Bolton Wanderers head coach Steven Schumacher has labelled the second half of the White’s 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night as “chaotic”, rueing his side’s loss of control after a “totally dominant” opening 45 minutes.
Rovers got off to a dream start as Chris Martin converted from the penalty spot after Kofi Shaw was brought down in the area by Alex Murphy after just five minutes.
Bolton then dominated the remainder of the first half with ex-Gas forward Aaron Collins coming close to scoring on a few occasions before Aaron Morley eventually netted the equaliser.
However, although the visitors still had some good chances of their own, Rovers came out much improved in the second half and regained the lead through Martin again before John McAtee found Bolton’s second equaliser of the night.
There was still time for a winner though as Connor Taylor headed in a poorly defended Isaac Hutchinson free-kick, ending Bolton’s six-game unbeaten streak and putting the Gas nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Reflecting on the game post match, Schumacher said, as quoted by The Bolton News: “In the first half, we were totally dominant. I am not happy with conceding the penalty the way we did. We’ve got to concentrate better and know what’s around you. It was a poor goal to concede, but we responded brilliantly again.
“We played really well and deserved to go in level, at least. Aaron Collins should have scored it to make it so we would have had two goals. There were a lot of good things in the first half.
“In the second half, they started the game really well. Again, when the team gets dominated in the first half, you always get a response and that’s what happened. We came through that tough period and, unfortunately again, went behind from a poor goal.
“After coming back again and showing good character, I just thought the whole second half was a bit chaotic. There were too many transitions and, yes, the game could have gone either way but they’ve managed to come out on top of it.”
Prior to Martin’s second goal of the night, Bolton should have taken the lead when Szabolcs Schon somehow missed the target from a yard out with McAtee also squandering a great chance. Meanwhile, Ruel Sotiriou and Kofi Shaw both came close on a few occasions for the hosts.
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Rovers head coach Inigo Calderon labelled the visitors as the best team he has seen his side face so far this campaign as they look to secure a spot in the play-offs. After a dominant first half from Bolton, the second period ended up looking like more of a basketball game in an entertaining clash for the neutral.
“We just didn’t have enough control in the second half,” Schumacher declared. “There was a spell, I think just after it was 2-2, where we made a few passes and we settled down. It was just some of the decision-making in the second half, some of our carelessness, probably in possession.
“We just gave the ball away in poor areas. They counter-attacked on us quite well and were dangerous. Luke Southwood had to make a couple of saves tonight, which he hasn’t had to do so far since we’ve been here.
“So, yes, we gave up too many opportunities in the second half. Not, I think, in the first half, but too many chances on our goal in the second.”