Author

James Crawley writes

Posted Saturday, February 3rd 2018 @CrawleyJames92

We didn't deserve anything at Bolton - Johnson

Saturday, February 3rd 2018

Head coach Lee Johnson believes Bolton Wanderers deserved their win at the Macron Stadium on Friday.

Sammy Ameobi's strike - a solo goal as Bolton counter attacked from a City corner, - proved to be the difference on the night.

Reflecting on the performance, Johnson said his players lacked desire, an attacking threat and have missed an opportunity to keep pressure on their play-off rivals.

He told BCTV: "I don’t think we showed enough desire in the match. It was difficult because Bolton worked their socks off on a tight pitch.

"I thought Ameobi ran the show, their defence bullied our centre forwards and we didn’t have enough characters or quality on the night to get the result.

"We should have had two penalties in our defence but as a general rule, I don’t think we deserved anything."

Lee Johnson hopes his players will learn from their mistakes quickly

VIEW ON BOBBY REID TACKLE

Johnson continued: "Bobby’s setting himself to put it in, the keeper comes and clatters in and somehow Bolton get the free kick. There has ben a lot of poor refereeing decision as there has been in the last two or three games but more disappointing was the standard of our performance.

"We didn’t play enough percentage football, we didn’t put enough balls in the box, we didn’t have enough shots. We had a lot of the play, a lot of territory and possession but it means nothing when you lose 1-0.

"We couldn’t find that final ball, we didn’t make enough runs behind and I thought we were far too easy to play against."

THE WINNING GOAL

Ryan Kent had floated a second-half corner into the penalty area which was cleared towards Ameobi. Wirth the ball at his feet inside his own half, he shrugged off one challenge before racing down the pitch and unleashing a low shot beyond the diving Luke Steele.

"We were in a great position," Johnson said.

"We were in their box and it comes down to individual mistakes, dilly-dallying and not getting to the ball early enough.

"I think it’s an opportunity lost but you can’t discredit a Bolton side that are fighting for their lives. They defended well and in my opinion, Amobi was the best player on the pitch.

"It’s disappointing because I’ve said to my lads they need to go out and play as if they want to be the best player on the pitch. I thought one or two did, Ryan Kent was excellent so special praise for him, he was dangerous and bright but we were nowhere near dangerous enough. That’s unlike us ad we need to do something about it quickly."