A look back at March in a month where Tom Walker broke into Neil Lennon's first team but Wanderers were left cursing injuries and late goals
SUMMARY
Starting the month with a tough-tackling midweek clash against Reading, Wanderers lost David Wheater, Kevin McNaughton and Zach Clough to injuries that would rule them out for the rest of the season, as a last-minute Jamie Mackie equaliser cancelled out Eidur Gudjohnsen’s opener in a 1-1 draw at Macron Stadium.
Giles Coke and Paddy McCarthy both signed on loan soon after and made their debuts away at Blackburn Rovers as the Whites were left to rue another stoppage-time goal – Jordan Rhodes netting the winner for Rovers.
Returning to winning ways against Millwall, Adam Le Fondre’s brace, in a game which also saw Tom Walker make his maiden Bolton start, saw the Trotters claim a 2-0 win.
After signing for the club on loan in January, Rochinha made his long-awaited debut in a narrow defeat at Ipswich Town, before Walker netted his first Bolton goal in their last outing of the month – a 1-1 draw away at local-rivals Wigan Athletic.
Elsewhere during March, Bolton Wanderers Under-21s beat Manchester United in the Manchester FA Senior Cup semi-finals, thanks to Kaiyne Woolery’s well-taken goal to set up a final date against Manchester City.
Neil Danns made his international debut for Guyana while Gudjohnsen marked his return to the Iceland squad with a goal against Kazakhstan.
Jordan Lussey also signed on loan from Liverpool, while Luke Woodland, Rob Hall, Rob Holding and Tom Eaves all left on loan, signing for Oldham Athletic, MK Dons and Bury respectively.
RESULTS
D 1-1 v Reading (H)
L 1-0 v Blackburn Rovers (A)
W 2-0 v Millwall (H)
L 1-0 v Ipswich Town (A)
D 1-1 v Wigan Athletic (A)
THEY SAID
“Adam’s goal record speaks for itself. We were very pleased when we were able to bring him here in January, and already he’s our joint second top scorer. His two goals today were fabulous.”
Neil Lennon on Adam Le Fondre after the striker’s brace secured a 2-0 home victory over Millwall.
SCORERS
Adam Le Fondre 2
Eidur Gudjohnsen
Tom Walker
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Having seen his loan stint at Wanderers extended at the start of the month, Ben Amos’ impressive displays between the sticks in March saw him claim the club’s monthly award.
Cementing his place as Wanderers’ first-choice goalkeeper in the absence of injured duo Adam Bogdan and Andrew Lonergan, the Manchester United loanee played every minute of Bolton’s five games in March, keeping a clean sheet in the home victory over Millwall.
Have broken into Neil Lennon’s starting XI midway through the month, Tom Walker finished in second place fresh of scoring his first Whites goal against Wigan Athletic, while Adam Le Fondre rounded off the top three.
SEE ALSO…
Season in photos: March
Community Review: March