Aside from sharing the same suffix, there is little in common between the Wanderers of Bolton and Wycombe. Recent history has largely seen the former trying to get in or stay in the Premier League, while the latter have been doing the same with regards to League One.
The two club’s paths have never previously crossed and historically, the idea that they ever might would always seemingly see the Trotters enter the contest confident of a victory.
Yet in one of football’s strange ironies, it was Wycombe who entered the opening game of the 2019-20 season at Adams Park last Saturday as overwhelming favourites. Buoyed by a feelgood factor imposed by the actions and behaviours of prospective new owners and nine new signings (many of whom appeared to be way beyond the club’s reach when the budget was initially cut back in May), there is a feeling amongst the faithful that the Chairboy’s are on the up.
The same can not be said of Bolton, whose summer has been plagued with unpaid wages, protracted takeover talks, cancelled pre-season friendlies and a squad that dwindled to single figures. Despite convincing the EFL that they could fulfil the fixture on Monday, there was still much wondering as to what form the starting Bolton eleven would take in South Bucks.
Yet none the less, when the game was confirmed, the Bolton supporters snapped up each and every one of the seats made available to purchase via Wycombe’s accommodating ticket office.
At 2 o’clock, the line-up was announced and this, bizarrely, preceded the news that Bolton manager Phil Parkinson had signed Harry Brock, Josh Earl and James Weir and they were amongst six Bolton players making their debut. In the opposite dugout, Gareth Ainsworth opted for continuity, giving just three of his new men a start in the form of Jack Grimmer, Alex Pattison and Paul Smyth.
How would it play out?
The first opening fell to Wycombe as Adebayo Akinfenwa shot softly at Bolton goalkeeper Remi Matthews after just two minutes. Yet that was a rare early sighting, and it didn’t take long for Bolton to find their way into the game to a degree. The visiting fans cheered much of what went their way for while they weren’t able to generate much by way of an attack, a resolute defence was nullifying Wycombe in the opening stages. There was a sense of caginess from both teams but Bolton’s day was made all the harder when Brown hobbled off to be replaced by Joe White with little over twelve minutes on the clock.
Wycombe appeared to unlock the defence four minutes later when Alex Samuel was sent through on goal, but the formidable figure of Yohan Zouma put in a fantastic tackle. This was merely a glimpse of what Zouma would show himself to be capable of.
Wycombe upped the ante after 20 minutes with Akinfenwa glancing a header wide before Smyth shot just wide a minute later.
A rare foray forward from the Trotters after half an hour saw Denis Politic shoot wide from distance before the half ended with Wycombe again on top – Smyth and Samuel both shot over while Akinfenwa had one header fly over and another nestle on the welcoming arms of Matthews as the half ended 0-0.
Four minutes after the re-start and a Joe Jacobson free-kick caused panic in the Bolton penalty area, but the ball squirmed wide.
With 50 minutes on the clock, the game saw its very first corner for the home team and this was quickly followed by two more which saw Matt Bloomfield have a shot blocked before Anthony Stewart headed wide.
Stewart would then be heavily involved as the deadlock was finally broken. He showed great composure and skill to turn defence into attack, twisting away from two challenges before putting a searching ball down the line for Smyth. Harry Brockbank looked to have the measure of the situation but as Matthews came charging out, Smyth nipped in between the two to finish comfortably from just outside the area.
It was a deserved goal for the hosts but a tough one to stomach for Bolton who had defended resolutely but were punished for a rare dalliance.
They would have been pleased to see Smyth taken off ten minutes later, but the sight of a fresh Fred Onyedinma coming on would hardly have been a welcome sight.
Onyedninma nearly scored with his first touch but his close-range effort from David Wheeler’s cross was just wide.
Parkinson then opted to give midfielder Callum King-Harmes his debut as he came on in place of Zouma. Zouma had been an absolute rock at the heart of the Bolton defence and left the field to applause from all four sides of the ground.
This did open up the game for Wycombe with debutants eager to impress against a tiring defence and the inevitable second goal came on 81. Pattison was sent through on goal and while Matthews palmed his effort away, from the resulting corner Onyedinma headed in after Akinfenwa had knocked the ball back across goal.
Wycombe weren’t content with just the two and Pattison could easily have had a hat-trick, but his efforts were either wide of the target of well saved by Matthews.
They were unable to add to the total and the game ended 2-0. Wycombe were pleased with a comfortable and deserved three points as they picked up their first opening day victory for four years. Context is everything though, and they will face tougher challenges this season. Only when they travel to Bristol Rovers next week will they get a true indication of how much progress has been on the playing front in the summer.
Bolton’s supporters would have enjoyed little of the game itself, but the team had shown battling qualities that will be needed throughout the season, while they themselves should hold their heads up high.
They had spent a not insignificant amount of time and money on a 330-mile round trip to watch a patched together team that had little chance of returning anything by way of a result. And they had done so in great numbers and with great volume that was admired by Gareth Ainsworth and the Wycombe fans who rightly applauded their efforts. These are not fans whose passion extends to watching games on television and then moaning on social media about a chief executive who won’t put in another £100million for one particular player, but genuine supporters who work hard for their football fix all week. They defiantly demonstrated a passion for their club that with the right owners and necessary support from the EFL, will one day rise to a position wherein they can compete on a relatively even keel and not worry about just getting eleven players on the pitch each week.
They face Coventry City at home next week and while the line-up and squad may still be somewhat up in the air, you can be sure the fans will turn out, loud and proud.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS 2 (Smyth 57, Onyedinma 81)
BOLTON WANDERERS 0
ATT: 6,454 (1,660 away)
words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Wycombe Wanderers correspondent