Bolton proved that miracles do sometimes happen at Christmas yesterday when they got their festive period off to a cracker (we do apologise for the Christmas references), beating Cardiff 2-0.
For the most part, any neutrals watching, or anyone who taken up the ‘free match ticket with any pantomime ticket purchase` offer, won`t have been impressed by either side. Bolton were solid at the back all game, but offered little going forward. The only two changes to be made from last week`s game were in the full-back positions, with Mark Little and Andy Taylor coming in, and after the week`s talk about playing time, no loanees made the starting XI.
Cardiff should have gone ahead when Junior Hoilett tapped in at the near post, but the offside flag, had perhaps erroneously, gone up and Wanderers got back into the changing rooms level.
Neil Warnock`s Cardiff were second in the league, but you`d struggle to work how they got there going off their performance, with their forward line not mustering up many chances. With about 15 minutes to go, we did get a huge chance. Sol Bamba put his hand up in the area, and the penalty was given. Warnock would go on to whinge, as Warnock does, as did many a Cardiff fan, but being right behind it he definitely moved his arm toward the ball, which gave Darren Bond the decision to make.
Gary Madine stepped up to convert his second penalty in the last three games at the Macron, with a great strike, despite Neil Etheridge`s attempt to the do the Grobelaar or the Dudek, delete as applicable depending on how old you are.
It felt like it would be a nervous last quarter of an hour, but Bolton did well, Lee Tomlin, having come on as a sub, was taken off in just 10 minutes after fears that he would react to something from our midfield, before Wanderers wrapped up the result with a lovely bit of play from Gary Madine, who played in Josh Vela to double the lead, and seal a fourth win of the season.
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