Defensive frailties, disallowed goal and taking chances - talking points from Bolton Wanderers' defeat to Newport County

Wanderers were among the pre-season favourites for the title according to the bookmakers before a ball was kicked in anger. But the Trotters began the league campaign with three successive losses against Forest Green Rovers, Colchester United and Newport County.Bolton's form in League Two has picked up of late having taken four points from the last six on offer.

Salford City, Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle United. And the two sides which occupy the drop zone at present include Grimsby Town and Oldham Athletic, though the Mariners are in action this evening against Cheltenham, while Walsall take on Leyton Orient.

Santos at the heart of the defence impresses againIf there was a positive to take from the stalemate against Grimsby, it was that the draw yielded Bolton's first clean sheet of the season.Ian Evatt stuck with the same back three that had performed so admirably in the previous weekend's victory against Harrogate Town, which had ended with Bolton's first goals and win in League Two this campaign.Ricardo Almeida Santos lined up at the heart of the defence, flanked by Ryan Delaney and Harry

The Trotters made nine changes from midweek for the game against the Mariners, where only Ryan Delaney and Billy Crellin kept their places.

Promising from the youngsters who were given a chance Ian Evatt said in the run-up to the game against Shrewsbury Town that he would be giving opportunities to Wanderers' younger players to showcase their talents and give him food for thought ahead of Saturday's League Two clash against Grimsby Town.

Strikers off the mark at long lastInevitably there will always be an expectation and a focus on a striker who has scored 25 goals in the previous campaign to become the league's top scorer. Eoin Doyle had previously had only one shot on target in his first three League Two games for Wanderers and Ian Evatt has said in the past that both the striker and the team needed him to find the back of the net to lift both parties.

Lloyd Isgrove and Arthur Gnahoua joining before last weekend's match against Newport County.However, Isgrove will now be out for a couple of weeks at least after picking up an injury. Evatt explained that players who are joining having not been at another club recently and were free agents over the summer require more time to train and become used to the demands of playing under the former Barrow boss at Wanderers and the playing style he is implementing.

joined Wanderers last weekend before kick-off against Newport County and went on to make his debut against the Exiles. Striker Miller is yet to make his League Two bow for Bolton and has not been in the squad since coming off the bench to score against former club Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy.

Wanderers have made a losing start to life in League Two, having tasted defeat in all three matches played so far in the division. Losses against Forest Green Rovers and Colchester United have been followed by defeat last time out against Newport County.The start made to the season has left Wanderers 22nd in League Two, only above Grimsby Town and Southend United.

announced as a Wanderers player last weekend before the clash against Newport County.

The Trotters have lost all five games played so far this season in all competitions. In League Two, this has included defeats at the University of Bolton Stadium against Forest Green Rovers and Newport County.

The Trotters have lost all three games played so far in League Two in the 2020/21 season.

announced as a Wanderers player prior to last Saturday's match against Newport County after penning a one-year contract and the winger came off the bench to make his debut in that game. He is the club's 19th signing of the summer and is confident that the acquisitions made over summer by Wanderers head coach Ian Evatt will have them challenging at the top end of the table.

Wanderers are yet to score in League Two so far this season and have lost all three matches played in the division. They've had two strikes disallowed by officials in the campaign thus far, the first of which was Alex Baptiste's header on the road against Colchester United.

Wanderers have lost the opening three matches of their League Two campaign, the most recent of which came at home against Newport County on Saturday. The Exiles claimed a 2-0 victory after two strikes from Tristan Abrahams after the break condemned Bolton to defeat and left them 22nd in the fourth tier of English football.

Wanderers and 19 new players have come through the doors at the League Two club. The latest two in the form of winger Lloyd Isgrove and striker Arthur Gnahoua were confirmed before kick-off on Saturday against Newport County and both came off the bench in that match to make their Bolton debuts.

The Trotters suffered their fifth defeat of the season on Saturday against the Exiles.

Ian Evatt believes Bolton Wanderers must prioritise a will to play over skill and feels the spirit and desire was 'questionable' in the players in the defeat to Newport County. Wanderers lost their fifth game of the season in all competitions yesterday against the Exiles at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Wanderers could have been even greater if the Exiles had taken their chances.Bolton had been tipped by the bookmakers as among the favourites for the title before the season began but are yet to manage results under new head coach Ian Evatt. But Flynn feels that Wanderers will come good under Evatt.

Billy Crellin - 4Came to his side's aid on a few occasions in the first half but could only parry shots in the second half which were gobbled up by Abrahams and proved decisive.Gethin Jones - 5Linked up with Hickman well at times on the right and teed up Delfouneso in the first half, but question marks over the defensive aspect in this particular game.George Taft - 5Came into the side for Alex Baptiste who dropped out of the squad altogether.