Bolton Home Drew 0 – 0 , Blatant Penalty, We Could Have Lost

Posted on October 20, 2026 by John Smith

The injury suffered by Downes at Norwich kept him out of the home fixture with Bolton, so there was an immediate return for Bragg after suspension, leaving Jander on the bench, where he was to remain. Otherwise there were changes that seemed prepared for the visitors to park the bus as Welington replaced Manning and Fellows kept Matsuki out – and yes, Bolton had few attacking ambitions, which is understandable as I wouldn’t have been able to put a first name to any of their outfield players. It also has to be said that Steve Schumacher’s team were incredibly well organised in their efforts to protect Bazunu’s goal, including an effective offside trap, although there were opportunities that gave us an expected goal figure of 1.86. I’d give this stat more credence if I understood how it worked, but a Scienza shot that should have been kept under the bar would have contributed, as well as an intended Scienza cross that went close to both the post and its target – Larin, who collided with Bazunu instead. The knock was to force the striker off, being replaced by Dobbin just before the break, while Fellows made way for Matsuki at half time as Saints re-organised. Bolton, though, were half way to a point and remained determined to deny opportunities. They should have contributed to their own downfall when replays show as clear a handball that you could wish for by Rodrigues as he blocked Scienza’s cross. I don’t suppose anyone has started bemoaning the lack of VAR, and Saints should have won the game anyway but for Dobbin missing the target when sent clear by Matsuki and, in the latter stages, Bree not getting enough on Scienza’s cross to send it inside the post. It has to be said that the visitors were credited with a respectable x.g. figure of 1.22 themselves, with Peretz forced into more action in the second half than the coach would have liked. Their best moment, though, had come much earlier when Larrazabal was played in and it had needed a fine piece of tackling back by Fellows to stop him shooting. In the end, though, Saints were at fault for not finding a way to test Bazunu low to his left – it’s not as though we don’t know anything about his weaknesses.