Bolton Wanderers' worrying slump has deepened with a fourth consecutive defeat, a result that pushes the club into the Championship relegation zone. A late winner for West Ham United on Tuesday night sealed a 3-2 victory, extending a miserable run where Bolton have now conceded 10 goals in their last three outings.
As reported by the BBC, Ian Evatt's side showed fight to come from behind and lead 2-1, but were pegged back almost immediately before conceding a soft late effort. The defeat leaves Bolton 22nd in the Championship with just four points from six games, having won only once. Their goal difference stands at minus six, having scored six and conceded 12.
What happened against West Ham?
The match followed a familiar pattern of promise undermined by defensive fragility. After falling behind, Bolton rallied to take a 2-1 lead, demonstrating the attacking threat that has been present in patches this season. That advantage lasted just four minutes before West Ham equalised. The decisive moment came late on, a weak shot from the visitors that found its way past debutant goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu at his near post. The 24-year-old, signed from Stoke City, was blunt in his assessment afterwards. "He should have saved it," Bazunu said.
His introduction came after an error from previous number one Jack Bonham proved costly in the prior match against Millwall. The hope within the camp is that Bazunu's arrival will bring stability. "I think we will begin to see the benefits of that decision in the games to come," the BBC report noted.
How does the league table look?
The immediate consequence is a perilous league position. Bolton now sit 22nd, seven points adrift of leaders West Ham, who ascended to the summit with this victory. The gap to safety is minimal, but the form is a major concern. The recent sequence of results reads as four losses and a draw, a streak that must be arrested quickly. You can track their position in the standings throughout the season.
Their defensive record is among the worst in the division, a stark contrast to the solidity that has been a hallmark of Evatt's tenure. With 12 goals conceded, only the bottom club has a worse defensive record. The need for points is urgent, especially with a key fixture looming.
What is the next challenge?
Attention now turns to a key home match against Cardiff City this Saturday, September 12th. The Bluebirds are 20th in the table, making this a genuine six-pointer between two sides in a similar predicament at the wrong end of the table. A victory at the University of Bolton Stadium could lift Bolton out of the bottom three and provide a vital platform. The full schedule of upcoming games is available on our fixtures page.
Bazunu will be hoping for a more positive second outing, having previously been the hero in a match for Bolton against Queens Park Rangers. The squad will need to draw on that kind of resilience to turn their season around. The manager must find a way to translate decent periods of play into tangible results, starting with the visit of Cardiff. For detailed player statistics and form guides, visit our stats section.
The task is clear: Bolton must start converting performances into points, beginning this weekend.
