WANDERERS (3-5-2).
NATHAN BAXTER…7.
Stood up to plenty of penalty box pressure and came up with a couple of good saves in the second half to preserve the clean sheet.
JOSH DACRES-COGLEY…7.5.
He has played centre-back before, and his versatility is overlooked at times, but kudos to Cogs, whose pace and positioning was first class all night.
WILL FORRESTER…8.
A proper warrior-like display in the middle, putting his head where boots would fear to tread. Made a real case for himself to stay in the reckoning for Barnsley.
GETHIN JONES…7.5.
Shifted over to the left side, which was a compromise, but he didn’t let the side down at all. Stayed solid and make some important clearances.
RANDELL WILLIAMS…7.5.
Worked well with Dacres-Cogley on the right side and provided an outlet for Bolton when the going got rough. Also had that long throw up his sleeve, along with Wycombe’s towel.
KLAIDI LOLOS…6.
First league start for Wanderers was a hectic one. Did his best to get involved and his extra height certainly helped. Will get more chances.
JAY MATETE…7.
Quiet first half where, like Lolos, he got lost in the crowd a bit. Matete really came good after the break, though, and was unlucky to be booked for a fine recovery tackle.
GEORGE THOMASON…6.
Might have been the matchwinner at the end. Midfield was a pinball machine at times and Thomason chased tirelessly. Would have liked to get more of the ball, I’m sure.
SZABI SCHON…6.5.
Won’t have played in this type of game very often on the continent. In Land of the Giants, the diminutive wing-back did he best to get involved, and improved in the last half-hour.
VICTOR ADEBOYEJO…5.5.
Spent a lot of time tracking back, blocking, marking – al the stuff a striker isn’t going to enjoy. Not involved much at the business end but not really at fault for that.
AARON COLLINS…6.
Really had Wycombe worried early on when he went on a couple of searching runs into enemy territory. Got lost in the shuffle a bit.
Subs: McAtee 5.5, 70 (for Collins) – Worked hard with little reward.
Charles 5.5, 70 (for Adeboyejo) – Sniffing around at the end.
Not used: Southwood, Mendes Gomes, Arfield, Sharples-Ahmed, Inwood.
Wycombe (4-1-4-1): Ravizzoli; Pattenden, Low, Taylor, Hartridge; Bakinson; Onyedinma, Humphreys, Leahy, Lubala; Kone.
Subs: McClearly 66 (for Lubala), Udoh 74 (for Onyedinma), Grimmer 88 (for Pattenden).
Not used: George, Grimmer, Wheeler, Butcher, Udoh, McCleary, Hanlan.
Referee: Stephen Martin – 5/10: Not sure why a yellow card was issued to Jay Matete – who now serves a one-game ban – for what looked a genuinely good challenge. Another yellow was issued to Randell Williams for using a Wycombe towel which lay suspiciously on the touchline. Seemed too eager to stop the game and that played very much into the home side’s hands.
Attendance: 6,119 (770)
MAN OF THE MATCH – Will Forrester.
A warrior on the night, right up for the scrap. He is better than just a ‘penalty box defender’ but that is definitely where he shines. There will be a clamour to see him start against Barnsley – a different type of opponent altogether – and the youngster needs to prove he can handle all types of occasions.
MOAN OF THE MATCH.
Kone spent the first 45 minutes offside. That may have continued into the second half – but the view from Wycombe’s press box is diminished by two whacking great dugouts. Rant over.
MAGIC MOMENT.
Seconds before kick-off, the lights were switched off inside the stands.
Instantly, the Bolton fans chimed up: “We’ll sing in the dark!”
Outstanding support on the night. Potentially the loudest and most continuous singing of the season so far.
ATMOSPHERE.
A proper away day. For 770 Wanderers to make this long trip on a Friday night before Christmas when they could have watched it at home on the TV tells you a lot about the quality of this fanbase. That’s what you are playing for, lads…
