Magennis Doidges a bullet after pen miss
BOLTON striker Josh Magennis endured more despair – but substitute Christian Doidge ensured Wanderers made their point.
During recent international duty with Northern Ireland, Magennis pleaded with his nation’s fans to cut out an offensive chant – to the tune of the Earth, Wind and Fire song September – which references his anatomy.
Magnennis was presented with a great opportunity to improve his mood when Rotherham skipper Richard Wood hauled him down in the box.
But the forward’s powerful
48th-minute penalty was brilliantly touched wide by Marek Rodak and midfielder Will Vaulks piled on the agony for the visitors with a sweetly struck free-kick nine minutes later.
Doidge salvaged a point, though, when he raced on to Clayton Donaldson’s header and stroked home into the far corner of the net after 85 minutes.
Bolton failed to banish their
52-year Rotherham hoodoo – that’s how long it is since they won in these parts.
But it might have been worse for them if referee John Brooks had awarded the Millers a penalty of their own 10 minutes from time when he booked sub Ryan Manning for diving.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne said: “I honestly thought there was contact.
“But for the ref to book Ryan for simulation – the angle I’ve seen it back from, it looks like a pen.
“If he’s simulated that, he’s some clever kid.”
But Bolton boss Phil Parkinson said: “I haven’t see it again. All I can say is I thought the referee’s performance was excellent in terms of being on the ball with most decisions.
“The penalty save was the turning point – it gave them a huge lift.”
Striker Michael Smith proved a handful for the Bolton and was desperately unlucky not to score, and Warne added: “I thought Smudge was literally unplayable.
“I don’t think there could be a better No.9 performance in the league today, he was outstanding.’’