Bolton Wanderers vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:03 pm
Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town
Saturday 6th April 2019 – 15:00
Macron Stadium
Pre Match Thoughts - Mike
What A Few days !!
Who would have thought that the last few days following the defeat to Hull City that the club would again appear to be thrown into all sorts of turmoil, ambiguous interviews, conspiracy theories about the impending departure of Paul Lambert, you name it we've had the lot. To be fair having heard PL declare his love for the club and announcing he was here next season come what may it did come as something of a shock to hear his interview directly after the game, on hearing the first time I too had a feeling of deja Vu not to mention an overwhelming feeling of betrayal, however having listened to it again and again and again it may well be absolutely nothing other than a disappointed reaction to a question put to him which hardly put him in a good light and all so soon after a terrible Town performance, as some on here have said, all he did was answer it honestly and day if he is not wanted he will go, no problem, I think the reaction by a vast majority of fans tells you in just how high esteem he is already held by the fans, incredible considering the results, thankfully most can see the bigger picture, let's hope the doubts are very soon put to bed because at the time of writing (Wednesday evening) we know nothing.
As for the game itself the least said about it the better, I must see a different game to most, managers, pundits, reports etc all saying we played well ??? Really ?? I thought it was as bad as anything under Lambert's leadership and certainly not on the same planet as the seven or eight performances, for me we got what we deserved, nothing, OK we had Two efforts off the line which on another day may well have gone in but that aside we were poor, for the first time I felt we looked like a team accepting of Relegation which to be fair is understandable, the last Eight months must have been mentally draining for all concerned. The bright spots for me were the performances of Toto Nsiala (my MOTM) and to a lesser degree Myles kenlock who started well but faded as the game went on.
Inflatables day - Or Is It?
As if the will he, won't he stay scenario surrounding Lambert wasn't enough we then have the is it on or is it off situation regarding this Saturday's trip to Bolton Wanderers, we think we have problems, I would not want to be in their shoes for all the tea in China, people go on about Marcus Evans, Bolton would kill for a Evans right now, just as we did all the years ago. Breaking news coming through as I write this seems to suggest the game has got the go ahead and while not One Hundred Percent confirmed it does look very much like all roads lead to Lancashire at the crack of dawn on Saturday. At one time it was looking like this could be a massive game in our quest for survival, alas it hasn't panned out that way and there is little to play for other than a wee bit of pride, Bolton are making it a community day and tickets are going for a Fiver, Town have sold over One Thousand which taking everything into account is quite remarkable, the travelling support has been first class all season long and I can see us packing out grounds next season in League One.
I suppose finishing Twenty Third rather than rock bottom has to be the aim and even that is looking a forlorn hope right now, an Eight point gap exists between ourselves and the Trotters so even a win would still leave us well behind with games running out fast, none the less Town's fans will give it their all and do the club proud, inflatables day usually lends itself to a great party atmosphere prior to kick off and hopefully this will be no different. With all the pressure off us now I am going for a comfortable Town win and we may even score more than Two goals in a game again. Oh how I wish we are travelling up Saturday with confirmation of Lambert's leadership next season. COYB'S.
The Opposition – Bolton Wanderers
The club was founded by the Reverend Thomas Ogden, the schoolmaster at Christ Church in 1874 as Christ Church F.C. It was initially run from the church of the same name on Deane Road, Bolton, on the site where the Innovation factory of the University of Bolton now stands. The club left the location following a dispute with the vicar, and changed its name to Bolton Wanderers in 1877. The name was chosen as the club initially had a lot of difficulty finding a permanent ground to play on, having used three venues in its first four years of existence.
Bolton were one of the 12 founder members of the Football League, which formed in 1888. Having remained in the Football League since its formation, Bolton have spent more time in the top flight (Premier League/old First Division) than out of it.
The period before and after the First World War was Bolton's most consistent period of top-flight success as measured by league finishes, with the club finishing outside the top 8 of the First Division on only two occasions between 1911–12 and 1927–28. In this period Bolton equalled their record finish of third twice, in 1920–21 and 1924–25.
On 28 April 1923, Bolton won their first major trophy in their third FA Cup final, beating West Ham United in the first ever Wembley FA Cup final. They followed this up with two further FA Cup Final victories in 1926 & 1929.
From 1935 to 1964, Bolton enjoyed an uninterrupted stay in the top flight.
The years of the Second World War saw most of the Wanderers' playing staff see action on the front, a rare occurrence within elite football, as top sportsmen were generally assigned to physical training assignments, away from enemy fire. However, 15 Bolton professionals, led by their captain Harry Goslin, volunteered for active service in 1939, and were enlisted in the 53rd Bolton Artillery regiment. Only Goslin would not return from the war.
On 9 March 1946, the club's home was the scene of the Burnden Park disaster, which at the time was the worst tragedy in British football history. 33 Bolton Wanderers fans were crushed to death, and another 400 injured, in an FA Cup quarter-final.
