Second half goals from Mark Beevers and Adam Le Fondre, coupled with draws for Sheffield United and Fleetwood, handed Bolton a massive advantage in the race for automatic promotion, and whisper it, just four points off the Blades. It had been a tricky first half away to Shrewsbury, but those two goals in the second half managed to get us the three points and a clean sheet. It could come at a price though, as all three substitutions were made because of injuries.
We got through the first half unscathed, it was a bright start, with David Wheater having a chance deflected over the bar. Ben Alnwick was then tested a couple of times, the first being a great save from Louis Dodds` effort. Gary Madine then had to be replaced by Chris Long within half an hour. But overall it was a poor half, but still one for the taking.
And so it proved. First Freddie Ladapo had a chance for Shrewsbury, then we had our breakthrough, Filipe Morais took a throw and Mark Beevers header, floated, in what felt like eternal slow-motion, to beat Jayson Leutwiler at the far post and send the 1,500-strong away support into raptures.
Andy Taylor then became our second injury casualty, before we doubled the lead, Morais was Morais again, picking out Adam Le Fondre after zipping away from a long ball downfield, he took a touch, had time, and buried it for 2-0. Ben Alnwick was down while that goal was scored, so on came Mark Howard. But a win is a win, and the turnaround in the last fortnight could not have been timed better.
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