3:52pm
So all square at half-time.
But Albion should have gone ahead very late in the period.
And it could have happened on any one of a few occasions.
First we had a simple and effective move – Holla pass forward, movement into a central position by Calderon, crisp lay-off by Crofts into Calderon’s path.
Only problem was it was on to Calde’s left foot and he curled high and wide.
Then we saw skills from Greer to chest down an angled pass and unleash a fabulous volley which Lonergan saved.
As the pressure continued, Dunk had a header cleared off the line. Greer teed him up from the rebound and this time Dunk drilled low across goal.
But the ball seemed to hit Crofts as much as him hitting it, cannoned off the grounded Lonergan and was scrambled to safety.
Lonergan was rather more comfortable as he held a Crofts volley right on half-time.
So Albion have wiped out a deficit. But they should be at least one goal up.
3:44pm
Albion kept their patience, kept playing their football and it paid off with that equaliser.
Lonergan's first action was to catch a gentle Crofts header from another Calderon cross.
3:41pm
Bogdan was injured in the incident and*replaced by Lonergan before play re-started.
3:39pm
Super move – and Albion have the leveller they deserve.
Again Bruno and Calderon were involved down the right. The former sent the latter away with another of those carefully rolled passes, Caldeorn crossed hard and low and MACKAIL-SMITH was desperate to get there. He beat a defender and Bogdan to the ball and prodded home from point-blank range.
3:36pm
Just like 2012!
Remember that onslaught towards the South Stand goal which Bogdan and the woodwork repelled in the 1-1 draw here two years ago?
We’ve just had a vivid reminder as Mackail-Smith’s curler, hit right-footed and across Bogdan from the edge of the box, was tipped by the keeper against the bar and over.
Great effort, superb save.
3:31pm
The mood has changed now - and Albion have played themselves into trouble a couple of times since the goal.
The seond of those saw Bruno's pass picked off by Medo, who shot wide.
There were shouts for a penalty at the other end as Mackail-Smith went down under pressure from Wheater as they both tried to get to a cross but ref Graham Scott saw nothing wrong.
3:25pm
There was a minor alarm for Albion as White charged to the byline and got in a low cross which had to be cleared away from Lee at the far post.
Then Bruno rolled another of those clever little passes which persuaded the recipient to move into a good area. He slid Mackail-Smith into a wide position and the latter’s ball in was eventually forced wide by Teixeira at the near post under pressure.
Bolton are coming more into this game though and Wheater might have done better than head over from a corner.
Then it was back down the right at the other end with Bruno putting Calderon away down the touchline, then shooting over when his compatriot’s cutback reached him on the edge of the box.
But Albion allowed Bolton another set-piece chance in the 24th minute and a free-kick from the right was headed in by MILLS.
3:19pm
Having offered nothing up until the 15th minute, Bolton should then have gone ahead. Davies’ low cross from the left was deflected away from goal by a combination of a couple of players and fell for Chung-Yong Lee near the penalty spot. But he drilled his shot just too high as he fell.
That led to a bit of unease in the crowd, which was matched by the unease in Bolton’s defence a minute later as Bruno’s cross curled between Bogdan and defender Mills with Mackail-Smith unable to get a touch.
A lot is going through Bruno. His clever little pass persuaded Crofts to turn on to his left foot just inside the box - but the resulting shot curled onto Bogdan's midriff.
3:11pm
Terrific move and a super strike to bring Albion’s first on-target attempt.
It was tight, close passing on the right until Bruno opened things up with a clever pass inside.
That picked out Forster-Caskey 25 yards out and his left-foot drive was well struck – but Bogdan moved his feet quickly and was able to save over towards his top corner without diving.
It has been a really bright start by the hosts and their fans have responded enthusiastically.
Now they just need to turn into something tangible.
3:06pm
We wondered how Crofts would fit into this team and he is getting well forward early on, in support of Mackail-Smith and Teixeira.
It has been a bright start by the hosts and Bruno lashed a half-volley not too far wide from outside the box.
Bruno also won a free-kick which Holla clipped into the box. But there seemed to be a breakdown in communication and no one was making the far-post run he was looking to pick out.
3:00pm
Albion going North to South.
We are up and running....
3:00pm
There's a bit of a feelgood factor back at the Amex.
That's thanks to a midweek win at Leeds and some exciting additions to the squad.
There's a warm welcome for Joao Teixeria, Danny Holla, Joe Bennett and sub Paddy McCourt as the teams are read out.
We are almost set to go...
