Dougie Freedman insisted Bolton Wanderers’ tireless performance merited a result after they were edged out in a five-goal thriller against Leicester City.
The Trotters got off to a flyer through David N’Gog’s early penalty before a Chris Wood’s spot kick and Lloyd Dyer’s strike gave Leicester the lead.
Darren Pratley drew Bolton level before Foxes’ Jeff Schlupp grabbed a late winner, but Freedman remains confident that similar performances will be rewarded in the future.
“My players gave every single ounce of effort, but it just wasn’t to be for us,” he said. “The game could have gone either way.
“The amount of effort we put into the game tonight was there for all to see. If we continue that over the next period of games we’ll get the results.
“We started well and controlled the first half. The disappointment is that we conceded a second goal so quickly after the first.”
The Whites got off to the perfect start as N’Gog calmly converted from the spot following a trip on the surging Chung-Yong Lee from Leicester skipper Wes Morgan.
The Foxes were awarded a spot kick of their own on 38 minutes when Danny Butterfield felled Dyer and Kiwi Wood stepped up to calmly draw the hosts level.
The home side were ahead just moments later when Wood’s neat layoff was lashed off the woodwork and past Adam Bogdan by Dyer.
Bolton increased the pressure in the second half as they searched for an equalizer, and were duly rewarded when Pratley cleverly side-footed home from Sam Ricketts’ long throw.
However the Trotters’ hard work was undone with 12 minutes left as Schlupp collected the ball in space and rifled past Bogdan from 20 yards out.
Leicester’s late winner bumps Bolton out of the play-off places and Freedman will now miss the former Liverpool striker N’Gog, who was confirmed to be have dislocated his shoulder.
“David N’Gog has gone off to the hospital for a scan to find out the exact details of the injury. Initially, we think it could be his shoulder, but we have to get that confirmed.”
Image courtesy of BWFC, via YouTube, with thanks
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