McKAY SWOOPS TO LIFT SWANS
BOLTON W 0 SWANSEA 1
GRAHAM Potter challenged match winner Barrie McKay to find a high level of consistency after the Scot’s stunning first-half goal earned Swansea victory at Bolton.
The former Rangers and Nottingham Forest man scored the only goal of the game with a stunning 15th-minute effort – his first since moving to South Wales.
McKay’s goal lifted Swansea to seventh and dumped Bolton in the bottom three for the first time this campaign to increase pressure on manager Phil Parkinson.
“Barrie’s first-half performance was really good,” said Potter. “His attributes are of a really high level. It’s up to him to help us effect the game and effect the scoreline which he did.
“He has those qualities that can produce things like that. And if he could consistently produce that he wouldn’t be playing in the Championship for too long.”
Parkinson hasn’t faced Swansea since the 2013 League Cup final at Wembley, when his Bradford City side were beaten 5-0.
And soon he was staring at another defeat. The visitors had already threatened courtesy of Oli McBurnie’s low shot blocked by defender Mark Beevers at the expense of a corner.
But when unmarked Bersant Celina subsequently failed to connect with a cross from the right, the ball broke to McKay who smashed a right-foot shot into the roof of the net.
Dan James then curled a right foot effort narrowly wide of keeper Ben Alnwick’s upright, before Erhun Oztumer eventually replied for the home side, flashing a shot narrowly wide.
James then picked out Celina after 27 minutes, but from five yards out the Kosovan put the ball over the crossbar.
Swansea kept coming and Alnwick prevented the visitors doubling their advantage by blocking Matty Grimes’ goalbound effort.
For all their dominance Swansea required Erwin Mulder’s fingertip save and the woodwork to prevent Sammy Ameobi equalising after 36 minutes on his return to the side after ankle problems.
Bolton, mainly through exNewcastle man Ameobi, pressed to get back on level terms. A 51stminute close-range shot flashed past a post before he cut in from the right to test Mulder.
Swansea’s first change reflected the state of the game with defender Martin Olsson replacing ex Rangers man McKay.
Parkinson’s double substitution after 67 minutes saw top scorer Josh Magennis and Craig Noone replace Clayton Donaldson and Buckley. But Wanderers still couldn’t find a way to end a dreadful run in front of goal.
Parkinson said he couldn’t fault his side’s effort as he watched his team lose four successive home games without scoring for the first time in the club’s history.
“It’s the same script for quite a few weeks now,” he said.
“Generally our play has been good but we didn’t score again. We have had several opportunities and I cannot fault anyone’s effort. But we are on a run when nothing is going for us at all.”