George Thomason was delighted to be back in the thick of the action and leading from the front as Wanderers toppled the league leaders, writes Pete Oliver.
Thomason started his first league game since Steven Schumacher’s first match in charge and scored Wanderers’ second goal in a stunning 3-1 win over Birmingham City.
The club captain has had to serve a ban and play a part from the bench since the arrival of Schumacher as head coach but seized the opportunity to make his mark in a big game as the Whites again came from behind to secure a fourth successive home success.
“That was my own learning curve and when the new manager came in it was up to me to earn my stripes back a little bit I guess,” said Thomason of his time out of the line-up.
“In the past 18 months or so I've not been used to missing out on games. The squad's richly talented and it was up to me to then put in performances day-in, day-out in training and really push myself and the rest of the group and when you get the chance you've got to be ready, and I think I did that.
“It was brilliant to be out there after not playing for a couple. It honestly felt like a proper game of football, both teams going at it, both teams on the front foot, just a real high-intensity, high-quality game.
“We didn't just rest on the second goal, we went and attacked for the third and it was never a scrappy, hold-on, backs-to-the-wall performance. That was a proper performance, that not only we should be proud of but ut the fans should be proud of as well, and I'm sure they are.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere. They came out with the numbers and came out with loads of noise. It honestly felt like a Championship game. It was played in a great manner, it was a really good game of football and nice to get a goal.”
Wanderers became only the third side this season to hand Birmingham a defeat in League One as the Blues’ 18-match unbeaten run came to an end.
Schumacher’s men added to their point at promotion-seeking Wrexham last Saturday to extend their unbeaten run to five league games and get back to within a point of the play-offs.
And Thomson knows the importance of maintaining that momentum as Wanderers now hit the road for games at Burton Albion and Bristol Rovers.
“The boys should really grow in confidence, as we already, and have other teams looking around and thinking ‘Bolton are on a good little run,’” the midfielder told Wanderers TV.
“But we'll stay humble and the most important thing is now we can't go from the highs of tonight and drop below that level. We've got a game on the weekend against Burton and if we win there then that makes tonight feel even more sweeter.
“We’re coming into the tail end of the season now and every three points is absolutely massive, not just for us but teams scattered around the division so we won't be taking them lightly and we'll be going there with our best intentions to win.
“It’s a cliche but football is a momentum game and a momentum sport, so ride the highs where you can because when they’re there you can really drag them out and they can pull you along.”
Watch George’s full post-match interview on Wanderers TV