A step too far

Blues go down 1-0 at home to Bolton with Andy Munro watching.

Blues seemed to hit the wall/run out of gas/went to the well once too often and all that as they were deservedly beaten by a Bolton side who got stuck in as though their lives depended on it.

Now, I wouldn’t swap Garry Monk for any other manager (apart from maybe Pep or Poch) but keeping loyal to the same bunch put through the mill at Loftus Rd meant we looked decidedly stale and off the pace. Subs were also made a bit too late for my liking.

Right rom the start Blues seemed to lack width in their approach, and while the ‘Jota in the diamond’ is a good alternative ploy away from home, this wasn’t the right tactic against a Bolton side determined to defend deep. It also didn’t help our fluidity with Colin yet again on his ‘wrong’ side and young Wes Harding having a bit of a mare – always an occupational hazard with young and inconsistent players. Time for Pederen to return, I think.

Up top, Adams was given a rough time although he was unlucky when thwarted by the Bolton keeper in the dying minutes This was compounded by the fact that the ever-willing Jutkiewitz is going through abarren spell and a lack of quality in midfield with Gary Gardner having an unusually poor game. Jota hit the bar before Bolton scored but that was almost as good as it got.

Perhaps the only bright spots were another impressive cameo performance from the nippy Mrabati and the appearance on the bench of David Davies. It was also good to see Vassell get some game time as he nears full fitness.

This was a typical Blues banana skin waiting to happen but it’s no crisis and merely a reflection of this league. We outplay and beat Forest, then they go to the Albion and come away unlucky to have only got one point. It’s a funny old game, but never more so than in the Championship.