Bolton Wanderers have seen defender Cyrus Christie depart for a new challenge in Vietnam, while the team suffered a dramatic late defeat in the Championship. The club, currently 15th in the table with four points from four games, is dealing with both squad changes and on-field disappointment.
Where is Cyrus Christie going after Bolton Wanderers?
Cyrus Christie has agreed to join Hanoi FC in the Vietnamese top flight following his exit from Bolton Wanderers. Sky Sports reported the move, which comes after the 33-year-old defender and the club terminated his contract by mutual consent earlier this week. Christie made 30 appearances for the Trotters last season, helping them secure promotion from League One.
He joined on a free transfer just over a year ago and provided one assist during his time at the University of Bolton Stadium. The former Republic of Ireland international, who has over 450 career appearances, will now play under former Liverpool and Leeds United forward Harry Kewell, who manages Hanoi FC. Christie's departure follows Bolton's signing of Luca Stephenson from Liverpool in July, which reduced his opportunities in Steven Schumacher's squad.
What happened in Bolton's match at Sheffield United?
Bolton Wanderers suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at Sheffield United, conceding the winning goal deep into stoppage time. According to a match report from The Bolton News, Xavier Simons and Sam Dalby had put the visitors ahead, only for Japhet Tanganga and Patrick Bamford to equalise for the Blades on each occasion. Romelle Donovan then struck the decisive blow in added time at Bramall Lane.
The loss leaves Bolton with a record of one win, one draw, and two losses from their opening four Championship fixtures. They have scored four goals and conceded five, giving them a minus-one goal difference. Steven Schumacher's side are six points behind early leaders Swansea City in the standings, which you can follow on our standings page.
How did Bolton Wanderers perform at Bramall Lane?
The Bolton News described a committed performance that ultimately ended in frustration. John McAtee, who had been linked with a move away from the club, was involved in the opening goal within 30 seconds, with his cross leading to Simons' close-range finish. Goalkeeper Michael Cooper, who played under Schumacher at Plymouth, made several key saves to deny Bolton a winner before the late sucker punch.
Schumacher made three changes to the side that lost to Lincoln City, bringing in Gaizka Larrazabal, Ben Davies, and Simons. Ruben Rodrigues also returned from injury to take a place on the bench. The team showed attacking intent, with Sam Iling-Junior and Thierry Gale creating chances, but they were unable to hold onto their leads during a frantic match.
What's next for Bolton Wanderers?
Attention now turns to a quick turnaround and a trip to face Millwall at The Den on Saturday, September 5th. Millwall currently sit 10th in the Championship table, providing another tough test for Schumacher's men as they look to bounce back from consecutive defeats. The full schedule of upcoming games is available on our fixtures page.
The team will need to address defensive issues after letting leads slip twice in their last outing. With the transfer window closed, Schumacher must work with his current squad, which includes recent returnee Rodrigues, to improve their league position from 15th.
