Up at the crack of dawn to grapple with the motorways of England, we headed for the Select Car Leasing Stadium, aka the Madejski stadium, to face the Biscuitmen of Reading.
For lunch we tried the World Turned Upside Down, where we wolfed down their brilliant carvery for less than a tenner. New manager Steven Schumacher was on everybody’s mind, and it was generally agreed that he is a good choice.
We were full of optimism that he can get us over the line this season.
Reading fans are still in turmoil with their owners, being not very happy with selling their star striker to pay the wages. They were planning a pitch invasion to protest. Their tennis ball protest had worked last time, as they turned round a 0-1 deficit, to win 2-1!
It didn’t materialise as it looked like thousands didn’t turn up, as there were empty seats all round. But no empty seats in our end, as we roared the Wanderers on.
Steven Schumacher got a brilliant welcome from the Wanderers fans. He made a few tweaks to our lineup, giving Alex Murphy a start. Reading were up for it, pressuring us all over the pitch, giving nobody time to dwell on the ball.
However, we rode the storm and began to make chances. The problem was that we missed those chances. The only way Reading were going to score was from the penalty spot and we duly obliged in the last minute, when new loanee Kion Etete was adjudged to have handled the ball. Very debatable penalty in my opinion.
So, Steven Schumacher’s reign started with a defeat, mainly due to missed chances.
He would not have had much time to influence things before this match but now he has a full week with the players before the next home match.
There may be some transfer activity, in or out before the window closes on Monday night. How will he change Bolton’s style?
He will need a good look at his squad to decide which players can best do a job for him.
Conversely, he will need to find a style to get the best out of the players that he has got. We are still in contention for a play-off place, but time is running out with every setback.
We fans will be there with him all the way. Let’s see where he can take us.
