West Brom compound Bolton misery as league's top scorers climb to third

West Brom compound Bolton misery as league's top scorers climb to third
Sam Field celebrates West Bromwich Albion's second goal of the evening Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Bolton Wanderers 0 West Bromwich Albion 2

While Bolton Wanderers protested, West Bromwich Albion progressed. An evening of dissent and demonstrations against Ken Anderson, Bolton’s unpopular owner, ended with Jay Rodriguez and Sam Field adding to Wanderers’ woes.

The Championship’s top scorers went third, its lowest scorers stayed 23rd, and two founder members of the Football League could be separated by two divisions next season after Bolton suffered a 13th defeat in 18 games on a damaging night for Anderson.

The tax exile was absent but ubiquitous as fans called for him to go. Anderson had ordered stewards to remove banners condemning him but when they confiscated one reading “Anderson Out”, another appeared immediately. Kick-off was delayed when tennis balls rained on to the pitch to a soundtrack of choruses supporting John McGinlay, the iconic former striker banned from commentating on the game for his criticisms of Anderson.

Albion managed to block it all out. “It was a good, professional performance,” said Darren Moore, the manager, who revealed his assistant, Graeme Jones, had turned down the Luton Town job after speaking to the League One club. “We knew the protests would come and it was about maintaining focus as you can get easily distracted.”

Moore’s team led in controversial fashion. Craig Dawson’s looping header might have been going in but Rodriguez applied the final touch. “I think if VAR was here tonight he would probably be given offside,” said Phil Parkinson, the Bolton manager.

But he accepted Albion’s second goal was “a moment of quality”. Rodriguez released Field, who had replaced the injured Chris Brunt, and scored his second senior goal.

Dwight Gayle also clipped the bar with a vicious free-kick, while Albion kept just a fourth clean sheet of their campaign. Gary O’Neil had almost headed Bolton into an early lead, and Sammy Ameobi and Jason Lowe drew fine saves from Sam Johnstone, but Wanderers have now only scored once in four league games.

With his team lacking a cutting edge, Parkinson was left issuing a call for unity. He said: “Now it is up to the supporters to stay behind the team and help us in our quest to stay in the league.”

Match details

Bolton Wanderers (4-2-3-1): Alnwick; Olkowski, Hobbs, Beevers, Taylor; Lowe, Murphy (Buckley 69); Ameobi, O’Neil, Noone (Pritchard 82); Donaldson (Magennis 69).
Substitutes not used: Matthews (g), Wilson, Wheater, Connell.
Booked: Olkowski, Donaldson.
West Bromwich Albion (4-3-3): Johnstone; Holgate, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Harper (Adarabioyo 90), Barry, Brunt (Field 26); Robson-Kanu (Sako 85), Rodriguez, Gayle.
Substitutes not used: Bond (g), Bartley, Leko, Hoolahan.
Booked: Holgate, Barry.
Attendance: 14,750.
Referee: David Webb (County Durham).

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