is binned off at the earliest opportunity otherwise I fear another defeat is on the cards.

It’s hard to be positive when you’re faced with the evidence of your own eyes, and our eyes are telling us that we are doomed to relegation. Let’s hope the takeover is a done deal already because by Christ we need a fresh start from top to bottom.