Post-Match Interview with Steven Schumacher

Buff Concast, proudly brought to you by Destinology. An award-winning Bolton Based Company and proud sponsor of Boltwanders FC, specialising in crafting exceptional holidays, lend expert knowledge, luxury accommodation, and exclusive perks. Experience seamless service and unforgettable destinations with tailor made journeys designed just for you. Ready for the trip of a lifetime? Visit destinology.co.uk today. The playoff five! Well, that was fun, wasn't it? Unbelievable night at Valley Parade. I am back in my hotel room. After a very, very long night, a lot of postmatch interviews. All in the dark. But most importantly, a one mil win for wanderers. a place in the playoff final. against Stockport County at Wembley on May the twenty fourth. Happy, happy days. Uh a bit of a different last word to usual. normally I make a few notes. There's a bit of structure to this. Uh, this is gonna be off the cuff, to be honest with you, because basically that's the kind of night it was. Um, not a game of immense quality was it? Uh not a lot of uh you know possession for Bolton, not a lot of uh, you know, well structured attacks really. Um the flare players uh didn't didn't have the best of games in fact this was a a night for for really rolling up your sleeves and getting your knees dirty. But Look. First half Bolton had the better chances. I think they were controlling the game well. um a little bit more quality probably in that final ball and that that delivery, maybe a better touch round goal as well and and they probably could have uh got themselves on the score sheet a bit earlier than they did. Second half though, they did lose their grip on the game. Bradford kind of bullied their way into it. That the momentum, the crowd, the the way that the whole place was just absolutely rocking, really got them into the game. And let's face it, you know, Jack Bonham um made saves at m at key times. They had that, you know, little bit of luck potentially. Um certainly the the the one that got deflected onto the the the crossbar. Um was uh was a bit of luck. And then you know they they got that uh that one on the break once the game opened up. I always wondered whether that was gonna happen and uh I didn't have my money on Zav Simons, I've gotta be honest, to score. I don't I don't think anybody had the money on Zymons to score. um, but to do it in the way he did, absolutely perfect. Uh the scenes in that uh away, oh, it's not an away end, it was an away side, um were absolutely amazing. It was fantastic to see, lovely to be a part of. I'm absolutely delighted for Stephen Schumacher, I'm delighted for the fans, I'm delighted for the players. Um it has been a very, very It's been a hard season, a really hard season. And now they are now ninety minutes arguably away from the championship, which uh is is a wonderful thing to think about, to be honest. Um, shall we see what the goal was celebrated like at the tough sheets. How about this one? Absolutely magnificent. Absolutely magnificent. I'm almost jealous I wasn't there. It looks fun. Um I don't know. Let me know um what it was like in that place. Uh it looks like it was absolutely rammed as well. So I'd imagine that scene would have been replicated in pubs and clubs all across Balton. um people jumping up and down and and uh screaming at the telly. Um me and Dan Barnes, uh, you know, we we maintained our professionality in the press box to be fair. Um I didn't so much at full time. Um, but uh when the goal went in, um it was all all about getting the match report done. Um we actually did manage to get a little bit of a chat after the game. Um before they boot booted us out, it all the all the lights were off. Um, it's made a right mess really of the the postmatch interviews, the fact that they don't want to turn the floodlights on. We were just all wandering about in the dark. Um But Yeah, me and Dan uh did this after the final whistle, um, a little bit of a chat about how things gone. I told you this is gonna be a different type of last word. So here it is. Hello and welcome to a pitch dark valley parade. It's no longer quite as noisy as it was. about uh an hour ago. In fact it's more than an hour now. Good grief. We've been here for a long, long time. Dan Barnes is sat alongside me. We've been in this seat watching a thrilling Playoff semi final second leg victory done. Your thoughts, my friend. What a what a ridiculous night. Yeah, I can just about breathe now, but Um, I think the the thing that stood out to me was the character, the resilience, all those words that you want to see. Or you want to use after a playoff final. Um, I mean Farino typified it, but the whole bat line, you know, Johnston. Um especially even Conway when he came on, you know, it was a a tough spot to be in when he when he was kind of thrown in at the deep end, but um and and you know, to be fair one to eleven they were all uh they were superb battling for every loose ball. um, you know, just leaving everything on that pitch and that's exactly what you've got to do against Bradford and you know to keep two cleets over the playoffs is no main feat, especially against this Bradford City team. Um, and I think it's a amazing effort over the two legs and thoroughly deserved. Absolutely. You mentioned one to eleven, number one. Today, Jack Bonham. Um I mean they've been question marks potentially. There've been criticisms of him in the last few weeks or so. There was one shaky moment where he he kind of half punched it in the in this second half, but some of those saves he made tonight were were absolutely magnificent. really answered some