Bolton Wanderers have not won a major trophy since 1958, when they overcame Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
While Bolton finished 4th the following season, the next 20 years would prove to be a fallow period. The club suffered relegation to the Second Division in 1963–64, and were then relegated again to the Third Division for the first time in their history in 1970–71. This stay in the Third Division lasted just two years before the club were promoted as champions in 1972–73. Hopes were high at Burnden Park in May 1978 when Bolton sealed the Second Division title and gained promotion to the First Division. However, they only remained there for two seasons before being relegated, and then slipped back into the 3rd Division at the end of the 1982/83 season.
Bolton failed to win promotion in the 1983–84 season, and would remain in the Third Division for another three seasons. In 1986 Nat Lofthouse was appointed President of the football club, a position he would hold until his death on 15 January 2011. At the end of the 1986–87 season, Bolton Wanderers suffered relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history, but won promotion back to the Third Division at the first attempt.
Bolton reached the Premiership in 1995 in the Division One play-off Final. The same year Bolton progressed to the League Cup Final, but were defeated by Liverpool. Bolton were bottom for virtually all of the 1995–96 Premiership campaign and were relegated.
The club won promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt thanks to a season in which they achieved 98 league points and 100 goals in the process of securing the Division One championship. Unfortunately yet again, Bolton were relegated after only one season in the top flight. This season also marked the club's departure from Burnden Park to the Reebok Stadium.
In 2000–01 Bolton were promoted back to the Premiership after winning the play-off final. Bolton struggled in the following two seasons, but survived in the Premiership.
Bolton reached the League Cup final in 2004, but lost to Middlesbrough. Nevertheless, the club finished eighth in the league, at the time the highest finish in their Premiership history.
In 2005 Bolton finished sixth in the league, thus earning qualification for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history. Between 2003–04 and 2006–07, Bolton recorded consecutive top-eight finishes. Bolton survived in the 2009–10 season as they finished 14th with 39 points. This secured a tenth successive top flight campaign for Bolton.
On 13 May 2012, Bolton Wanderers were relegated to the Championship by one point on the last day of the season.
The Championship season started badly for Bolton, with only three wins in ten league matches and a second round exit from the League Cup following a loss at Crawley Town, Bolton sacked manager Owen Coyle on 9 October 2012. Fourteen days later Dougie Freedman joined the club as manager, who guided them to a 7th place finish at the conclusion of the season.
Although Freedman made a number of signings for the 2013/14 campaign, Bolton ended the season firmly mid-table, with the expectations of another promotion push not met.
The 14/15 season started similarly, failing to win any of their first 6 games and only one of the first ten. Freedman left the club on 3 October 2014 by mutual consent, with Neil Lennon taking the helm.
In December 2015, Bolton, who were £172.9 million in debt, were handed a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs over unpaid taxes, and a transfer embargo for the following month's window. On 18 January 2016, the club avoided an immediate winding-up order after their case was adjourned until 22 February to give it time to either close a deal with a potential buyer or raise sufficient short-term funds from asset sales.
On 9 April 2016, Bolton confirmed their relegation to the third tier for the first time since 1993. Lennon was removed from his position for the final few games of the season, replaced by Academy manager Jimmy Phillips.
The financial situation was somewhat improved as a takeover bid by Dean Holdsworth's Sports Shield was successful.
The 2016-2017 season provided some much-needed respite for beleaguered BWFC fans, as the club successfully achieved promotion from League One at the first attempt. New manager Phil Parkinson was instrumental in this, working despite an ongoing transfer embargo and ownership disputes between Holdsworth and Ken Anderson.
Wanderers finished their first season back in the Championship in 21st place, avoiding relegation by 2 points.
The Manager – Phil Parkinson
Form Guide
Bolton Last 5 Matches - Currently in 23rd place with 32 points
2 Mar Swansea City 2 - 0 Bolton
9 Mar Bolton 2 - 1 Millwall
12 Mar Bolton 0 - 2 Sheffield Wed
16 Mar Wigan Athletic 5 - 2 Bolton
30 Mar QP Rangers 1 - 2 Bolton
Ipswich Last 5 Matches – Currently in th place with points
2 Mar Ipswich Town 1 - 2 Reading
9 Mar West Bromwich 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
12 Mar Bristol City 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
16 Mar Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Nottm Forest
30 Mar Ipswich Town 0 - 2 Hull City
Marko's Caption Contest - THE DON CUP
Unforeseen work issues at the moment, Don Cup People, so please have a go at the Bolton caption picture, (whether the game is on or not...... Hallam might know. If not, ask Derick!) ...... the scoring for both Hull shitty 4th division City and Bolton will be in the next preview.
BOLTON PIC....
Match Referee – Peter Bankes
BOLTON WANDERERS 1 IPSWICH TOWN 1