WANDERERS (3-5-2).
NATHAN BAXTER…5.5.
Made a fine save early on from Kaikai but the nerves had got to him by the end, and helped Cambridge establish their comeback.
GETHIN JONES…6.
He and Johnston mopped up everything Santos couldn’t win in their air for quite a while. Under such pressure, though, the resistance was always going to be finite.
RICARDO SANTOS…6.5.
Led the back three well for all but the final few moments. The questions should really be aimed elsewhere on the night.
GEORGE JOHNSTON…6.
One important block early on from Brophy’s shot and won his fair share in the air too. A step up from the weekend against Blackpool, but that red card…
JOSH DACRES-COGLEY…6.
At least offered a little energy and penetration in the first half, linking quite well with Matete and Jones down the right side.
JOSH SHEEHAN…5.
Played impossibly deep for most of the game, which made it tough to really influence anything in possession. Also, looked quite frustrated at being so marginalised.
GEORGE THOMASON…5.
Missed Mansfield after picking up his fifth booking of the season. Snatched at the few opportunities which came his way.
JAY MATETE…5.
Got involved early on and played further forward than we have been used to seeing him. His work anywhere near the penalty box is ineffective, though.
RANDELL WILLIAMS…4.5.
Given the nod to replace Schon but didn’t offer much on the night. Overplayed at times, putting Bolton under pressure.
DION CHARLES…5.5.
Looked keen to make a difference but rushed a few things that would ordinarily have ended up in the back of the net. Needs something to break for him.
AARON COLLINS…6.
Got the goal, which keeps his decent run going, but probably not quite as involved as Wanderers needed him to be overall.
Subs: Osei-Tutu 5, 68 (for Dacres-Cogley), Lolos 5, 68 (for Thomason), Adeboyejo 77 (for Charles), McAtee 77 (for Collins).
Not used: Southwood, Forrester, Arfield.
Cambridge United (3-5-2): Reyes; Okedina, Morrison, Andrew; Bennett, Kaikai, Cousins, Smith, Brophy; Loft, Njoku.
Subs: Lavery 46 (for Njoku), Rossi 53 (for Loft), Kachunga 79 (for Cousins), Watts 90 (for Brophy).
Not used: Stevens, O’Riordan, Kaunda.
Referee: Paul Howard 5/10.
Never a good sign when you can’t anticipate what a referee is going to do next. A bitty, scrappy game wasn’t helped by the unpredictability of the officials, and home fans didn’t appreciate his application of the rules for the sending off. Soft, to say the least.
Attendance: 5,266 (549)
MAN OF THE MATCH – Ricardo Santos.
Though Collins’s goal was the only tangible difference made, Santos repelled a constant stream of aerial bombardment beforehand without which Bolton would have been in real mither. Yes, the resistance broke in the end, but there are bigger issues at play here.
MOAN OF THE MATCH.
Wanderers just needed to see the game out at 1-1 but some of the decision making was ridiculous towards the end, and it all fed a mood of nervousness against 10 men. The away fans could hardly believe what they were seeing.
MAGIC MOMENT.
The final whistle. If the game had gone on five minutes longer, Bolton wouldn’t have had even a point to take back to the North West.
ATMOSHPERE.
The Abbey Stadium is a strange place. A modest crowd of 5,266, with 549 visitors, and yet the home fans genuinely seemed to affect Bolton’s players. Why?
