Sport

‘Outstanding’: Dougie Freedman praises quick-fire Bolton Wanderers after they send Wolves packing

By Sam Ruffe

Dougie Freedman was delighted Bolton Wanderers’ lightning first half performance as they comfortably dispatched Wolves at the Reebok.

The Trotters all but secured their seventh successive home victory within ten minutes of kick-off, as David N’Gog and Marcos Alonso both scored from close range.

And having now kept their fifth consecutive clean sheet at home, Freedman highlighted his side’s ability to control the game after taking the early lead.

“I’m very happy with the performance in the opening 35 minutes, I thought we were outstanding,” he said. 

“If we had scored five goals in the first half it wouldn’t have been an injustice.

“The second half was a little more difficult, because Wolves changed their shape. They are fighting for their future, so threw everything at us.

“It was more about our determination to keep the ball out of the net. The one thing is that if we can’t go on and score that third or fourth goal, it’s that we don’t go and concede.”

Buoyed by Tuesday’s win over Huddersfield Town, the Whites entertained Dean Saunders’ men looking to keep alive any hopes of a late play-off push.

Those hopes were given a boost on three minutes as Frenchman N’Gog rifled home after Wolves keeper Dorus De Vries brilliantly denied Craig Davies’ low header.

The home side doubled their lead just seven minutes later as Alonso pounced on Medo Kamara’s deflected shot to calmly side foot past an off balance De Vries.

After the break Hungarian stopper Adam Bogdan did well to deny Wolves a route back into the game as he reacted well to tip over Kevin Doyle’s fierce header.

Yet the away side failed to find a foothold in the match and Bolton saw out the victory to stay within two points of a play-off spot.

Freedman said he was happy with the performance and highlighted the influence of Sierra Leone international Kamara in Bolton’s heart

“Overall, I was really pleased with the level of our football today,” he explained. “I thought that our passing and movement was first class.

“The changes I made today helped us. I thought that Medo had an excellent game, sitting in the midfield picking up the second balls.”

Image courtesy of BWFC, via YouTube, with thanks

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