Easter Bank Holiday Monday in footballing terms is always a vital time in the ups and downs of Clubs all over the country, as the season draws to an end.

Wolves v Bolton is a fixture steeped in history or, as Tommy Mundon would put it, ‘as old as conkers!’ Bolton is as synonomous with Nat Lofthouse as Wolves is with Billy Wright but you don’t necessarily have to go back to the fifties for anecdotes and incidents in this fixture.

What about the Bully era when Bolton beat us in the playoffs and was largely to blame for our hero not progressing to the top flight?

Dave Jones stuck to the side that started at Manchester City with Cort and Camara up front and Okoronkwo keeping his place at centre half alongside Paul Butler.

The game was only a minute old when there was uproar. Kennedy progressed down the left hand side, beat his man and was well into the penalty area with only the goalkeeper to beat when he was upended as the defender took his back leg from under him. It was a blatant penalty but referee Uriah Rennie waved play on.

Bolton tried to slow the game down at every opportunity, particularly when the ball went out of play. Wolves on the other hand were trying to raise the tempo. The visitors had a spate of corners and whilst they didn’t score, the Wolves defence didn’t look particularly solid.

Mid way through the first half, the Wolves almost took the lead. From a corner on the right delivered by Kennedy, the ball came out to Cameron who hit it on the volley and brought out a great save from the goalkeeper.

The play was now mostly midfield with Paul Ince, as always, in the thick of it. Just as halftime approached and no goals seemed to sum up the state of play, Bolton scored. There seemed little danger when they were awarded a free kick out on the right about 20 yards inside the Wolves half. The ball was floating towards the far post and from about 15 yards , Pedersen simply rose above Irwin and headed it into the net. Wolves were undeservedly one – nil down and it was virtually half time. From the kick off, our lads attacked Bolton’s goal and the ball found its way to Camara who simply slammed it into the net giving the goalkeeper no chance. The referee blew for the interval – two goals in two minutes and all to play for.

The second half started with Wolves slowly getting on top. Cort was having a great match up front despite the strong physical pressure of the Bolton defenders. He seemed to be winning everything in the air. The Wolves increased the pressure and the crowd were right behind them. With about six minutes to go Dave Jones replaced Irwin with Miller, Newton covering at right back.

Bolton were now under severe pressure when, with about two minutes to go, the Wolves should have been awarded their second penalty. As Miller tried to control the ball in the opposing penalty area, he was clearly pulled back and almost wrestled to the ground. Rennie waved play on yet again and Bolton swept the ball up to Davies who, with only Paul Jones to beat, just tucked it into the net – unbelievable!

I know it always sounds churlish when you blame the referee if you lose a match but let’s be honest here – we might have missed the penalties but at least we should be been awarded them in the first place.

This is now five games out of the last six where the opposition has scored against us during the last two minutes. I know how I feel as a supporter, especially after the referee’s incompetance in this match, but I cannot imagine how Dave Jones and the boys feel.