Search icon

Football

28th Apr 2018

Bolton fans clash with one another and attempt to get at manager in ugly altercation

The relegation clash turned nasty

Darragh Murphy

It’s a tough time to be a Bolton Wanderers fan but nobody wants to see scenes like this.

Just 13 years ago, Bolton finished sixth in the Premier League but those days are long gone now as they have dropped to 23rd in the Championship table.

A 2-0 defeat to Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon saw them leapfrogged by their opponents and supporters let their frustrations get the better of them before half-time.

After the hosts went 2-0 up thanks to a Lucas Akins goal, Bolton supporters began turning on one another before setting their anger on the away dugout.

Footage from the Pirelli Stadium shows a group of travelling fans attempting to confront Bolton manager Phil Parkinson, only to be held back by stewards.

In recent years, Bolton have had to endure several financial issues, a transfer embargo and ever-intensifying fan pressure.

There was no dramatic second-half comeback from the Trotters, who will need other results to go in their favour and beat Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season next weekend.

Bolton (40 points), Burton (41), Barnsley (41), Birmingham (43) and Reading (43) are all in danger of dropping down to League One and let’s just hope that there is no replay of this weekend’s ugly scenes next Sunday, regardless of the results.