questions there, didn't he? Absolutely. I mean the one to tip uh power strike onto the boy that's just you know, as soon as it left his boot you could tell This is a really awkward one, but he's he's such a big lad, isn't he? And he he used all of his frame to uh to get back and and get such a vital touch to Tip it onto the bar and Like you said, you know, you come here, you know exactly what you're getting yourself in for, they're gonna put it on you with the crosses and and make it tough. But he stood up to it really well. Um and yeah, I think his We've spoke a lot, haven't we, about his kind of experience that he brings in and maybe that calmness that that can come with. Uh, and I think that really came in and J you'd know just shone through in his performance tonight. Yeah, absolutely. I think it was uh it was a a night for calm heads really. Definitely. Uh n needed to keep my car when Zav Simon's uh shot nearly broke the back of the net. Um I mean It was a weird old two minutes of football, wasn't it? The goal had been disallowed at one end. I was trying to get that. logged in the match report and then all of a sudden I looked up and Thierry Gale has has taken a really heavy touch. How he caught that ball, uh to to cross the ball in the in the end, uh and then it made its way out to Simons for the goal. It was um That's what football's all about, isn't it? It's a mad game at times. Yeah, absolutely. I mean the the kind of uh gut wrenching feeling that you y you have when that ball goes into the net and then two minutes later it's just total ecstasy. It's it's bonkers, it's the playoffs. It's it's why we love it. Um But yeah, like you said, I thought Tier is To be c to be totally honest, I thought it ruined the chance, so to speak. I thought it got on away from him, but he's so quick, isn't he? Just just manages to get there, just about keep it in. Um and the finish from from Zav is unbelievable. I mean, someone who obviously is has shown what he can do this season but has had a bit of a tough time, had to be patient, but What a moment that is. And we talk about, you know, in in the playoffs especially it's it's those moments that um that make the difference and you've got this squad of Bolton that going into these games we thought well there are those players in there who can come up with those moments. Um Thankfully we've seen that so far and now. Hopefully we can see some more at Wembley. Yeah, absolutely. I'm a weird one tonight. I mean I'd say that Amario Chieri Uh I'm sorry, Mario I uh Ibrahim Sasoko. Rodriguez fairly quiet games didn't have an you know, weren't weren't magnificent in any stretch of the imagination, but it was the it was the character, it was it was the Farinos, the Johnsons, Simons in the second half. Maybe the the unsung heroes that came good for Balton tonight. Absolutely. And I think even You know, someone who who probably won't spring to your mind straight away, but in both of these legs when Mac has come on and you know he's you can see he he really just gets it, doesn't he? He leaves everything on that pitch. Uh you know, sprints after every loose ball like his life defen depends on it. And uh like you said, it's just that attitude throughout the whole squad, the work ethic, the um You know, sometimes it's almost about stripping it back to the basics, isn't it? And I think that's something that Steven Schumacher does really well. Um and you can see his kind of calmness as well and his temperament really shines through in these performances. And you know, when the when the pressure's on, that's exactly what you need. Yeah, we're gonna be uh chucked out to Valley Parade very soon. It feels a bit like Blair Witch this, to be honest with you. You can actually see my breath, which is ridiculous. It is very cold here tonight. Um, but just a quick word on the final, which is gonna be on uh Sunday, May the twenty fourth. Stockport County, not a team that uh Balton have done particularly well against. I always call them the new Wigan. Cast. Um yeah, they've had the they've had the edge over Bolton recently, but at Wembley there's just something about it that I just feel Bolton Oh. their fans, themselves, everything, the performance to go and do get that job done. Yeah, absolutely. It feels like What better time? Again, you you you never know particularly with those Wembley games, but it feels like it could be that sort of occasion where it all comes together. Um I know we spot before the game obviously a a thing that could be a really big advantage is, you know, potentially the the crowd numbers that we're talking about. Obviously Stopport when they got to the uh the Papa John's sorry the Virtue now. Um they took was it about ten thousand? Yeah. And go in again several weeks later, it might might be even less. And you look at obviously the numbers that Bolton will take, it it could be a a real kind of difference maker going into that environment. Yeah, absolutely, I would imagine. What we're thinking, maybe twenty five thirty for Bolton. I would uh I would imagine they'll take something akin to what they took against uh against Plymouth for a game of this this magnitude. Don't know. I don't like being confident following ball monitorers. It doesn't really suit me, but uh I do feel that that they do deserve uh this this moment. This tie was the one that really worried me. Um, but they dug in. It was really, you know, packed with characters today. It wasn't great to watch. I'd imagine the the neutrals would have thought this was the right old crap game, but Um, yeah, there wasn't a lot of quality in it, but I don't care sometimes. Sometimes it's just about