Bolton Wanderers 5-2 Reading: Tactical Analysis

Another game at the Toughsheet, another 5-2 loss.

I think that might have been one of the strangest games of football I’ve ever watched. It definitely didn’t feel like a seven-goal-worthy match from the stands, and if it weren’t for three penalties and one free-kick, all of which erred on the side of fortunate to be given for me, it otherwise seemed a game of little quality.

Bolton Wanderers are a side who, previous to Reading’s visit, had scored zero goals in their four preceding games, losing all of them, so it was disappointing to concede five. I think under-pressure opposition manager Ian Evatt got it right on Saturday, and that was enough to flatten a lacklustre Royals team who looked hungover from the week’s conundrums around the club.

One of those key changes made by Evatt was to play Victor Adeboyejo, who didn’t exactly spend the day in the limelight given his strike partner Dion Charles bagged a hat-trick, but he played a key role throughout the match which allowed Bolton to progress the ball, breaking down a rather lightweight Reading defence.

Aaron Collins and James McAtee had played alongside Charles in preceding games, both of whom offer very different profiles, and could be deemed superior players, but only against the correct opponent.

It was the Nigerian’s first league start of the season, and although Adeboyejo didn’t weigh in with any goals or assists, his hold-up play and movement were invaluable to Bolton.

Here, he’s up against Tyler Bindon in the box, the brickhouse using his strength to take the ball down on his back foot from the throw in on the right. The striker very cleverly leans his back into Bindon, keeping his feet, and the ball, well out of tackle’s reach.

There are no other Bolton players anywhere near him when he receives the ball, so the only options left really are to attempt to hold off until support arrives, try to spin Bindon - both of which would undoubtedly be difficult - or try to buy a foul. Unsurprisingly, Adeboyejo opts for the latter, falling like a sack of potatoes after some arm-wrestling ensues, and the penalty for Bolton’s fourth gets given.

Having said that, Tom Daley would have been proud of Sam Smith’s dive for our penalty, with the contact practically non-existent there, so, at least the referee was vaguely consistent for both teams on that...

Adeboyejo (number nine below) played the highest for Bolton, giving a great outlet for Nathan Baxter to find on goal-kicks.

If you saw the calamitous attempt at playing out by the Wanderers against Huddersfield Town the week before, then it becomes very clear why they switched to this more direct approach.

Now to look at Reading a little more, and as is normal now, we enjoyed the majority of possession, and also took a similar amount of shots as Bolton. Out of possession though, we allowed the opposition to make the very most of all of their chances.

Because of Bolton’s back three, they could commit wing-backs forward when in possession, giving an overload once the midfield was bypassed. Against a midfield of Ben Elliott and Lewis Wing, neither particularly known for their defensive or pressing abilities, and Harvey Knibbs just returning from injury, that happened rather a lot.

In the screenshot below, both Knibbs and Wing get drawn into the ball way too easily, while Josh Sheehan pops it through to Jay Matete, leaving us with a six-on-four deficit with the Reading defence high up the pitch.

Now we play a front three, the pressing structure against back threes has often put Smith as a 10 and the wingers up high, but we didn’t seem to do that so much on Saturday. Possibly because it would leave us man-to-man at the back, but that is countered by more strength in midfield. I think this is unfortunately one of the few games where Selles got things tactically wrong.

In possession, particularly after Kelvin Abrefa came on, we looked a lot like a 2-3-5 formation, with that midfield being Lewis Wing in the centre with the full-backs either side, as shown here.

Abrefa was my man of the match, purely because he was one of the only players who, when receiving the ball, always seemed to look towards goal. He’s very strong dribbling inside onto his favoured right foot from that wide position, and defensively looked a whole lot more switched on and sharp than Jeriel Dorsett.

Abrefa came on in the 39th minute and won all of his ground duels, had the highest pass-success rate of any Reading player, and also had the most positive, attacking intentions on the pitch.

It was a top appearance from Abrefa, getting subbed onto his weaker side, but more than holding his own.

Elsewhere, I liked Michael Craig tucking into midfield, and he worked hard there, but I think Lewis Wing’s performance left some things to be desired. He’s not there to run all day and force himself not the ball and into the game, but as one of the best players in the squad, I’d have liked him to try to show for the ball and make something happen a little more.

Reading fell apart in the closing moments of the match, allowing Bolton eight shots from the 87th minute onwards - one of which they capitalised on. I get we were pushing for goals, but there has to be some sort of a balance there.

Next up is Huddersfield at the SCL for a 12:30 kick-off. The Terriers faced Blackpool at home on Tuesday night, while Reading had no senior mid-week game, giving us a great chance to get at a potentially jaded team.

Up the Royals.