We are renown for not overdoing the excitement at Bolton but I have got to admit that it is getting to me as we start the final decathlon on the season. I have had butterflies in my stomach all week in anticipation of this next instalment of this remarkable season. Maybe the lockdown is adding to the tension as in normal circumstances we would have been there en-masse in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire to see if the lads could cut it at the New Lawn, against Forest Green Rovers, the greenest football club in the world. Instead, there has been an almighty scramble to watch this match with Sky covering it and thus preventing iFollow from doing the same.
Ian Evatt brought George Thomasson back in from the start, replacing Lloyd Isgrove. The match turned out to be quite a tight affair with the Wanderers putting in a good solid performance and the match being decided by a superb finish from Eoin Doyle from Nathan Delfouneso’s cross, a goal worthy of winning any match. With Bolton’s defence once again standing firm and Rovers’ poor ball in the last third, it looked like Matt Gilks had been put on furlough once again. Mind you his “coaching” from the back kept him occupied and the rest of the team on their toes.
There is a great togetherness amongst the team, the club and the fans, epitomised by Captain Antoni Sarcevic being there, supporting the team whilst out injured. Ian Evatt is building up the mental strength of the team, as well as the fitness and skills factors. It is so important to take one game at a time. All thoughts should now be focussing on Colchester United on Good Friday. If we drop any points on our run-in, then learn any lessons and move on to the next match.
As fans, we sadly cannot be there to cheer our beloved Wanderers on, but we can do our best to help the noble cause. This is not the time to change any lucky pre-match rituals. My flat hat will be staying firmly put for match days and I certainly will not be changing the Doombar until the final whistle at Crawley in May. It is beginning to look good but we have won nowt yet but with nine more cup finals to go, we can proudly sing “We are staying up, we are staying up!”