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Steven Schumacher apologises to frustrated Bolton fans after 3-1 defeat to Peterborough

Steven Schumacher apologises to frustrated Bolton fans after a 3-1 defeat to Peterborough means the Trotters are winless in four.

Peterborough continued climbing up the League One table, after a poor start to the season, the Posh now sit 10th and just 4 points off the playoffs.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan (34′), Matt Garbett (54′) put the hosts two up, before Sam Dalby got one back for Bolton, but any hopes of a comeback for the Trotters was ended when Kyrell Lisbie (66′) made it 3-1.

Peterborough continued their impressive climb up the League One table with a convincing home win against sixth-placed Bolton. After a poor start to the season, Posh are now 10th.

Steven Schumacher said, per Bolton News: “It was (disappointing), especially in the first half. We spoke a lot this week about how Peterborough are a good footballing team and if you’re not all together, if you don’t get your press right, if you’re not aggressive enough in the central areas, then they can hurt you.

“I felt we were a little bit on the back foot. They won too many duels against us, the little second balls, the 50-50s, they came out of it too often with the ball so that was really disappointing.

“I felt even in the first 15-20 minutes, it showed the type of game it was going to be. We had chances, didn’t take the chances again, didn’t hit the target.

“We decided we needed to make some changes right before half-time to change the shape and match them up. I didn’t want it to be 2-0 down at half-time.

“They got the second goal, another poor goal for us to concede, and we responded. Credit to the lads, they did respond and got a goal back.

“At that moment, we were on top. We had some decent chances, but then to concede the third goal immediately after is the worst part about it because then you’ve got a mountain to climb.”

“We were just off it, just nowhere near the intensity that was required. They were getting too much space in midfield and too much time, so we had to try and do something about it.

“I think the changes actually were better. I thought we looked better with two up front and obviously a 10.

“It’s not Amario’s natural position playing as a ten and, with us playing with wing-backs, we had to get him off.

“I thought we were better when the three lads were there together. We looked a little bit more compact, a little bit more dangerous, a little bit more threatening.

“Mason had a great chance at 3-1 when he goes through on the goal. Sam scored a good goal. We had a goal disallowed again from a corner that I’m not sure was a foul.

“So there were positives from it but overall it wasn’t enough, nowhere near good enough.”

On George Johnston deemed to have fouled goalkeeper Alex Bass before thinking he had scored: “There is not a foul. I think it’s his own player that’s closest to him. No explanation (from the officials), we’ll probably get an apology.

“I think that is two now in two weeks that have cost us, that little bit of luck isn’t going for us either.”

It is now one win in six for Wanderers, who remain in the play-off places but are now only a point above Luton Town.

On a message for the fans: “Apologies for the performance, and the fans did deserve more today.

“The support, even in the second half, was excellent and we’ve got to do more. The minimum that you require in any game of football is to match the opposition for desire and effort, and I just felt that they were a little bit better than us today.

“They had a bit more energy, a bit more bounce and played with more confidence. That was something that I sensed today, the lads were maybe lacking a bit of confidence which shouldn’t really happen because we’ve been playing really well.

“The last two draws against the teams in the bottom half of the division haven’t been ideal. But there shouldn’t be a lack of confidence in this team because the players have got the ability, they’ve shown it, but we’ve got to do better.”

Peterborough’s Luke Williams said, per Peterborough Telegraph: “It was a really good performance and one reason i have faith in this group is there have been many questions put to them since I’ve been here and they’ve answered most of them extremely well.

“Today is another example of them as a group taking a huge amount of responsibility and dealing with pressure in a really professional way.

“The key was starving the opposition of the ball and not letting them get into a flow, which would have made it a very different game. We harassed them on the ball.

“The first goal was a real throwback in many ways with the big nine and ten. The first striker making the big contact, the second striker running on and scoring. We combined that with control and a lot of quality football. Jimmy-Jay was outstanding in his role today.

“If we want to be a team that is a threat to every type of opposition, we need to be able to pick through teams as well as play direct and that was a great example.

“We also knew if we didn’t come out well in the second-half it was going to be a different game because they would regroup. We were ready for that and the second was a huge goal and really gave us a foothold in the game.

“We learnt a tough lesson at Lincoln last week by conceding straight after getting back into the game, but we learnt from it and did it to Bolton which was a huge blow for them.

“Kyrell is going from strength. He’s getting some really heavy treatment and he’s standing up to it to create big actions time and time again. He understands his defensive responsibilities for the team and doesn’t shirk those either. I’m really impressed with him.

“The players are the most important people and it is my job to make all their qualities and individual characteristics work. It’s never going to be ‘this is my idea and there is no other way’. It’s about the players. If they have unique skills and if they are valuable to the team, I need to find a way to make it work.

“The wide players are an example. We have Kyrell Lisbie, who can play on the touchline and is really outstanding in causing huge problems. Then we have Matty Garbett, who can move from outside to in and rodeo with players chasing him. He’s able to take the channel and deliver balls from the outside and can cut in and bend the ball in with his other foot.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Steven Schumacher apologises to frustrated Bolton fans after the 3-1 defeat to Peterborough…

@dex_1996: Players not looked interested one bit. Havnt turned my back on SS until now and think a lot of the fans will be doing the same. We’ve been playing average teams in the league and should be winning them. Not good enough. Something needs to be done as it’s getting worse.

@WanderasLuke: I’m not even arsed anymore. You’re making me lose my passion for the game. It’s monotonous, predictable and flat. I can’t be arsed anymore with this tippy tappy football. Season ticket is next 🚮

@bwfcjgreen92: Pressure building on SS now. Doesn’t know his best 11, away from is atrocious and we’re falling off the playoffs in the worse league 1 for a long time. Not good enough #bwfc

@Greggoo17: Been absolutely bodied again, calling for managers head, we all know what happens Saturday

@_ScottJBowers: This club is dead, will play in league two before it ever plays in the championship again. From the owners right down to the players, all need to be fucked off🖕🏻 im absolutely done #bwfc

@bwfc_archie5: I think this is a new low, lower than Oxford. Overhauled all the staff, no changes, same spineless squad, same issues all over. I’m genuinely clueless on 90% of the squad and Schuey, feel bad for him in some ways but overall he’s got to go, fucking SHITE. Tired of this club #bwfc

@Finley_bwfc:
We either need to:
A) Back him tk the hilt with money in January. Talking £3m+
B) Be ruthless, sack him, bring in someone else and back them with the money instead.
Big call for Fergal & Sharon.

@JackyBoyAllen: Schumacher will take the flack & probably be sacked as a result, but each and every one of those players should hang their heads in shame too. They have been fucking awful for months now, there is no fight and no quality in either final 3rd. Awful, awful, awful #bwfc

@JarvisanVA: I’m pissed we didn’t show urgent attacking intent until we went 2 down. I’m pissed that our defence is so weak. I’m pissed that we regularly squander golden chances. I’m pissed we’ve regressed so much the past 2 months. This club will kill me one day. L1 hell forever it is #bwfc

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