the result, in it. Hundred percent. And you know, two one nils is like It's just like winning the lottery, isn't it, in the playoffs? It's You couldn't ask for anymore. It's absolute dream scenario and Yeah, for really deserved. Happy days indeed. See you at Wembley. Steven Schumacher was talking about positive manifestation. Um raised a few eyebrows 'cause I'm not too sure that's necessarily in the uh coaching manual, uh Positive Manifestation. But um shout out to Wayne actually on our our team talk show on the YouTube channel. I think he said it was going to be Jack Bonham that that made the difference and he was going to be the the hero of the hour. Um and he certainly was today. Um Yeah, I think there was There was a fair few people that maybe doubted Bolton tonight whether they had the metal to go to Valley Braid and to get the positive result that they needed. I don't think that was ever in doubt today. I think it was one of those performances. I I I thought it was gonna be a a kind of a tight nil nil type of affair uh and that balls would go through an aggregate. I think I said that on the buff. Um But when that goal went in, it just took the the complete oxygen out of the place. There was there was never any anything that was uh was gonna happen after that point, even though they had I think was seven minutes of of extra time to play. Um But the the the fans in that stand the two and a half thousand uh Bolton fans. uh with the ones making all the noise at the end there. Um it was absolute party time. Looked fantastic. Loads of big performances as well tonight. Bonham obviously um, you know, he'll get his flowers for for the saves that he made. Um Yeah. quality, I thought and Bradford put a lot of pressure on your penalty box. There are going to be some nervy movements, but I thought that that the defensive unit in general was absolutely outstanding. Um that save that Bottom made from Max Power. Um absolutely unbelievable. Chris Farino, I think he's playing best football. he has for Bolton Wanderers. Um, you know, uh he's a leader. I've I've not looked at the stats particularly um on on his aerial uh Jules, but I'd be surprised if he wasn't leading the the pack on that one again. Um he was saying to me, he reckons he's actually playing the best football of his career. at the moment, um, you know, Baltimore or otherwise. Um had a a chat with him after the game. Um, good lad is Chris. Um yeah, he's he's really coming good for Bolton. George Johnson, uh, superb. I mean, you know. loads of of opinions have been Uh given on the way that John O's played. certainly as a as a as a left left back as opposed to a left sided centre half he actually ended up playing the the game, of course, because of uh Owen Toll's injury, playing most of the game as as a centre half today, but I thought it regardless, he was he was brilliant. He was first class and uh it was nice to see him get his his due credit from the from the travelling supporters as well. Um, Jordiosi two, I think defensively today was great. His pace bailed Bolton out a couple of times. timing of his challenges was really good. Um, Shein class on the ball again. Um, you know, people keep on telling me that, you know. physically is he's not suited for this sort of game, but it just keep he just keeps on ticking. Um first class first player. Um it wasn't really a night for the the flare players as I say, Mario Cody Dubri. Brimson Soko, Ruben Rodriguez, they chiped in, they kept going. Um but You know, it probably wait for Wembley for them. They they can turn up a Wembley if they want, that's fine. Um it's just the way that that Bradford do it isn't it? They they put that pressure on you. And and and you know, there was always gonna be a time because of the scoreline if Balden could just keep that nil. that they the game would open up and they would have a chance to hit on the break. And uh that's exactly what happened. Gail was brought on at the right time again, Stephen Schumacher making the most of those substitutions. Keith Hill was talking before the game on uh BBC Radio Manager about How impressed he had been. um at the decision making um uh of the Bolton boss this season. And I think when you look back the number of times we've seen substitutes come on and make a positive influence on the game. There was a a stat that I put out a few weeks ago. I think it was thirteen goals involvements of uh substitutes this season. So that's another one to add to the collection. But no other managers manage that, uh, in league one. Um so you know managers will tell you there's always a an element of luck about these things, but actually I I I think there's also an element of skill about it as well. And and he's got a depth to his squad, he knows when to change games, he knows what type of players to put in certain situations. And today, you know, Gale's pace um turned turned out to be the the deciding factor in creating that goal for Simons. You took it brilliantly as well and uh and and hats off to him. 