The final word on Wanderers' victory over the Latics as bwfc.co.uk rounds up manager, player and local press post-match reaction
Zach Clough's brace ensured Wanderers maintained their recent winning run as they beat Oldham Athletic on Saturday.
Rounding up the manager, player and local press' post-match reaction alike, bwfc.co.uk offers the final word on the match...
How bwfc.co.uk saw it...
Wanderers made it three consecutive victories in all competitions as they ran out 2-0 winners over Oldham Athletic at Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It took just ten minutes for the deadlock to be broken in the clash, with Zach Clough placing a beautifully crafted free-kick from just outside the box into the top corner of the net.
And the academy graduate doubled his and Bolton’s advantage with 13 minutes of the game remaining, bundling the ball home from close range after the Latics keeper had parried a Josh Vela effort into his path to make sure of all three points.
It was a very pleasing victory – it was a tough game, but we knew it would be.
So many aspects of the display today though were excellent and it was especially nice to get that second goal to give us a bit of breathing space.
All round though, the levels that we showed, particularly in the first half, were very, very pleasing and we were able to build on last week’s win down at Swindon.
A lot of teams around us in the league have dropped points too which is a bonus, but really it is a bit early to start looking at everybody else.
We just want to focus on ourselves. I said a couple of weeks ago that we were a team who’d gone away from playing with any real structure that we’d started the season with, but we’ve got back to that now over the last two or three games.
We’ve got our rewards though. It was a hard working team display with some very good individual performances.
It’s good to get that winning feeling again, particularly at home where it was important for us to get back to winning ways.
We know we let ourselves down against Oxford so it was important that we got the fans back on our side.
I can’t explain how happy I am because I really needed the goals to kick-start the season. I know I’ve not played as many games as I would have liked because of injury.
It’s been frustrating, but now I’m glad to have my season up and running.
The first goal was a good goal and I’m very happy with it. I think that’s my third free-kick at senior level. I really like taking free-kicks and I was so pleased to see it go in.
For the second one, Josh had his shot saved by the keeper and it just fell to me. I’ve got a bit of luck and guided in into the top corner, off the crossbar and in.
I like playing on the left because I cut inside onto my right foot. It’s perfect for me. I like being in the number ten role but I can still drift central and have some shots, which I love doing.
It was a disappointing result but I thought the performance was good.
Goals change games, there is no other way to put it. I thought we created a lot of chances but if you don’t take them then as I say, goals change games.
Carl Winchester had four or five good chances to hit the target and didn’t but I thought he was outstanding all day and was our best player.
Paul Green missed a super chance when one-on-one with the goalkeeper and Freddie misses the follow up and if you don’t take those chances away from home against a team who are favourites for promotion then you’re not going to win the game so it was very disappointing."
I can’t come out and slate any players. They have dug in, their commitment and desire was brilliant but if you don’t score, you’re not going to win games.
On Saturday Zach Clough grabbed the headlines for ending his goal drought, which stretched back to April, but those who watched the Whites steam-roll their local rivals will hand equal billing to the less fashionable members of the group.
Jay Spearing is at least one class above League One level but his attitude since taking on the captain’s armband from the injured Darren Pratley has been the truly impressive part of his game.
The former Liverpool man is the heartbeat of the team at the moment and is also bringing the best out of those around him.
Josh Vela has never been more consistent for Wanderers, while Tom Thorpe produced an immaculate first-half after dragging himself off his sick bed on the morning of the game.
Add to that a defensive partnership between David Wheater and Mark Beevers which rarely strays from rock solid and you wonder what would actually happen if Parkinson could get his strikers to fire all at once too.It had not been the prettiest victory, nor as comprehensive as it should have been, but as Carl Boyeson blew the whistle home fans cared not.
Whether the good times are here to stay is still up for debate but while the players down Wanderers’ spine are in this sort of form, it is not unreasonable to think they can keep themselves in the promotion picture.
They are not quite the Super Whites – but they might not need to be "that" good to escape this division.