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Fan's View: The only way is onwards and upwards

Bolton Wanderers fans celebrate after the win at Huddersfield Town
Bolton Wanderers fans celebrate after the win at Huddersfield Town

It was another freezing cold start for our trip across the Pennines to face the Yorkshire terriers of Huddersfield.

No prizes for guessing what was on everybody’s mind; who should be our new manager? Ian Evatt deserves all our respect for what he has done for Bolton Wanderers in restoring our pride and good name in football but it is time to move on.

The mood amongst the fans was a sense of relief that something had been done. There was almost a party atmosphere in that we had got a free hit in this match, as we were playing the in-form team in League 1, unbeaten in their last 16 matches.

Julian Darby had told his players to go out and enjoy themselves and the fans took this on board. We had nothing to lose as we faced Dion Charles from the start.

We were up for this from the kick-off as every player played his part as we fought like terriers. The defence looked relieved, not to have to the burden of finding another player when trying to clear the ball.

They relished in giving it some welly. We fought all the way, thwarting Huddersfield’s numerous attacks with gusto, hitting them on the break or in transition as it is now called. Aaron Collins got the important goal but we could have had a handful as other glorious chances were missed. The fans were magnificent, roaring the team on, reaching a crescendo in the second half. The players joined in the atmosphere, with ‘Shabby’ Schon urging the crowd on. The rest of the players joined in as we got the Wanderers over the line.

There were fantastic scenes as the final whistle was blown. Every player went to the fans. The substitutes raced onto the pitch. You would have thought that we had just won a cup final. But it was better than that, we had got our team back. We were together again.

Julian Darby carried his grandson onto the pitch, applauded by the fans and players alike, to revel in the occasion.

“Sideways and backwards, not any more” was belted out from the packed Cowshed, as we milked the occasion. Who knows what will happen in the coming weeks? We were happy, smiles all round after a truly magical occasion, knowing that the only direction now is onwards and upwards.