Dougie Freedman has called for Bolton Wanderers’ to continue their blistering form for the rest of the season following a hard-fought victory over Barnsley.
Craig Dawson proved the match winner for the Whites after first half goals from David N’Gog and Jay Spearing were cancelled out by Tomasz Cywka and Chris O’Grady.
The victory stretches Bolton’s unbeaten run to six games and Freedman has challenged his squad to carry on their winning ways right down to the wire.
“To maintain any interest as a season comes to a close you have to perform the way we have been doing over the last six games,” he said.
“It was a well-deserved three points, the all-round team ethic and togetherness secured our victory.
“We stayed strong until the final whistle and we defended as a unit. I trust these players, they are a good group to work with and we responded well after conceding those two quick goals.
“Football is all about how you respond to setbacks and we stayed strong towards the end.”
Bolton made two changes for the Oakwell trip as Chris Eagles deputised for the injured Mark Davies while Craig Davies replaced Marvin Sordell to face his former club.
Eagles made an instant impact on proceedings as he showed good vision to pick out 23-year-old N’Gog who stabbed the ball past Tykes’ stopper Luke Steele.
N’Gog’s former Liverpool team mate Spearing added the second before the break as he scavenged a loose ball 20-yards out and rifled a low shot into the far corner.
But Barnsley halved the deficit immediately after the restart when Cwyka was given too much room and he fired past Adam Bogdan in the Bolton goal.
And the home side were level just six minutes later when Bogdan parried Ryan Tunnicliffe’s shot into O’Grady’s path and he slotted home from close range.
However the Whites failed to be fazed by the Tykes’ equaliser as Steele parried Marcos Alonso’s free kick to Dawson who calmly side footed home his fourth goal in three games.
The Whites held on to record their third win on the trot and Freedman was keen to show his gratitude to the travelling Bolton faithful.
“We had a travelling support of over 2,000 fans and they were magnificent from start to finish and we are delighted to be able to reward that level of support with a win,” said the Scot.
“Week in week out at home and on our travels we are getting a superb backing. It is important and it really does give us an advantage.”
Image courtesy of Bolton Wanderers, via YouTube, with thanks.
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