Beaten Bolton boss Phil Parkinson praises Chesterfield's fighting spirit

Phil Parkinson said Chesterfield played like a team '˜fighting for their lives' after his Bolton Wanderers were defeated 1-0 at the Proact.
Chesterfield v Bolton Wanderers, Gboly AriyibiChesterfield v Bolton Wanderers, Gboly Ariyibi
Chesterfield v Bolton Wanderers, Gboly Ariyibi

It was a shock result in League One, Town’s three point haul lifting them out of the bottom four.

Bolton’s boss insists they took the Spireites seriously, however.

“We didn’t underestimate them at all,” he said.

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“Every game is so tough, coming into town with a big away following, everyone has so much to play for. We certainly didn’t underestimate them.”

Once Town took the lead midway through the first half, they defended resolutely to keep Bolton out.

There were chances for the visitors, but aside from two great first half saves from Lloyd Allinson, Wanderers put everything wide or over the top.

Parkinson said the stop-start nature of the game after the break didn’t help his side.

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“We’ve had enough chances to win the game, clear cut chances. In the first half they’ve had one opportunity with ended up in the back of the net,” he said.

“They did play like a team fighting for their lives in fairness to them.

“Whilst we certainly didn’t play at our best, we have enough chances to win.

“Once they got the lead they played with a real hunger to keep hold of it, you’d expect that.

“It became a very bitty, scrappy second half and from their point of view that’s how you’d want to make it.

“There were a lot of stoppages and it was difficult to get any flow.”