Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher spoke to BBC Radio Manchester after their win against Wolves.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Bolton Wanderers are going through a continuous learning process as they adapt to life in the Championship, boss Steven Schumacher says.

Schumacher's men were defeated by his former side Stoke on Saturday, meaning they have now lost five of their past seven Championship games.

"It is going to be an ongoing process because for a lot of the players that will have been their ninth-ever Championship game," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"We're not going to have the same experience as some players who've been at Stoke for years and have played X amount of games.

"We have to understand that that's where we are and then when we get results or performances like that it's important that you learn from them and try and use that in a positive way."

Bolton travel to Wolves on Tuesday to face a side that has just spent eight years in the Premier League.

Schumacher said the financial disparity between his side and others in the Championship means they will have to be coy about other ways they can succeed and bridge the gap on their rivals.

"We can't overcome it by spending, so we've got to try and find a way to do it another way, which is by being positive and being brave, and sometimes you'll get punished for that," he added.

"We're playing against a former Premier League team, we've just played against West Ham as well and did well against them so that'll be the same sort of mindset - go and try and be brave and have a go."

Image source, Opta

Wolves and Bolton Wanderers will both hope to bounce back from defeat at the weekend when they meet in the Championship at Molineux on Tuesday night.

Cesar Peixoto's side had won two on the bounce before slipping to a 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough and sit fifth in the table.

Similarly, the Trotters had won two in a row before losing 2-1 at home to Stoke and will start the evening in 17th place, three points above the relegation zone.

• This will be the first league meeting between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers since 2017-18, when Wolves won home and away in the Championship by an aggregate score of 9-1.

• Bolton are winless in four league visits to Wolves (D2 L2) since a 3-2 Premier League triumph in March 2012 under Owen Coyle.

• Wolves have won both of their past two home league games, last winning three in a row in April 2025 under Vitor Pereira.

• After their 4-3 win at Norwich, Bolton are looking for successive away league wins for the first time since October 2024.

• Wolves are winless in six league games against newly promoted opponents (D2 L4), their longest run since going seven without a win from August 1984 to October 1985.

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton Wanderers manager Stephen Schumacher spoke to BBC Radio Manchester after their hugely-disappointing 2-1 home loss to 10-man Stoke City.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Image source, Opta

Stoke City will hope to continue their excellent form when they visit Bolton Wanderers in the Championship on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 BST).

The Potters lost their opening three games of the season and were bottom of the table at the end of August but are unbeaten since then and have climbed to seventh with four wins from five matches (D1).

Bolton have won two on the bounce following a run of four straight defeats, with their most recent success a thrilling 4-3 win at Norwich before the international break.

• This is the first league meeting between Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City since a goalless draw in the Championship in December 2018.

• Stoke City are winless in their pre10 league visits to Bolton Wanderers (D4 L6) since a 1-0 win in October 1990 under manager Alan Ball.

• Bolton have won their past two Championship matches – they haven't won three in a row at this level since April 2014; this is their 197th game in the Championship since then.

• No team won more points in the Championship in September than Stoke (13), who won four of their five matches (D1). It was more wins than they'd managed in their previous 23 games (W3 D6 L14).

• Thierry Gale has been involved in four goals in eight Championship appearances for Bolton this season (3 goals, 1 assist) – he's the first Barbadian with as many as three goals in a Championship season since Nick Blackman scored 11 in 2015-16 for Reading.

Kasey Smith
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

So far, so good for Wanderers.

As we await the return of league action, begrudgingly enduring the three games of the international break, it feels appropriate to offer an early assessment.

I don't think we could have asked for much more than being three points off the play-offs, especially as we started the season with a squad that was arguably weaker than the one that triumphed at Wembley.

The theme of our eight games so far has been a total disregard for what some might call the 'respect' that perceived lesser sides are apparently expected to show those more established.

Schumacher and his side have refused to play by those rules. They've had a go.

It's brought a mixed bag of results. It's been frantic and chaotic, but at the same time, rip-roaring and exciting.

And it cannot be said that Bolton are a one-trick pony, either. The Cardiff result showed that we can grind results out, too.

As early in the season as that was, the game had been seen as one of our 'must-wins'.

Honestly, we probably didn't deserve the three points, but we found a way.

Now Bolton sit on 10 points, while Cardiff have just seven, one place above the relegation zone. It's fine margins.

That is something Bolton are beginning to learn fast, particularly after the 3-2 defeats to both West Ham and Sheffield United.

For all the pre-season talk about a lack of attacking threat, we have not necessarily struggled in that department. The last three games have seen seven goals go in, with all but one scored by a different member of the squad.

