After a fairly quiet opening half hour, where Ferrier escaped a sending-off, things picked up with the two goals in quick succession. We survived what Bolton threw at us in their best spell and the third goal, just after the break effectively ended the game.
I’ll comment player by player below, accepting that for some of them it’s purely a first impression, so a bad game today doesn’t make them a bad player.
Davies. Little to do.
Ridehalgh. Steady.
Monthe. Very calm, used his strength well.
Ray. Agree with Sparky, hard to see him on this showing as an upgrade on Nelson. There were a few cushioned headers into a no-mans land of midfield which surrendered possession and a stupid booking for pulling their player back.
Wilson. Decent defensively, but felt his distribution and crossing were patchy today.
Blackett-Taylor. Encouraging, some decent ball and runs
Perkins. What’s come to be expected, good work rate and distribution. Didn’t get his spat with Morris though.
Banks. In games like this, where his main role is attacking, he looks decent. Only player to really test the keeper before his opener, created chances for team-mates and then put us in front. Less of the clever stuff not coming off than usual.
Morris. Involved in setting up a couple of the goals, didn’t convert a chance to get himself on the scoresheet and worked hard.
Jennings. Steady game, kept battling away, got himself on the scoresheet.
Ferrier. Think he let himself get rattled too easily and another day, he’s not on the pitch to get the pair of goals, both decent finishes, but his second using his strength then placing it out of the keeper’s reach was the pick for me.
Mullin. Worked hard would his shot have gone in without Payne’s intervention? Will need to see that again.
Payne. Unsure. He got lucky for his goal, but failed to convert a one-on-one late on
Nelson. Isn’t a right-back and struggled.
MoM. The fact the 3 sponsors all picked different players suggests that nobody was outstanding. My top 3 would be Monthe, Morris, but just edging it for setting us on our way, would opt for Ollie Banks.