PARKY STILL CALM IN EYE OF STORM
Wheater shines in terrible weather
BOLTON Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson admitted he is more than happy with four points from six after Queens Park Rangers pegged them back for a draw at the Macron Stadium.
Darren Pratley’s first goal in more than a year was cancelled out by Idrissa Sylla’s leveller 12 minutes from time in terrible conditions.
Parkinson had special praise for both centre-halves, with David Wheater in fine form, in standing firm against the weather and QPR pressure.
“Wheats was outstanding today,” said Parkinson. “I can’t speak highly enough of David since my time here.
“It was a centre-half’s day – our flair players struggled to get going – and that’s why you need your centre-halves to be on it.
“The two centre-backs were magnificent, and we take all our good points from the last weeks into the next few games.
“It’s unusual for the wind to have such an impact in this stadium. It was difficult to play. We adapted well in the first half but we just couldn’t get the ball away.
“I felt that prior to the Sheffield Wednesday win and today, while I would want six points, we’re definitely happy with four.
“It was a difficult game and the conditions played a part. The first half was a good solid performance, though in the second half we struggled to get hold of it.”
Rangers started the brighter of the two and Josh Scowen was first to test Ben Alnwick in the home goal, smashing his shot straight at him on 17 minutes. But Wanderers took the lead on 22 minutes as skipper Pratley reacted to Gary Madine’s knockdown from a corner to steer a header home against the run of play.
Rangers made a surprising first-half tactical change on 38 minutes when Conor Washington replaced Ryan Manning.
The second half started with Storm Brian threatening to put in a man-of-the-match performance as both sides tried to keep the ball on the floor in terrible conditions.
Josh Vela could, and maybe should, have doubled the home lead on the hour, but he fired weakly at Alex Smithies when clean through on goal. And Wanderers had Alnwick to thank on 71 minutes when he smothered Sylla’s firm header to keep QPR out.
The West Londoners grabbed a deserved leveller on 78 minutes when Sylla appeared to touch home Luke Freeman’s cross and it skidded off the wet surface and into the top corner.
Rangers boss Ian Holloway felt his side could have gone on to win it, and was disappointed to give a goal away from a deadball situation.
“After our goal, there was only one team that was going on to win it and I think any Bolton fan watching would agree,” he said. “The process that we’re going through, the lads have to keep a focus on what we’re doing.
“We’ve let a goal in from a setplay, which believe it or not, we did so much on it this week.
“They’re probably one of the biggest teams I’ve ever played against – or maybe I’m getting shorter. We knew that but well done to them, they got two free headers in our box.
“Our players should have dealt with it but it was against the run of play. We stopped doing our game plan until halftime.”