A look back at the first three months of Wanderers' most recent campaign
After nine months, 50 games, 19 wins and 75 goals, Wanderers’ npower Championship season is over. In the first of a three part feature, the club website looks back on the first three months of the campaign.
AUGUST
The summer months saw Owen Coyle add Matt Mills, Keith Andrews and Andrew Lonergan to his first team squad on a permanent basis, whilst frontman Benik Afobe was drafted in on loan from Arsenal. Afobe immediately impressed, bagging a hat-trick in the space of 30 minutes after appearing as a second-half substitute in a 3-1 win at Tranmere in what was an otherwise mixed pre-season.
Wanderers’ league campaign began with a defeat in front of a bumper travelling contingent against Burnley at Turf Moor. The Whites then swept aside Derby in their opening home game of the league season before playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in front of the TV cameras.
The month would however end in frustration on the pitch, with Wanderers eliminated from the Capital One Cup away at Crawley Town.
Coyle moved to add Jay Spearing to his squad on deadline day, with the combative midfielder joining on a season-long loan deal.
188BET Player of the Month: Chris Eagles
SEPTEMBER
Bolton’s fortunes were once again mixed throughout September. Chris Eagles’ early season form was impressive, and despite goals from set pieces away at both Hull City and Birmingham, Wanderers had nothing to show for their efforts.
Eagles was once again the catalyst in Bolton’s home win over Watford, laying on goals for Matt Mills and Kevin Davies.
Stephen Warnock joined on loan from Aston Villa, but it was another left-back who grabbed the headlines in Bolton’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday, with Marcos Alonso and a superb solo effort from Mark Davies helping Wanderers register three points at Hillsborough.
The month concluded with a home defeat at the hands of a Dougie Freedman-led Crystal Palace.
188BET Player of the Month: Chris Eagles
OCTOBER
A Kevin Davies brace saw Bolton pick up a point against Leeds at the Reebok, but a 2-1 defeat away at Millwall saw the club opt to part company with Coyle.
Jimmy Phillips took over as interim boss and after an inspired comeback from two goals down against Bristol City in his first game in charge, optimism amongst the Bolton fans was high. Mark Davies netted a late equaliser at former club Wolves in another encouraging performance.
Off the field, days of speculation was confirmed when Dougie Freedman was announced as the club’s new manager.
Freedman assumed a watching brief for the final game of the month, a 2-1 defeat away at Middlesbrough.
188BET Player of the Month: Chris Eagles
COMPETITION: Win one of Chris Eagles’ 188BET Player of the Month posters. Simply email your answer to the following question to competition@bwfc.co.uk.
How many assists did Chris Eagles register throughout the 2012/13 campaign?
Competition closes Monday 27 May, 9am.