Bolton Wanderers

We asked for your thoughts after Bolton Wanderers twice came from behind to win 4-3 at Norwich City on Sunday.

Here are some of your comments:

Norwich City fans

Philip: 13 goals conceded in the last three games, just isn't good enough!

Mike: Only one team scored more. West Ham second in the league. Only one team conceded more. Burnley bottom of the league. What does that tell you?

Alan: They are clearly in need of a defence that can actually stop conceding so many goals. Eight in two matches is relegation form. On the current showing they will struggle all season. Their honeymoon period with the new manager is clearly over.

Stephen: Why did Clement not change the defence? Bolton manager out-thought him, they played down their right all game, Cordoba couldn't cope. This one is on Clement. Honeymoon is over.

Keith: Though we have sorted the forward situation out and now have a very strong forward line our defence is still the weakest and we cannot defend against fast big forwards and have a useless goalkeeper who continues to be beaten on his near post. Needs sorting out.

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton Wanderers fans

Paul: Absolutely worked their socks off and thoroughly deserved a first away win.

Chris: It's hard on the nerves watching Bolton this season. The defence is rather suspect and our inability to shut out the opposition has already cost us points this season. The Norwich defence is thankfully worse than Bolton's though.

Michael: Three points is all that matters. Consolidate first season in the Championship. Brilliant group of players who stick together as a team. Manager deserves credit for working on a shoestring.

Simon: No doubt Bolton have quality going forward - but the lack of positional performance in defence needs fixing - quickly.

Graham: No problem scoring, just very vulnerable at set pieces - five goals already this season.

Image source, Shutterstock

Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher spoke to BBC Radio Manchester after they won 4-3 at Norwich City to record their first back-to-back Championship wins since 2018.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Norwich City go into this game with only Burnley (16) having conceded more than their 13 goals in the Championship so far this season, while only four sides have scored more than the Canaries total of 13.

Bolton visit Carrow Road on Sunday (13:30 BST) as one of seven sides yet to win away in the Championship.

• Norwich City have won six of their past eight league games against Bolton Wanderers (D1 L1), with this their first since doing the double over the Trotters in 2018-19.

• Bolton have lost four of their past five league visits to Norwich (D1) since a 2-0 victory in November 2000 under Sam Allardyce.

• Norwich have not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 14 league games; in England's top four tiers, only Preston (22), Chelsea (20), and Burnley (15) are on longer ongoing runs.

• Bolton could lose three consecutive away league games for the first time since January 2022 (run of 7).

• Since his league debut in February, only Cyle Larin (15) has scored more goals in the Championship than Norwich's Mohamed Toure (13), while no player in that time has more goal involvements (16).

Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu says he was happy he was able to contribute in the 1-0 win over Cardiff City on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland international was outstanding as he made 10 saves to keep his first clean sheet for the club since arriving from Southampton last month and help Wanderers to their first league win since the opening day of the season.

Bazunu was at fault for West Ham's third goal in Bolton's 3-2 defeat by the Hammers in midweek and reflected on his start to life at his new club.

"That's just the life of a goalkeeper, isn't it?" Bazunu told BBC Radio Manchester. "Come in on my debut against one of the strongest oppositions in the league. The third goal is a big error on my part.

"I was very happy with my performance other than that moment. I was happy I was able to contribute to the team.

"We've played such good football over the past three or four weeks and not come out with the results that we want.

"It's typical of football that [with] probably our poorest performance since I've been here [against Cardiff], we go and get the win."

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher was pleased that his side showed another side to their game as they ended a four-match losing streak with a late 1-0 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday.

Thierry Gale popped up in stoppage time with a header at the back post to convert fellow winger Theo Bair's cross.

"It's a funny old game, isn't it? Football is mad," Schumacher said. "We have played better than we did in the previous four games and got nothing for our efforts.

"Here we had to show another side to us, which is really pleasing, because it was difficult against a tough opponent.

"Tuesday night took a lot out of us, so for us to show that togetherness and heart and get through a tough afternoon was really pleasing.

'Thierry is so frustrating. It took him 20 minutes after coming on at half time and I was pulling my hair out because I had a good chat about starting the game fast.