Original article
So all square at half-time.
But Albion should have gone ahead very late in the period.
And it could have happened on any one of a few occasions.
First we had a simple and effective move – Holla pass forward, movement into a central position by Calderon, crisp lay-off by Crofts into Calderon’s path.
Only problem was it was on to Calde’s left foot and he curled high and wide.
Then we saw skills from Greer to chest down an angled pass and unleash a fabulous volley which Lonergan saved.
As the pressure continued, Dunk had a header cleared off the line. Greer teed him up from the rebound and this time Dunk drilled low across goal.
But the ball seemed to hit Crofts as much as him hitting it, cannoned off the grounded Lonergan and was scrambled to safety.
Lonergan was rather more comfortable as he held a Crofts volley right on half-time.
So Albion have wiped out a deficit. But they should be at least one goal up.
3:44pm
Albion kept their patience, kept playing their football and it paid off with that equaliser.
Lonergan's first action was to catch a gentle Crofts header from another Calderon cross.
3:41pm
Bogdan was injured in the incident and*replaced by Lonergan before play re-started.
3:39pm
Super move – and Albion have the leveller they deserve.
Again Bruno and Calderon were involved down the right. The former sent the latter away with another of those carefully rolled passes, Caldeorn crossed hard and low and MACKAIL-SMITH was desperate to get there. He beat a defender and Bogdan to the ball and prodded home from point-blank range.
3:36pm
Just like 2012!
Remember that onslaught towards the South Stand goal which Bogdan and the woodwork repelled in the 1-1 draw here two years ago?
We’ve just had a vivid reminder as Mackail-Smith’s curler, hit right-footed and across Bogdan from the edge of the box, was tipped by the keeper against the bar and over.
Great effort, superb save.
3:31pm
The mood has changed now - and Albion have played themselves into trouble a couple of times since the goal.
The seond of those saw Bruno's pass picked off by Medo, who shot wide.
There were shouts for a penalty at the other end as Mackail-Smith went down under pressure from Wheater as they both tried to get to a cross but ref Graham Scott saw nothing wrong.
3:25pm
There was a minor alarm for Albion as White charged to the byline and got in a low cross which had to be cleared away from Lee at the far post.
Then Bruno rolled another of those clever little passes which persuaded the recipient to move into a good area. He slid Mackail-Smith into a wide position and the latter’s ball in was eventually forced wide by Teixeira at the near post under pressure.
Bolton are coming more into this game though and Wheater might have done better than head over from a corner.
Then it was back down the right at the other end with Bruno putting Calderon away down the touchline, then shooting over when his compatriot’s cutback reached him on the edge of the box.
But Albion allowed Bolton another set-piece chance in the 24th minute and a free-kick from the right was headed in by MILLS.
3:19pm
Having offered nothing up until the 15th minute, Bolton should then have gone ahead. Davies’ low cross from the left was deflected away from goal by a combination of a couple of players and fell for Chung-Yong Lee near the penalty spot. But he drilled his shot just too high as he fell.
That led to a bit of unease in the crowd, which was matched by the unease in Bolton’s defence a minute later as Bruno’s cross curled between Bogdan and defender Mills with Mackail-Smith unable to get a touch.
A lot is going through Bruno. His clever little pass persuaded Crofts to turn on to his left foot just inside the box - but the resulting shot curled onto Bogdan's midriff.
3:11pm
Terrific move and a super strike to bring Albion’s first on-target attempt.
It was tight, close passing on the right until Bruno opened things up with a clever pass inside.
That picked out Forster-Caskey 25 yards out and his left-foot drive was well struck – but Bogdan moved his feet quickly and was able to save over towards his top corner without diving.
It has been a really bright start by the hosts and their fans have responded enthusiastically.
Now they just need to turn into something tangible.
3:06pm
We wondered how Crofts would fit into this team and he is getting well forward early on, in support of Mackail-Smith and Teixeira.
It has been a bright start by the hosts and Bruno lashed a half-volley not too far wide from outside the box.
Bruno also won a free-kick which Holla clipped into the box. But there seemed to be a breakdown in communication and no one was making the far-post run he was looking to pick out.
3:00pm
Albion going North to South.
We are up and running....
3:00pm
There's a bit of a feelgood factor back at the Amex.
That's thanks to a midweek win at Leeds and some exciting additions to the squad.
There's a warm welcome for Joao Teixeria, Danny Holla, Joe Bennett and sub Paddy McCourt as the teams are read out.
We are almost set to go...
Original article