Chris O’Grady goal milestone delights Bolton boss Keith Hill

Posted Sunday, February 02, 2020 by PA

Keith Hill saluted Chris O’Grady after the veteran striker scored his 100th league goal in Bolton’s 2-0 League One relegation scrap with Tranmere.

O’Grady, 34, struck after 64 minutes to bring up three figures and end a goal drought stretching back to last November.

His right-footed effort also gave Wanderers extra breathing space after Dennis Politic fired home a 20-yard cracker two minutes into the contest.

“I am really pleased for Chris,” said Hill, who previously worked with O’Grady at Rochdale. “He is a footballing friend.

“We have worked together really well and I thought it was time for him to come back in.

“He has shown in substitute performances he has made a big impact. He gives me everything and I thought he was excellent.

“And after the second goal went in you saw us play a bit more football. It sealed the deal.

“Until that happens there is still that element of doubt if you have not been winning matches.”

Despite their first victory since December 21, Wanderers remain bottom and 17 points from safety.

“My selection over the last six weeks has been difficult,” added Hill. “It’s been up and down.

“Players have been asking about their futures since December and it has been pretty unstable.

“So there was a sigh of relief when the window shut last night. This is where we can really build now for the next 18 games. There is no one asking me about their futures or looking over their shoulders.

“The victory will give everyone the fillip they needed. We work to win every game but circumstances dictate the end result. The performance today reflected the win.”

Tranmere counterpart Micky Mellon described his side’s performance as “disappointing.”

Without suspended defender Manny Monthe as well as Peter Clarke, Rovers lacked a physical presence and slipped six points from safety.

“We tried to be as positive as we could with two strikers and come here and try to get a result,” said Mellon.

“But we lost too many physical battles all over the pitch and too many running battles to enable us to get any foothold in the game. O’Grady caused us problems all game with his physicality.

“And if you are not able to deal with it, it is going to be very difficult.

“When you analyse it though you always know it was going to be difficult in certain areas of the pitch because of the personnel that was missing.

“It was a good finish from their point of view but if we had Manny and Clarke there maybe we would have done a bit better.

“We lost an early goal which changes the whole course of the match. We didn’t get a feel for what the jobs are going to be.”