"It took him 20 minutes to wake up, but thankfully the subs have combined. Theo has put in a great cross and Thierry is in the right place. I'm pleased for him."

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Opta

Bolton Wanderers welcome Cardiff City on Saturday (12:30 BST) for a Championship clash between two sides promoted from League One last season.

The Trotters have won just one of their first six games (D1 L4) - on the opening day against Preston - while the Bluebirds are still yet to pick up a victory (D4 L2).

Both are on four points and battling near the bottom of the table in the early stages of the campaign with Bolton 21st and Cardiff 20th.

While it is perhaps too early to label this encounter a relegation six-pointer, a win would provide a major boost against a potential rival for the drop.

• Bolton have won 13 of their past 14 home league meetings with Cardiff City, with the exception a 2-3 defeat in 2015-16.

• Cardiff have won four of their previous six league games against Bolton Wanderers (L2), as many as their previous 19 beforehand (W4 D2 L13).

• Bolton have lost each of their past four league games, last losing five on the bounce in February 2020.

• Cardiff are looking to avoid suffering three successive away league defeats for the first time since August 2024, and first time within a single season since February 2023.

• Cardiff have had more shots than any other side in the Championship this season (104), although 12 sides have scored more goals than the Bluebirds (7). Indeed, only Lincoln City have a lower shot conversion rate (5.7%) than Cardiff (6.7%) in the competition this term.

Bolton Wanderers defender Gaizka Larrazabal is confident his new side will see an upturn in form after they went down to a fourth league defeat in a row.

Wanderers' 3-2 loss at home to West Ham United means Steven Schumacher's men remain in the bottom three of the early Championship table.

"Everything we did, we did very well," Larrazabal told BBC Radio Manchester. "It's [West Ham] a Premier League team and we worked really well.

"We didn't deserve to lose these four games but I really think when you lose, you learn. We are going to improve the small details we need and the wins are going to come soon."

28-year-old Larrazabal signed for Bolton on a two-year deal in July and has enjoyed his time in Greater Manchester so far.

"I'm very happy because its a very good club with very good lads," the right-back said.

"They helped me a lot since I was here. I have to get used to the intensity of English football but I really think I am going to achieve that.

"It was not really [a hard decision to sign]. At the moment I heard an English team was looking for me, it was a really easy decision to take because one of my dreams is to play in the Premier League. Whatever I have to do to achieve it, I will."

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Championship match between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United.

Here are some of your comments:

Bolton fans

Will: Schuey said it before the game, we've got to be clinical in both boxes. Doesn't matter how well you pass the ball if you leave players unmarked in the box. The second and third goals are really poor to concede.

Six-pointer on Saturday v Cardiff.

David: It was another good performance against a top side. Bowen was quality and without him we would have won but we need to keep working hard and we will win more than we will lose if we play like that every game.

This won't define our season, it's how we perform against the lesser sides which will do so. I'm confident we will stay up this season. West Ham got away with one tonight!

John: I have sympathy for Bazunu. He made some good saves but before the last goal there was a torrential downpour which must have made the ball like a bar of wet soap for the keeper.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham fans

Steve: I thought the performance was riddled with poor errors. Passing and tackling errors were commonplace. There were some good moves that were not capitalised on. I'm happy we won but we must be sharper all round.

Kevin: The midfield needs more bite. It's easily overrun putting pressure on the defence. We do stick to the task of winning the game.

Martin: Great result and top of the league (if only for a day). I don't understand why Nuno insists on playing Pablo as he has not made an impact in any game. He needs to go in January. But the rest of team are doing well, starting to gel and really positive.

Kasey Smith
Fan writer

Four defeats on the spin, 10 goals conceded in the past three games. Bolton have now slipped into the relegation zone.

On the face of it, that makes for grim reading. But while the results have undoubtedly not been what we wanted, they do not entirely tell the story of what has happened on the pitch during that run.

For the most part, Wanderers have shown a fearlessness against some of the Championship's stronger sides, taking the game to their opponents and playing with real bravery.

