COMEBACK WIN IMPRESSES PHIL
JUBILANT Bolton boss Phil Parkinson praised the immense response that saw his team come from behind against Northampton to climb into second spot.
Cobblers striker Michael Smith opened the scoring for the visitors before Bolton frontman Adam Le Fondre levelled from the spot, and wing-back Filipe Morais secured the points.
And Parkinson was delighted with the hunger his team showed after going behind to a Northampton side that had won three in a row before their trip to the Macron Stadium.
He said: “There was a determination about the lads. Since day one there’s been a great spirit in the camp and we’ve shown it again today.
“Spirit is formed on the pitch when it matters most, and we ran those hard yards as we needed to, because Northampton have been on a good run and they’re an excellent side.”
Northampton boss Justin Edinburgh felt his team were let down by referee Richard Clark over the penalty awarded against midfielder Matt Taylor.
“It’s such a shame because our players put their bodies on the line,” he said. “They took the lead and if anything they looked like they were going to weather the storm and keep the three points.”
Edinburgh insisted the ball did not touch Taylor’s hand.
He added: “What he thinks he’s seen he hasn’t. That’s the frustration and they’re the fine lines of us coming away with a fantastic result.”
David Wheater saw an effort smothered in the six-yard box as the hosts piled on the pressure in the opening 15 minutes.
Northampton’s first real goal threat came after 18 minutes when centre-back Zander Diamond’s header from Taylor’s corner was turned wide of Bolton goalkeeper Ben Alnwick’s left-hand post.
And before the break Smith fired over following Marc Richards’ lay off, before Taylor cleared off the line for the visitors after the ball struck Le Fondre from a corner.
Just after the interval, Wheater toe-poked Morais’ free-kick straight into the arms of Cobblers stopper Adam Smith – a foot either side of him would have meant a certain opener for Wanderers.
And Smith’s sweetly-struck volley from Taylor’s free-kick opened the scoring for the visitors before Bolton centreback Dorian Dervite headed over from Morais’ corner.
With the home team desperate for an equaliser, Le Fondre fired narrowly wide with only Smith to beat, before Bolton midfielder Darren Pratley saw a shot charged down in the box on 65 minutes.
After Le Fondre’s leveller, Pratley saw a header touched over before Bolton wing-back Andrew Taylor set up Morais’ winner on 82 minutes. But it was a nervy finish for the home fans as Northampton midfielder John-Joe O’Toole saw an effort ruled offside with the last kick of the game.