Ten-man Wanderers suffer defeat against Teesiders
An injury-depleted Wanderers side fell to a 4-1 defeat away at Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.
Jamie Thomas had given the young Whites the lead, converting Carl Kennedy’s pass midway through the first half.
Despite Bolton leading at the break, two goals in the space of ten minutes saw Middlesbrough turn the game on its head as the tie entered the final third.
David Lee’s side played the last 20 minutes with ten men after running out of substitutes having had four players leave the field because of injury, extending the number of players currently sidelined to 12.
With a one-man advantage the hosts started to control proceedings, and two goals in the dying embers of the match saw them wrap up victory, leaving Wanderers still in search of their first win since September.
Speaking after the final whistle, head coach David Lee said: “We had eight injuries before the game so sent out a patched-up team including seven 16-year-olds.
“I was pleased with the effort from the lads and we were in the game right up until the 70th minute after losing a fourth player to injury.
“Having to play with ten men inevitably cost us as they went on to score two goals late on.
“We now have to put this behind us and prepare for the FA Youth Cup clash with Portsmouth, hoping at least some of our 12 injuries have cleared up.”
Bolton: Trialist, Spooner, Cvetko, Phillips, Perry, Channing (Chae 50), Kennedy, Griffiths, McKenna (Allen 10), Elumba (Pearson 70), Thomas.