Bolton bounce back to defeat Birmingham 3-1 in England League one match
Schumacher had promised that his team would play on the front foot, and they certainly did, full deserving to go back down the tunnel all square at 1-1.
John McAtee had fired his side level just before half time but the second half was virtually all Bolton George Thomason pouncing for the second from close range and Aaron Collins firing a third with the fancied Blues hardly able to muster a reply.
Both sides pressed with purpose, both make use of the ball very well, but when Emil Hansson fired his team into the lead on 23 minutes, finishing off a cross from Taylor Hickman Gardner, it gives Bolton’ early lead.
Jordi Osei-Tutu had seen one good chance blocked by the legs of Bailey Peacock Farrell, who was in for the injured Ryan Alsopp, and Aaron Collins also lifted another one over the bar from the left edge of the penalty box.
Birmingham had controlled possession and played out of defence with a swagger that comes from only losing two games in the league all season. Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-Ho shifted the ball around immaculately at times but never without the pressure of Thomason or Morley snapping at their heels.
Moments later Morley free kick pinned them back and McAtee headed back for skipper Thomason to score from close range.
But the Whites didn’t relent and though Mendes Gomes had to give way to cramp, his replacement Joel Randall ended up creating the third goal with a clever pass for Collins.
It was not only Bolton’s best performance under the new boss, but their most complete display since the first half of last season, a time when anything still felt possible.