STEVEN Schumacher remained pleased with what he saw from Wanderers despite them slipping to defeat in his first game in charge at Reading.
Harvey Knibbs’ late penalty handed the Royals a win which lifts them above Bolton in the table, where four clubs are currently level on 44 points between sixth and ninth.
Bolton had chances in the second half to go ahead, most notably when Aaron Collins was played clean through on goal, only to push his shot wide of the post.
A late handball from new signing Kion Etete presented the home side with an opportunity to claim all three points, and Knibbs took full advantage with his 11th goal of the season.
“I’m disappointed, obviously, to lose the game, especially with how we played,” Schumacher said. “I didn't feel that we deserved it. We've just said to the boys in the changing room that we'll play worse than that and win games in the remainder of this season.”
Schumacher made four changes from the side that had beaten Northampton Town in midweek, based mainly on trying to keep some freshness in the team.
“I think when you've got a squad like we've got, where everybody is really capable, it makes sense in a three-game week to try and freshen it up and get some energy in the side.
“I thought Josh Dacres-Cogley was outstanding. And Eoin Toal, in his first game for a long time. I know he played in between, in the Lincoln game, but for him to complete 90 minutes and play at the level that he did was excellent as well.
“We just thought that getting the two number 10s in there with Joel Randell could create a bit of quality, which he did.
“And young Alex Murphy makes his league debut. I thought he was outstanding for his first start. So, loads and loads of positives to take.”
Asked if he had any complaints about the penalty, he added: “I don't think so, no. I asked the lads, the analysts behind us, did it hit his arm and they said yes. I think the ball was just curling away from him and he just lost his timing.
“The most frustrating thing about it was that it’s 25 yards from the goal.
“We’re gutted to lose it in the last minute, the 89th minute, like we did.
“But as I say, these mistakes happen, and no-one's to blame. It's just one of them things.”
Wanderers have two full days left to do transfer business with the window still open, and the club have not ruled out deals happening in both directions.
Schumacher says he will now discuss plans with sporting director Chris Markham and whether anything else will be done.
“I’m not sure at this moment in time,” he said. “I haven't really had that much to think about it, to be honest. I've been literally in the door for 24 hours “I had spoken to Chris in the week about plans and I'm really pleased that we managed to bring Kion (Etete) to the club.
“I think he'll be the profile of striker that we needed, so I’m delighted to get that bit of business done. And we'll see what happens over the next few days.”
Schumacher will now have a clear week ahead of his first home game against Crawley and insists he won’t dwell on the defeat.
“I feel so positive,” he said. “I think, as I said at the start of the week, why I was so excited to come here is because this club has got a real good chance of getting promoted. These players and the quality that's in the squad, it fills me full of confidence.
“And if we put that work rate in like we did today, play the way we did after such a short space of time, taking on the messages that we have given them, it's really pleasing.”
