Two of the three goals scored by Peterborough United in a 3-3 draw at the Weston Homes Stadium, according to Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt, should have been disallowed.
After a thrilling match in which Bolton scored twice in the first ten minutes and Posh took a 3-2 lead in the second half, Evatt was seen chatting animatedly with the referees. Eight minutes remaining, the Trotters tied the score, sending both teams to the play-off semifinals the following week. Bolton had a remote chance of finishing in the top two going into the match, but rivals Derby took early control of their final match against Carlisle at home, winning 2-0 to secure automatic promotion alongside winners Portsmouth.
Bolton and Barnsley will play a rematch of last year’s semi-final, which the Tykes won, on Friday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. The following night, Posh will travel to Oxford United, the site of a 5-0 thrashing just two weeks prior, for their semi-final first leg (7.45pm kick off).
In the first half, we were excellent,” Evatt said to the Bolton News. “We were really aggressive and intense, and the pressing strategy worked really well. We should have and could have scored more goals after going up 2-0.
“Clearly, the outcome from somewhere else affected us and the players and may have taken some of the wind out of us.” It’s understandable, I think, that we weren’t quite as focused and intense in the second half.
“We simply became distracted. We should have played better defence in the first goal, but there was a clear handball on the touchline, and the second goal is offside because the player was in our half when the pass was made, making it an easy call.
However, I am really happy with how we responded to tie the game after giving up the third, as we were able to regain some composure.
Compared to last season’s playoffs, we are now in a better position. This group has developed and gotten better.
After suffering a calf injury at halftime, match referee Bobby Madley was replaced by fourth official Scott Tallis for the second half of play.
Following a 2-1 loss at Stevenage, Cheltenham will play in League Two alongside Fleetwood Town, Port Vale, and Carlisle, according to the League One relegation spots announced today.
Following a 2-0 home loss to Pompey, in-form Lincoln City was eliminated from the play-offs. The Imps also failed to capitalise on a 0-0 second-half penalty. Blackpool lost 3-2 at Reading, ruining their hopes of finishing in the top six.
