We spoke with one of their supporters ahead of today’s League One encounter against Bolton Wanderers at Sincil Bank, which will be refereed by Neil Hair. Thank you to Chris from Burnden Aces for taking the time to answer our questions!
At the risk of repeating myself for anybody who read my answers before our opening-day fixture, I’ll keep this one a bit shorter.
My first game was back in April 1997 – my eighth birthday – and this season represents my 23rd campaign as a season-ticket holder across all four divisions.
What were and now are your hopes and expectations for the 2023/24 season?
Automatic promotion was on the minds of many, but my expectations were a little more reserved by aiming for another season with Play-Off qualification.
We topped the table for a few days at the start of the month, only to lose it due to involvement in the FA Cup, before losing back-to-back – including a game at Portsmouth.
It’s amazing how quickly we’ve fallen, but we’re definitely better at the chase than leading from the front.
At this point, winning our game in hand would put us in second place, but I’m not persuaded. We’re now slated to play Saturday-Tuesday for about five or six weeks in February and March. This run will either make or destroy us.
What are your thoughts on your boss?
Ian Evatt won his 100th game as Bolton manager on Saturday, becoming the first manager to achieve so since Sam Allardyce and the fastest since.
Sure, we may refer to others who have done it at a greater level, but we are where we are. Given the disaster he walked into in 2020, he has a victory record of more than 50% over three and a half years.
Playing style and tactics – direct/passing/hybrid?
Personnel may have changed, but our style of play has not, as stated at the outset of the season.
We are unquestionably a “hybrid.” Our central defenders have by far the highest pass completion rate in every game, but pinging diagonals out to our wing-backs is where the majority of our success comes from.
After coming close last season, Bolton just shattered their record for most goals scored in a calendar year. We’re on the right track.
One(s) to keep an eye on now and in the future?
I singled out Carlos Mendes Gomes and Paris Maghoma at the start of the season, but neither has really taken off.
Mendes Gomes has been restricted to substitute appearances, whilst also being injured for quite a lengthy spell, and will also jet out to the Africa Cup of Nations after the Boxing Day game.
As for Maghoma – he has shown flashes of brilliance, scoring some important goals, but really lacks the consistency Brentford will be hoping for when he reports back at the end of his loan spell next summer.
To provide a different name – George Thomason opted to remain at the club last summer, despite them accepting a £1million offer from Bristol City. He’s really started to earn his place in the team in recent weeks. The only reason I’d expect him to miss out is perhaps due to squad rotation.
Random fact about your Club?
Bolton is one of just two clubs in English football’s top four categories to have played in two separate home grounds, Burnden Park and Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Huddersfield Town is the other.
Which Bolton Wanderers matches were your favourites and least favourites?
I can’t really change my replies from before, so:
Best – a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the 2017/18 season, scoring twice in the final five minutes to avoid relegation in the midst of severe financial difficulties.
Worst – Three consecutive 5-0 defeats at the start of the 2019/20 season, with a team full of scholars and a court challenge pending over the club’s very existence.
Which sides do you think will finish in the top six and bottom four?
Bolton is one of just two clubs in English football’s top four categories to have played in two separate home grounds, Burnden Park and Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Huddersfield Town is the other.
Which Bolton Wanderers matches were your favourites and least favourites?
I can’t really change my replies from before, so:
Best – a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on the final day of the 2017/18 season, scoring twice in the final five minutes to avoid relegation in the midst of severe financial difficulties.
Worst – Three consecutive 5-0 defeats at the start of the 2019/20 season, with a team full of scholars and a court challenge pending over the club’s very existence.
What are your feelings about Lincoln City?
Lincoln, as I mentioned earlier in the campaign, seemed to go about their business quietly.
Looking at the table, it appears that you are solid defensively but lack a clinical edge. At the halfway point of the season, 9th position is extremely respectable, and I assume it’s the ceiling considering the clubs (and current gap) above you.
Who would you choose as a Lincoln player to steal for your team, and why?
I targeted former Bolton players Ethan Hamilton, Tyler Walker, and Lukas Jensen ahead of the season opener.
Hamilton and Jensen appear to be enjoying good seasons, but I’m not sure who they’d replace if they were cut returned to Wanderers.
Daniel Mandrouiu seems to be hitting a bit of form and we’ve dipped into the Irish market – Northern and Republic – quite often under Evatt’s stewardship, but I’d need to cast a thorough eye on him before deciding whether it’s just a purple patch or not.
No disrespect intended, but this is a game we really need to be winning if we’re serious about promotion.
Derby, Barnsley, Stevenage, Peterborough, Portsmouth have all taken points from you this season and we won 3-0 in the reverse fixture. We need this one, but the Christmas fixtures often throw up problems.
The referee, Neil Hair, will be officiating this fixture for the third time. Have you got any thoughts on him?
A man with a poor reputation amongst Wanderers supporters, brought on by his performance in a game at Tranmere Rovers during the COVID season.
His failure to send off a Tranmere defender for a professional foul – which he didn’t even give – then dismiss one of ours a minute later for a challenge which left one of our players requiring ear surgery, caused Evatt to follow and an official complaint made to the EFL.
Our record in games refereed by Hair isn’t actually all that bad, but he always seems to be the one making headlines. Hopefully, he’ll leave that to the players this time around.
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