There is still plenty of room for improvement – a bit more organisation at the back would be nice at times – but there is already a clear identity to this Bolton side.

Long may it continue. Bring on Stoke!

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We asked for your thoughts after Bolton Wanderers twice came from behind to win 4-3 at Norwich City on Sunday.

Here are some of your comments:

Norwich City fans

Philip: 13 goals conceded in the last three games, just isn't good enough!

Mike: Only one team scored more. West Ham second in the league. Only one team conceded more. Burnley bottom of the league. What does that tell you?

Alan: They are clearly in need of a defence that can actually stop conceding so many goals. Eight in two matches is relegation form. On the current showing they will struggle all season. Their honeymoon period with the new manager is clearly over.

Stephen: Why did Clement not change the defence? Bolton manager out-thought him, they played down their right all game, Cordoba couldn't cope. This one is on Clement. Honeymoon is over.

Keith: Though we have sorted the forward situation out and now have a very strong forward line our defence is still the weakest and we cannot defend against fast big forwards and have a useless goalkeeper who continues to be beaten on his near post. Needs sorting out.

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton Wanderers fans

Paul: Absolutely worked their socks off and thoroughly deserved a first away win.

Chris: It's hard on the nerves watching Bolton this season. The defence is rather suspect and our inability to shut out the opposition has already cost us points this season. The Norwich defence is thankfully worse than Bolton's though.

Michael: Three points is all that matters. Consolidate first season in the Championship. Brilliant group of players who stick together as a team. Manager deserves credit for working on a shoestring.

Simon: No doubt Bolton have quality going forward - but the lack of positional performance in defence needs fixing - quickly.

Graham: No problem scoring, just very vulnerable at set pieces - five goals already this season.

Image source, Shutterstock

Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher spoke to BBC Radio Manchester after they won 4-3 at Norwich City to record their first back-to-back Championship wins since 2018.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Norwich City go into this game with only Burnley (16) having conceded more than their 13 goals in the Championship so far this season, while only four sides have scored more than the Canaries total of 13.

Bolton visit Carrow Road on Sunday (13:30 BST) as one of seven sides yet to win away in the Championship.

• Norwich City have won six of their past eight league games against Bolton Wanderers (D1 L1), with this their first since doing the double over the Trotters in 2018-19.

• Bolton have lost four of their past five league visits to Norwich (D1) since a 2-0 victory in November 2000 under Sam Allardyce.

• Norwich have not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 14 league games; in England's top four tiers, only Preston (22), Chelsea (20), and Burnley (15) are on longer ongoing runs.

• Bolton could lose three consecutive away league games for the first time since January 2022 (run of 7).

• Since his league debut in February, only Cyle Larin (15) has scored more goals in the Championship than Norwich's Mohamed Toure (13), while no player in that time has more goal involvements (16).

Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu says he was happy he was able to contribute in the 1-0 win over Cardiff City on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland international was outstanding as he made 10 saves to keep his first clean sheet for the club since arriving from Southampton last month and help Wanderers to their first league win since the opening day of the season.

Bazunu was at fault for West Ham's third goal in Bolton's 3-2 defeat by the Hammers in midweek and reflected on his start to life at his new club.

"That's just the life of a goalkeeper, isn't it?" Bazunu told BBC Radio Manchester. "Come in on my debut against one of the strongest oppositions in the league. The third goal is a big error on my part.

"I was very happy with my performance other than that moment. I was happy I was able to contribute to the team.

"We've played such good football over the past three or four weeks and not come out with the results that we want.

"It's typical of football that [with] probably our poorest performance since I've been here [against Cardiff], we go and get the win."

Image source, Getty Images

Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher was pleased that his side showed another side to their game as they ended a four-match losing streak with a late 1-0 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday.

Thierry Gale popped up in stoppage time with a header at the back post to convert fellow winger Theo Bair's cross.

"It's a funny old game, isn't it? Football is mad," Schumacher said. "We have played better than we did in the previous four games and got nothing for our efforts.

"Here we had to show another side to us, which is really pleasing, because it was difficult against a tough opponent.

"Tuesday night took a lot out of us, so for us to show that togetherness and heart and get through a tough afternoon was really pleasing.

'Thierry is so frustrating. It took him 20 minutes after coming on at half time and I was pulling my hair out because I had a good chat about starting the game fast.

"It took him 20 minutes to wake up, but thankfully the subs have combined. Theo has put in a great cross and Thierry is in the right place. I'm pleased for him."

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds here.