The problem is, so far, that approach has gone largely unrewarded.

Tuesday night's defeat by West Ham was another example. It was, again, a devil-may-care encounter, with both sides playing at full throttle, and Bolton once again showed enough to suggest they are capable of competing at this level.

The fixture list has certainly done them few favours, either.

West Ham's victory took them to the top of the division, having spent the previous 14 years in the Premier League. Millwall missed out on promotion to the top flight by just a point last season, while Sheffield United are another of the division's big hitters and currently sit just outside the play-off places.

That makes the manner of Tuesday's defeat all the more frustrating. Bolton had come from behind to take the lead, only to be pegged back just four minutes after going 2-1 ahead.

Image source, Getty Images

The winner, meanwhile, came from a weak effort late on which somehow beat debutant Gavin Bazunu at his near post. He should have saved it.

Bazunu was thrown in, perhaps quicker than anyone would have envisaged, but it was a case of needs must following Jack Bonham's costly error against Millwall.

It is a cruel game. The former Stoke man was the hero against QPR, but there has always been a tendency for the odd lapse in concentration to creep into his game during his time at Bolton.

Bazunu, by comparison, looked more composed on his debut, and there were certainly fewer moments when supporters were left holding their breath.

I think we will begin to see the benefits of that decision in the games to come.

The frustration, then, is that Bolton are repeatedly showing promise, but are not getting the rewards.

That makes Cardiff's visit particularly significant. The Welsh side find themselves in a similar position to Wanderers, and if Bolton are serious about staying up, these are the games where they simply have to start turning their performances into points.

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Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher speaks to BBC Radio Manchester after their 3-2 home loss to West Ham United condemned them to their fourth straight Championship loss. For a written selection of quotes, click here.

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall midfielder Jenson Metcalfe and Bolton counterpart Josh Sheehan have had their red cards from Saturday's Championship meeting between the sides overturned on appeal.

The pair were dismissed after clashing late on in Millwall's 4-0 win over the Trotters which led to a melee involving players from both teams.

However, both clubs have been successful in appealing against three-match bans on the grounds of wrongful dismissal and both players will be available immediately for selection.

It means Metcalfe will now be available for Millwall's Carabao Cup third round tie against Newcastle United on Tuesday, while Sheehan is free to play for Bolton against West Ham in the Championship the same evening.

Image source, Shutterstock

Harrogate Town have signed Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Luke Hutchinson on a three-month loan deal.

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan with Altrincham and made 44 appearances in the National League.

Hutchinson could make his debut for Town, who are second in the National League after six matches, against Tamworth on Saturday.

These two sides will meet in the league on Tuesday (20:00 BST) for the first time in 15 years.

Bolton are hoping to end a three-game losing streak while West Ham are seeking a first away win of the season after starting with two draws.

• Bolton have won each of their past seven league games against West Ham, all in the Premier League from 2008 to 2011.

• West Ham have lost each of their past eight league visits to Bolton since a 1-1 Premier League draw in February 1998, while their last away league win over the Trotters was in November 1995 (3-0).

• Bolton have lost two of their past three home league games (W1), having lost just one of their previous 23 at Toughsheet Community Stadium (W13 D9).

• West Ham have drawn both of their away games in the Championship this season, but have never drawn their first three on the road of any league campaign before.

• Last season, West Ham won each of their last four league games against newly -promoted sides by an aggregate score of 11-3. The Hammers have also won their past two against promoted teams in the Championship by an aggregate score of 8-0.

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall returned to winning ways with a 4-0 thrashing of Bolton Wanderers in the Championship on Saturday.

It also marked a third successive defeat for the Trotters who have won just once since returning to the second tier.

Here is what some Lions and Bolton supporters made of the game.

Millwall fans:

Dennis: A creditable performance considering 12 first-team players are missing because of injuries. I just hope they manage to get through all the games they face in the next two weeks, including the EFL Cup game game against Newcastle United without any more injuries.

Gary: A brilliant reaction from the boys, as well as the fans - four goals, a clean sheet and back to winning ways but we can't get carried away. We just need to get to the international break without any further injuries.

