Antoni Sarcevic spared Ian Evatt’s blushes as the captain scored a 95th minute equaliser to at least get Bolton a point away to former club Barrow.
With things not going particularly well as the manager made his first trip to Holker Street since leaving in the summer, the last thing he really would have needed was an absolute horror-show of a start. But that’s what happened, with ex-Wanderer Chris Taylor scoring from a free-kick just seconds after kick-off, while Mike Jones made the most of some wretched defending to make it 2-0 after less than four minutes.
Peter Kioso pulled one back, but then Taylor turned provider to set up Dior Angus for three, and Taylor almost had a second which would have made it 4-1 and a humiliation.
But Barrow’s failure to get that fourth goal would cost them, a good cross from Arthur Gnahoua and an Eoin Doyle header got us back into the match before half time. We’d have to wait until the end of the second half for the equaliser though, when Sarcevic drove home a loose ball in the time after added time to get us a fifth point of the season.
Ultimately, the changes to the side didn’t work out. Hindsight is wonderful, but despite Harry Brockbank’s best efforts he isn’t a wing-back. I know that left side is turning into a problem position of sorts, but Liam Gordon and Jamie Mascoll have been signed for that position and one of them needs to play there. Alex Baptiste’s performance wasn’t up to scratch either, although Peter Kioso was probably the only one who had a very good game. Doyle can also hold his head up high, he scored with one of the few moments where he got the required service.
Is that equaliser a turning point? It would be nice, but that’ll need improved performances.