'Underdogs Bolton must find different ways to win'

Frantic was the word that stuck in the mind following Bolton's last-minute defeat by Sheffield United.

Not just because of what happened on the pitch, but because it also perfectly summed up Wanderers' activity on deadline day.

As the hours ticked by, it became increasingly clear neither Max Dean nor Johnny Kenny would be making Bolton their home, with Wanderers ultimately missing out on the two targets they had pursued for so long.

Instead, the elusive third striker turned out to be Theo Bair - a signing which came somewhat out of the blue given the column inches devoted to the aforementioned forwards.

Seeing Preston make Kenny their £3m man was a real kick in the teeth, but it was also another reminder of the reality of the situation Bolton find themselves in.

So too was Sheffield United's last-gasp winner - a goal which meant the Blades snatched all three points from a game Wanderers had led twice, only to be pegged back almost immediately on both occasions.

To play as well as Bolton did and still come away empty-handed only reinforced the same point: Wanderers are going to be the underdogs more often than not, and they need to learn how to be stubborn, grind out results and find different routes to success.

The game was played at a frenetic pace and there was something refreshing about seeing Wanderers take the fight to United.

But there was perhaps a touch of naivety to it too. At times, we were maybe too brave in our attempts to go for the jugular.

What cannot happen is throwing away leads as Bolton did on the night, particularly when the previous goal had come all the way back in the 25th minute of the opening day.

As for new boy Bair, you have to assume he was not Wanderers' first choice, given how much of the focus throughout the window remained on Dean and Kenny.

There was inevitably disappointment at missing out on those two, but Bair's arrival without a huge price tag or an established reputation also means there is little pressure on his shoulders.

And, perhaps more importantly, the money that was set to be spent on Dean or Kenny remains in Bolton's bank account.

That could prove significant heading into the January transfer window. Hopefully, it leaves Wanderers in a stronger position when it rolls around.

If things have gone awry by then, you would hope that money is still available to go out and address whatever needs fixing, rather than scrambling around for another solution when the pressure is on.

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