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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
John McDougall

Steven Schumacher's claim on Plymouth Argyle's Bolton Wanderers win & pinpoints key moment

Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher felt his side 'won ugly' against Bolton Wanderers and believes goalkeeper Michael Cooper potentially denied the Whites going on to get all three points.

Wanderers had started the first half well and went close to going ahead through Kieran Lee in the opening 30 minutes, but his effort was deflected wide. Conor Bradley also saw a low effort go wide of goal.

But Wanderers were meant to pay for defensive frailties when Niall Ennis got the better of skipper Ricardo Santos to slot past James Trafford. It was a sucker punch for the visitors.

READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers player ratings vs Plymouth Argyle - Dion Charles & Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley good

The Whites should have equalised after the break when Amadou Bakayoko's effort was saved and pushed onto the post by Pilgrims goalkeeper Cooper. Ryan Hardie fired home a late second to ensure the hosts would claim the three points.

Schumacher felt his side produced the 'definition' of winning ugly in the encounter. He felt the stop made by Cooper potentially stopped a Bolton comeback which could have seen them end up victorious.

He told PlymouthLive : "It was a tough game, we knew it was going to be hard. Every time we have played them (Bolton) it has always been difficult. They have been quite tight games.

"I think today for us that was probably the definition of winning ugly. We didn't play particularly well with the ball, a bit careless at times with it in possession, and didn't create loads, but thankfully the two strikers have produced two moments of quality and won us the game."

"The game was finely balanced. Just before we got the second goal Michael has produced an unbelievable save.

"Had that gone in, it gets Bolton in the game and you would fancy them to go on and win it then because they would have had the momentum.

"I thought Bolton probably were forced into as many long passes as I have seen them play this season, the way we pressed.

"I don't think it was a great game of football between what we said is two good footballing teams. I think we cancelled each other out a little bit.

"Our performance wasn't great but sometimes you have got to find a way of winning ugly, and that's what we have done."

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