SORRY TROTTERS ARE HIT FOR SIX
Bolton have no answer to City
A DEVASTATED Jimmy Phillips described a drubbing at Ashton Gate as one of the lowest points in his long association with Bolton Wanderers.
Placed in charge until the end of the season following the sacking of Neil Lennon, the club’s academy manager pulled no punches after seeing his side totally outplayed by inspired fellow strugglers.
Phillips said:“This result clearly pushes us closer to League One and I want to apologise to the Bolton fans who made the trip.
“Their treatment of the team was better than we had any right to expect.
“I possibly felt worse when we were relegated on the last day of the Premier League season while I was a player, but it’s similar here.
“But I won’t give up the fight. The new owners and the fans deserve nothing less than 100 per cent commitment from everyone involved until it is mathematically impossible for us to stay up.
“The club has been in turmoil and perhaps this sort of performance was coming, although we can’t blame it on what has been happening.”
City were ahead on three minutes when Bolton goalkeeper Paul Rachubka could only parry Joe Bryan’s fierce left-footed shot from inside the box into the path of Aaron Wilbraham, who volleyed in from six yards.
On ten minutes Lee Tomlin got the better of Dean Moxey on City’s right and, with the Bolton player appealing for a high foot, raced into the area to shoot low past Rachubka.
Peter Odemwingie notched his first City goal since signing from Stoke City with a brilliant leftfooted finish from the edge of the box after latching on to Wilbraham’s 53rd-minute flick-on.
And it was 4-0 on 81 minutes when Jonathan Kodjia crossed low from the right for fellow substitute Scott Wagstaff to net with a firsttime shot at the near post.
There was still time for Kodjia to head home a right-wing cross from Adam Matthews on 86 minutes and Bryan to round Rachubka before shooting the sixth moments later.
Bolton failed to test City keeper Richard O’Donnell until the dying moments by which time they were on the receiving end of a rout.
Then Gary Madine’s effort from distance brought a fairly routine save.
City head coach Lee Johnson was particularly thrilled with his side’s scintillating performance following some bad publicity during the week.
He had to reprimand Luke Ayling, who remained on the bench for this game, after the defender was photographed at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival alongside two players from other clubs who were urinating into glasses.
Johnson said: “The dressing room was quiet before the game and I didn’t know quite what to make of it. Thankfully, it proved the calm before the storm.
“The players were desperate to show the good side of Bristol City after the week we had been through as a group and I think they deserve huge credit.
“They wanted to put in a performance for everybody and they did just that. I am so chuffed for them.
“But there is still so much room for improvement and, with clubs near the bottom picking up points everywhere, we have to maintain standards.
“I want to finish as high as possible in the table to set down a marker for next season.
“The lads can now have some time off over Easter to spend with their families after training next week.
“Then it’s back to business.”