The University of Bolton Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers based in Greater Manchester and play their trade in League One. Nicknamed the “Wanderers” as it’s in the name.
A former make stay Premier League club for years whilst I was growing up. I had to endure this club being a tough place to go for Liverpool over the years under Sam Allardyce and even see them take part in the UEFA Cup!
Times have changed since then with the club being relegated from the Premier League in 2012 and from then out it’s been downhill… But after promotion from League Two in 2021 and the club around the League One play-offs currently, the club’s revival is well and truly on! Today they face top of the league in Plymouth Argyle home banker?
Like yesterday it’s onto the A57 through Glossop, onto the M60 and leading to the M61 sees me here with an hour to go before kick off. I couldn’t get a ticket online for this game so it’s off to the ticket office with the hope that I have more luck than I did at Huddersfield that night… £27 to watch this League One tie! My luck is in… Or is it?
Into the ground I go, HALFWAY TO THE 92 CLUB!! 46/92! Into the top tier of the ground! Out come the teams! Football for the win today! LET’S HAVE IT!
Kick Off! A good start by Bolton who are taking the game to Plymouth but Plymouth’s defence is looking very strong. “We’re the one and only Wanderers!” Bolton fans in good spirits so far but so are the Plymouth fans with their own “Allez Allez Allez!”
The game is lacking any real clear cut chances so far and it seems as if Plymouth have come here looking for a point…
38 minutes in and Plymouth have a corner, in it comes… Keeper catches and Bolton break, they get it out left, it’s crossed in… No one attacking it and it’s headed back comfortably to the Plymouth keeper which pretty much sums up the first half so far…
3 minutes later and Bolton come forward again, they get it out left again, it’s worked across the edge of the box to Aaron Morley to shoot from 25 yards… Wide!
2 minutes after that and Bolton break free down the right, they get into the box and it’s played across to Kieran Lee running in… He takes a touch and Plymouth get there to clear… Why didn’t he shoot!!? At half-time the score remains 0-0… There’s only one way this game finishes if the second half is anything like that…
Second half, 55th minute and Bolton have a corner, in it comes… George Johnston is there at the back post… He’s headed over… Big chance!
3 minutes later and Bolton come forward, it’s played through to Dion Charles running into the box… The Plymouth defence hold him off and the keeper collects.
63 minutes now and Bolton come again, they work it around the edge of the box, it comes for Jón Daði Böðvarsson in the box who’s free… SAVED! It comes for Kieran Lee for the rebound… Blocked! What a chance that was for Bolton!
68th minute and Plymouth have a corner, in it comes… Bolton get it away and break down the left wing… A cynical foul there by Plymouth and tempers are fraying here… Everyone involved in the melee now… Yellow Cards to a few Plymouth players there. Bolton fans in good spirits still!
75 minutes on the clock and Plymouth get into the box on the right, it’s driven across… It’s come off Will Aimson… It goes over for a corner for Plymouth, in it comes… It’s headed out for another corner, in it comes again… Dan Scarr with the header… Over!
3 minutes later and Bolton play down the left hand side, it’s played inside for Aaron Morley to place it from just outside the box… It’s wide! Bolton are getting closer.
81 minutes now and Bolton play a long ball looking for Conor Bradley and he gets into the box, he shoots… Blocked! Plymouth clear the danger. Big chance again!
86th minute and Plymouth play down the left, it’s played into the middle looking for Ben Waine and out comes the keeper… Waine gets something on it and that could go anywhere…… OH IT’S OFF THE LINE!! Brilliant defending by Bolton there!
89th minute and Bolton play down the left hand side again, they get into the box and it’s set up for Elias Kachunga to shoot… HE’S HIT THE POST! It’s cleared for a corner, in it comes… Plymouth clear.
Into Stoppage time now and Bolton play down the left once again, the Referee has given a free kick for Bolton for a foul by Joe Edwards who has already been booked… He’s Off! Second Yellow and he’s walking! In comes the free kick… It’s a poor delivery and Plymouth clear.
Into what surely must be the last minute of added time now and Bolton have a free kick on the right in a crossing position, it’s now or never for Bolton! In comes the cross, it’s headed on… It’s GEORGE JOHNSTON… It’s saved and the keeper holds on and that should be that… It is… It ends stalemate here… How did Bolton not win that?!
0-0 record: 15/508…
FT: Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Plymouth Argyle
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 7/10 – Very good from the Bolton fans today, Plymouth travelled in good numbers and gave it a good go themselves as well!
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a good ground! I think it looks better from the outside personally as it is the same all the way around inside but still good nonetheless!
- Expense: 4/10 – £27 for the ticket, £3 for a pin badge, £5 for food and drink, was it worth it? Not without any goals it wasn’t…
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – I enjoyed it here today! Great to see the ground and Plymouth for the first time ever although it would have been better if they actually wanted to win on a day that Bolton couldn’t finish a good dinner!
24/40