Wanderers were unable to call on their first-choice stopper at Sixfields for the first time in a league game this season, handing the gloves to Joel Coleman.
Ian Evatt said late last week that he was more likely to name a substitute goalkeeper on the bench for the foreseeable after Baxter damaged wrist ligaments in the previous game at Barnsley. But having exacerbated the problem in midweek it now raises questions about how long he could now be side-lined.
Coleman played well in his first league game in nearly two years, according to Atherton.
The Bolton-born goalkeeper proved he is a more than good backup when he played his final competitive game for Rochdale against Harrogate in competitive Two on February 12, 2022.
“He performed admirably; he had to do a lot of sweeping up in the second half in particular,” he remarked.
“We were unable to clear the second rebound, but he made a fantastic save in the first half to tip the free-kick on to the post.
Joel arrives, puts in a lot of training, performs well, and that Blackpool game most likely helped him. He wasn’t exactly a downer entering the room.
He is willing to take the chance, it is.
“It is important to all the players, but because he is a local boy, there is an extra layer of flavour.”
In the second half, Northampton introduced Louie Moulden, the brother of Wanderers kit manager Ted Moulden and the son of former Manchester City striker Paul Moulden, to join Coleman as another Boltonian custodian.
The 22-year-old, who is presently on loan from Wolves, was playing in the EFL for the first time.
In order to allow Josh Dacres-Cogley more rest time, Atherton added that the wing-back had not sustained any injuries despite not being included on the team sheet against Northampton.
After joining Bolton from Luton Town in the summer, Carlos Mendes Gomes has not yet made a league appearance this season; his five starts have come in cup competitions.
Atherton acknowledges that his club, who was going through a string of ailments at the time, and he were not at all happy with when he missed the African Cup of Nations. However, he thinks the Guinea-Bissau international can deliver more magical moments, similar to his headed equaliser in the second half.
He remarked, “It was a lovely finish.” “We are confident in his abilities, and it was a bit of a setback that he had to miss the African Cup of Nations, since it coincided with a difficult period for both him and our team.
Now that he is back in the picture, we are aware of his talent and how he differs from our other attackers and midfielders.
“When it comes to it, he can produce things like that to win us games or grab us a point.”
Leave a Reply