‘I am happy but I am exhausted’ – Hill admits after entertaining Bolton win

Keith Hill described himself as “exhausted” after Bolton’s 3-2 Sky Bet League One comeback win over fellow strugglers Southend.

Wanderers closed the gap on second-bottom United to two points following goals from Joe Dodoo, Luke Murphy and Daryl Murphy. Harry Lennon had opened the scoring for Southend, with Timothee Dieng grabbing a late consolation.

“I am happy but I am exhausted to be honest,” said Hill. “We went through every emotion you can do in a game.

“There was massive expectation for us to beat Southend. But the people who expected us to beat them didn’t look at Southend and the squad they have.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult game looking at their playing roster.

“We didn’t start brightly but we responded really well and I am really pleased with the result and the three points going into Christmas.”

Hill’s opposite number Sol Campbell was booked for protesting about Luke Murphy’s goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.

But the Wanderers boss insisted: “I don’t know what the consternation was about.

“You play to the referee’s whistle no matter whether there is VAR or no VAR. There were three phases after the linesman put his flag up.”

Campbell later admitted referee Ben Toner and assistant referee Abbas Khan “got it right” though confusion continued as to why Mr Khan raised and then lowered his flag early in the build up.

“We just wanted to know what was going on,” said Campbell. “They made the decision and we had to get on with it.

“Of course, I am going to be passionate because Bolton scored a goal from the play-on scenario.

“We wanted to know why the flag went up, why there was no free-kick or play taken back.

“He (the referee) said it was a pass back but whether he saw it is another thing.

“I don’t know how he saw it but the flag went up. Usually, he would have listened to his assistant but obviously not then. He must have seen something different.

“We are no getting rub of green but we have got to keep on fighting.”

Campbell also felt Dodoo’s left-footed volley after 36 minutes to cancel out Harry Lennon’s 10th-minute opener might have been disallowed for offside.

And the 18th-minute loss of Lennon to a suspected fractured fibula also went against the Shrimpers.

“It’s tough at the bottom but we have got to keep it going and somehow get out of it.”

Asked about the plight of former club Macclesfield, whose League Two game against Plymouth was called off, Campbell said: “It is a nice area, there are a few wealthy people in that area of Cheshire and I am sure something could happen.

“But I have got to move on and I am sure the club will move on.”