Bursik shuts out
SKY BET
LEAGUE ONE BOLTON............................. 0 STANLEY........................... 0 CALUM JOHNSON
ACCRINGTON survived an early onslaught to claim a point in an entertaining goalless draw against Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium.
In a game lacking in quality but full of attacking intent, The Reds struggled to stamp their mark on proceedings during the first half.
But they were unlucky not to take the lead in the final seconds of the game when home goalkeeper Remi Matthews turned Jordan Clark’s excellent drive around the post.
Despite missing good chances of their own in the second half, Accrington had Josef Bursik to thank for a trio of excellent first-half saves with manager John Coleman admitting his team were outplayed during the first period.
“It was a game of two halves. We got absolutely battered in the first half – we couldn’t have complained if Bolton had come in 3-0 up,” he said.
“They were first to every ball, they passed the ball well, they used their target man really well up front and played off him.
“But we slowly edged ourselves into the game. There were a lot of harsh words at half time and the second half I thought we were excellent.”
The hosts started brightly, their first chance coming after only 30 seconds when Dennis Politic raced clear but looped his effort over the bar with only Josef Bursik to beat.
And Bolton kept up their early pressure, forcing a good save from Bursik following a corner.
The Accies’ first chance came almost nine minutes in, Grant flicking the ball around two defenders with a lovely touch, only to miscontrol the ball as Matthews came to collect it.
But for the next half an hour it was one-way traffic for Bolton, with Wanderers wide-man Joe Dodoo at the heart of three good moves down the left.
The former Blackpool player showed tricky feet to beat his man before playing the ball into Ali Crawford, who saw his close-range shot again saved by Bursik.
Then, Dodoo cut in from the left, but only managed to play a weak shot into the Accrington keeper’s arms before Bursik palmed away another drive from a narrow angle minutes later.
Accrington almost got lucky on 38 minutes when Callum Johnson whipped in a cross from the right which Jack Hobbs headed just over his own crossbar under little pressure.
The Reds hammered Bolton 7-1 in the reverse fixture in November but as the first half ended, Wanderers looked almost certain to claim their first win since February 1.
However, Stanley began the second period full of energy and nearly got their reward after 52 minutes when a cross from the right was turned behind by Yoan Zouma, on at half time for the injured Hobbs.
From the corner the ball was played back across goal, but no Accrington player was able to stab the ball past Matthews in the ensuing goalmouth scramble.
Perhaps sensing their chance, Accrington continued to press, Jordan Clark’s excellent strike from the edge of the box well-saved by Matthews after Dion Charles held the ball up well.
However, Accrington reserved the game’s best chance for the final minute of stoppage time.
The ball was played along the edge of the box to Clark, whose bouncing shot through a crowd of white shirts looked destined for the bottom corner.
But in a match marked by the good work of both keepers, it was Matthews who had the final word, diving to his right to tip Clark’s shot around the post.
That was to be the last touch of the game, both teams taking a hardearned point from a match that both will feel they could have won.
For Bolton, it was their first point in six games and a sort of redemption for the humiliating defeat Accrington had inflicted three months earlier.
And Stanley will also be relieved to have prevented the heavy loss that looked probable in the first period.