TROTTERS EYEING UP GREAT ESCAPE
Lennon’s charges hit a run of form
NEIL LENNON believes his Bolton side are capable of performing the great escape after a lastgasp win over relegation rivals Rotherham took them to within three points of safety.
It was a fairytale moment for Bolton youngster Kaiyne Woolery, whose first career goal deep into injury time gave his side the precious points when the game looked set for a draw.
The win takes a resurgent Bolton’s points tally to seven from their last three games, including critical wins over sides around them in the table.
In addition to all of the off-field difficulties blighting the club this season, they are also battling an injury crisis and Lennon was delighted to win in such circumstances.
“It’s a great win and a really important win and it keeps us in touch now with some difficult games to come,” he said.
“I’m delighted. I don’t think we played particularly well. We have played better and lost games so I guess we were due one.
“That’s seven points from nine and that’s as much as anyone can have expected under the circumstances.
“We may fail and we may succeed but we have a fight on.
“I still think we have enough to get out of it. This little spell will give the players a boost and will restore the confidence.
“Hopefully it will give us a big boost and it has been two massive home games with MK Dons and this one.
“Our form has been inconsistent to say the least so it’s nice to find a bit of form going into the last few games.”
It looked like being a good afternoon for the hosts from an early point as they took the lead after just 65 seconds. The Millers failed to clear a corner and Jay Spearing sent a rising shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.
But Neil Redfearn’s Millers hit back and levelled just before the half-time whistle when Chris Burke coolly lifted the ball home from close range after good work from Danny Ward.
They went on to dominate large spells of the second half and looked the more likely to go on and win it.
Andrew Shinnie missing a glaring opportunity on the hour mark when he shot straight at the impressive Ben Amos from six yards.
But Bolton had the final say and stole the points in injury time when Woolery rolled home into an empty net after Lee Camp had saved Mark Davies’ effort.
It represented another damaging defeat for the Millers, who slipped back into the relegation zone following last week’s 4-1 loss to Charlton.
Redfearn was hurting with the manner of the defeat, especially as he felt his side should have won. They have only drawn four games this season and he knows that their inability to hold on is proving costly.
“It was frustrating after the first ten minutes,” he said. “We were the better side but if you miss gilt-edged chances, it always leaves you open.
“We should have had a point at least. This is the difference – we either win or we get beat. If we had drawn four or five more games we would be in a different position.
“It’s a frustrating situation because we are playing well. I felt for them because they put a shift in and they deserved more than that today.
“It’s a tough result to take because we deserved to win the game. We have to pick ourselves up.”