Freddie: This is a great result for Millwall. However, the last two games I watched we were absolutely awful and if we are going to push for promotion again, we need to play with passion every game. We've got one of the most important games coming up in the next couple of weeks (West Ham) and we need to win that.

Danny: Well, after the two defeats that was Millwall's best match so far. Let's keep it up - come on you Lions.

The Kosher Lion: This was not a 4-0 game. Bolton carved us open and put some excellent balls across our six-yard box from their very tricky winger. The Championship is about putting the ball in the net, that's what counts.

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton fans:

Ross: Unless the team becomes more resilient and learns how to score goals they will be leaving the Championship this season.

Garry: Obviously a very sub-par performance. I hate to say it but we might have to get used to that sort of form this season.

Dave: Time to get real - we're in a relegation fight. We have to identify the six pointers. Never going to get much at Millwall who've got 10 years solid in this division so really we were cannon fodder.

Michael: Where did all this bad play come from? The Sheffield United game in the second half we should have battered them but again why not? Where has the leadership gone? Who will take the blame for lack of goals?

Bolton Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher spoke to BBC Radio Manchester after Saturday's 4-0 defeat by Millwall.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Both Millwall and Bolton Wanderers will be hoping to bounce back after two successive losses to pick up points at the Den on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Lions got off to a fantastic start with two wins but have failed to keep up their momentum, while Bolton's losses have both come at the slim margin of just one goal.

• Millwall have only won one of their last 11 league meetings with Bolton Wanderers (D4 L6), a 2-0 away win in April 2018.

• Bolton are unbeaten in five league visits to Millwall (W2 D3) since a 2-1 defeat in October 2012, with this their first trip since a 1-1 draw in November 2018.

• Millwall have lost 5-1 against Southampton and 3-0 against Wrexham in their last two league games. They last lost three in a row in December 2024, while they last did so by 3+ goals each time in May 1989 in the top-flight.

• Bolton have lost both of their last two league matches, last losing three on the bounce in April 2025 (4).

• Only three sides have faced fewer shots on target than Millwall in the Championship this season (12). However, only three sides have conceded more goals than the Lions this term (8).

Kasey Smith
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Frantic was the word that stuck in the mind following Bolton's last-minute defeat by Sheffield United.

Not just because of what happened on the pitch, but because it also perfectly summed up Wanderers' activity on deadline day.

As the hours ticked by, it became increasingly clear neither Max Dean nor Johnny Kenny would be making Bolton their home, with Wanderers ultimately missing out on the two targets they had pursued for so long.

Instead, the elusive third striker turned out to be Theo Bair - a signing which came somewhat out of the blue given the column inches devoted to the aforementioned forwards.

Seeing Preston make Kenny their £3m man was a real kick in the teeth, but it was also another reminder of the reality of the situation Bolton find themselves in.

So too was Sheffield United's last-gasp winner - a goal which meant the Blades snatched all three points from a game Wanderers had led twice, only to be pegged back almost immediately on both occasions.

To play as well as Bolton did and still come away empty-handed only reinforced the same point: Wanderers are going to be the underdogs more often than not, and they need to learn how to be stubborn, grind out results and find different routes to success.

The game was played at a frenetic pace and there was something refreshing about seeing Wanderers take the fight to United.

But there was perhaps a touch of naivety to it too. At times, we were maybe too brave in our attempts to go for the jugular.

What cannot happen is throwing away leads as Bolton did on the night, particularly when the previous goal had come all the way back in the 25th minute of the opening day.

As for new boy Bair, you have to assume he was not Wanderers' first choice, given how much of the focus throughout the window remained on Dean and Kenny.

There was inevitably disappointment at missing out on those two, but Bair's arrival without a huge price tag or an established reputation also means there is little pressure on his shoulders.

And, perhaps more importantly, the money that was set to be spent on Dean or Kenny remains in Bolton's bank account.

That could prove significant heading into the January transfer window. Hopefully, it leaves Wanderers in a stronger position when it rolls around.

If things have gone awry by then, you would hope that money is still available to go out and address whatever needs fixing, rather than scrambling around for another solution when the pressure is on.

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