Martin’s Musings on Bolton draw: outmuscled early, a sloppy slog later

Jakes imagines MON's snail mail


Martin O’Neill
knows this was another disappointing display against opposition we should be capable of beating. Change must be very firmly in his mind …

Dear Colin,

We looked comfortable at 2-1 but we’ve given away some sloppy goals.

It was obviously disappointing; the three points were there for us at that stage.

We were naïve at times and it was a slog in the last 20 minutes in terms of us trying to win the game.

In fairness Bolton put us under pressure in the way they operated. It was a tough afternoon, and probably that was to be expected in many ways because Bolton are fighting for their lives.

We should have seen it through.

At last, says Jake

I might have said in the programme notes that everyone in the team has worked hard to keep goals out.

By the same token we needed to score goals at the other end, too, and we did that.

But we conceded sloppy goals and should have done better in those situations. Overall, it’s a disappointment not to win the game.

There shouldn’t be any thoughts of the season ending. We have two big games to come as far as I’m concerned.

We’ve got plenty to play for, but we thought that before today.

We were outmuscled in the first 15 or 20 minutes and that really shouldn’t happen. We have got lots to learn.

All the best,

Martin O’Neill



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