Bolton Wanderers ended their pre-season schedule with a draw against Championship side Huddersfield Town.
Wanderers' first team were playing for the seventh and last time before the League One season gets under way next weekend. The Whites will travel to take on Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Town took the lead in the first half when Danny Ward headed home to put the Championship side ahead. But Wanderers built up a head of steam after the break and deservedly got back on level terms thanks to Kieran Sadlier coming off the bench to curl home a sublime strike and ensure the contest ended even with the final act of the encounter.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs Huddersfield Town - Dapo Afolayan & Kieran Sadlier good
After Bolton's last showing before the League One season begins, we analyse the positives and negatives from a Wanderers perspective.
Ups
Afolayan impresses upfront alongside Charles
Dapo Afolayan started upfront alongside Dion Charles against the Terriers. It was a strike partnership which debuted last season after Charles arrived in January from Accrington Stanley.
It has featured before in pre-season too with the duo lining up alongside one another against Watford. Against the Terriers, Afolayan impressed in strike partnership alongside Charles.
The former West Ham United youngster was the one who caused the most problems for the visitors during his time on the pitch. His dropping off complemented Charles and the pair look good as a strike partnership.
With only a week to go until the start of the season, the draw against the Terriers and how Wanderers lined up in their final pre-season friendly gave a clear indication of how they might begin the season. It would not be a shock to see Afolayan lining up alongside Charles at 3pm next Saturday after this latest showing and how well the partnership operated.
Sadlier makes impact off bench
January recruit Sadlier is a versatile option for Ian Evatt's side. He can play along the front three, in a number 10 role, or at right wing-back, where he has probably featured most commonly for Wanderers.
He replaced Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley in the second half in the right wing-back slot. He impressed with some decent crossing in the final third against the Championship side.
But he made even more impact to cap off a fine appearance with a strike that deservedly brought Wanderers back on level terms. Receiving the ball from George Thomason, he waited to cut inside and bend an effort past Lee Nicholls with the stroke of his left boot.
Sadlier's touch of class provided a further reminder of what he can do and the strength in depth which exists in Bolton's squad now.
Squad depth proves worth
A new rule brought in this season has the potential to really benefit Wanderers this season, albeit making more work for those of us who compile stats and player ratings. Like in the 2020/21 Covid-19 affected season, Wanderers will be able to use five susbstitutes.
A glance at the team sheet and the bench in particular against the Terriers shows the strength in depth at Wanderers now. As well as goalscorer Sadlier, there was Joel Dixon, Amadou Bakayoko, Jack Iredale, Will Aimson, Kyle Dempsey, Elias Kachunga and George Thomason also among the substitutes.
Bearing in mind that the injured Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was missing, as was new signing Eoin Toal, midfielder Josh Sheehan and winger Lloyd Isgrove, it is even more strength in depth is still to come back. All those names above in reserve and being able to deploy many of them could be a potent weapon off the bench in the upcoming campaign.
Positive performance vs Championship side and not the first in pre-season
Overall Wanderers deserved to get something out of the clash against the Terriers. When Sadlier's strike hit the back of the net, it was completely what the Whites had merited after a positive performance.
Indeed, it was another good showing against a Championship side in pre-season from Wanderers. Huddersfield had been followed by clashes against Wigan Athletic and Watford.
Against the Latics, Leam Richardson's side shaded a narrow victory thanks to a penalty converted, while Wanderers missed their own spot kick. The 2-0 win over Watford was quite possibly the most impressive performance of pre-season.
Three of the best showings in pre-season have come against sides which will play in the Championship this season. It is certainly encouraging bearing in mind where Wanderers have set their sights.
Down
Conceding from an aerial ball
Wanderers went behind in the first half with possibly one of their Achilles heels. Sorba Thomas delivered a teasing cross for Ward to head home.
Ward got above Wanderers skipper Ricardo Santos for an aerial duel to head past James Trafford. Thomas got the better of Declan John to put the cross in the first place.
It is one of the profile of goals which Wanderers have struggled to defend against at times, with set pieces cheifly the culprit often. Though stopping goals entirely from this avenue is nigh on impossible over the course of a season, Wanderers will be seeking to minimise this as much as possible.
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