'cause he's uh he's been he's been good for Bolton, real good professional, uh Zach Simons. Um We're gonna have Henry Hewitt up. Next, I think. Just looking at my clips. Yeah. Go on, we'll put Henry Hewitt Henry Hewitt next. I can only imagine he was dancing around his living room after that one. Um for the video viewers, I'm going to 'cause Henry sent in an audio file, I'm going to send uh put uh Henry's uh Dulcet tones against all the celebration pictures. uh from after the game. So if you went to the game, maybe you get to spot yourself. If you listen to this on audio, then it's just gonna be Henry. Hi, Mark. We're the famous Baltimore Wanderers and we're going to Wemberley. Absolutely fantastic. Uh what were we worried about? What have we spent the last four days worrying about? Valley Parade was gonna be The Yorkshire Galatasserai. Well I know the mics were probably on Bolton's side. All you could hear was Bolton fans throughout the game and I mean even the commentators said it was like a home game for Bolton. Bolson can't keep clean sheets. We're gonna have to score. Kept two cleets, super Jack Bonham. I would now not have a bad word said about that man's name. Um And We can't win big games. We can't do it. We can't get it over the line. And We have tonight. Absolutely brilliant and I thought we s we set up The start of the game. Uh Really well. Perfect. The only thing missing was the goal. Um And even at one point in the Bradford plays were arguing amongst themselves 'cause we were in control. Um, I thought Shu he got his spot on, I thought he got his sub spot on at the right times. We'll wait and see about Toll. That could be frustrating that about him 'cause I thought he was solid at the back. Uh yeah, uh Until that. Um So yeah, absolutely fantastic. I felt The longer it went on. Um Without scoring you could tell it was gonna happen like it did, Bradford would come into it, they'd throw the attacking players on. Um, and I think today is something that we haven't had across the season. Is a bit of luck. Um And I'm not saying Bonham saves were lucky 'cause they weren't, they were fantastic, but You know, I think the the He tapes it onto the bar. It's half an inch lower, it comes back out. Um But it went over. The goal that was uh disallowed. Uh, for offside, somebody could have just No. left you know, stayed on the post or something. So just those moments went our way and obviously a a bit of a defensive error for our goal. So yeah, so he went right for us today, but I wanna say about the goal as well. Think tonight. was the night for a few players who have had a bit of stick across the season. You know, it wasn't about Cozy Dooby, it weren't about Dolby tonight. It was about Johnston. Coming out of defence like Maldini. Playing it. Two Maka tee. You put a fantastic ball through to Gale. You Takes a touch. Their fans ironically cheer 'cause they think he's gone out. No. Gail uses his pace, brings it back in, and Simons who's missed a lot of the season and Probably over the season being the signing we thought it would be. Fantastic finish. So It was a night for the squad. We said on the buff how many times that these players will get the moment. Um Think they have tonight, so Fantastic. Let's enjoy it. Let's off to go to Wembley again to face Stockport. And what I will say Is that I've said this before. All the late goals, all of that stuff. It's written in the stars that Bolton are gonna get promoted. Well How about this one? One of the worst. Away nights I've had support in Balton. was when we lost to non league Stockport County in the FA Cup. Sarsevic was enjoying himself. Stockport fans are unbearable and we lost that game where we've beat South Civic in the semi finals and laid that ghost to rest. And now it's time for Stockport. And we can now walk on to the championship. And that's the last thing we've beaten Wigan. We beat Bert and we couldn't beat them for ages. We started beating teams at the top. Well The last ghost to rest. after Sarsovic is stopped port. We're coming for ya. As we all get on the train from Manchester to London next Sunday. Come on, you wives. One more game. One more game. Sunday, May twenty fourth. Uh stop ports. And they've lost. once already there this season to Luton Town of course in the uh virtue trophy. And let's be honest, they've at the bot better of um of Bolton. a few too many times really in in the last few years. Um so this needs to be put right. as uh as Henry mentioned. Steven Schimaker has done a very good job. putting those sort of things right. I don't think we have too many jinxes that uh that that are ongoing at the moment. Stockport might be the last of them. So Yeah, I've got every confidence. I think there's a lot of people eating their words after that first leg. I think. I was quite surprised at some of the takes that some folk uh came out with after they'd won the game one nil, but hey. Um, we'll find something to moan about. We always do. Um, a word on Bradford, I would say as well. I I thought over the two legs. Obviously they didn't quite have the quality in front of goal. Um Which would have been necessary to win the time if didn't get a shot on target, obviously, in the first leg. Took him quite a while to get one on target in the in the second leg as well. Um don't think Max Power could probably have done much more than he did with with his shots. Um, obviously Bolton did need Bonham to bail him out a couple of times, but Um I think just the team ethic, really, the the the work rate that Graham Alexander's got from his team there. Um first class. Yeah. Uh, fans were too as well, singing at the end when the tie was beyond them. um just as a as a kind of a mark of respect. Yes. It was I think s Simon Parker, the the lad from the Telegraph and Argus said from the off it was always going to be bonus time for for Bradford. Um, obviously having been promoted from league two last season. They didn't really expect to be where they are. Um so the pressure was always on Bolton to to go and and and get that result. Um, but yeah, I think you know they they were they were creditful marks to him. Um, credit to the manager uh behind the scenes as well. Absolute pleasure to work at Bradford. Um really do rate that club. Lots of uh good people there. And I'm gonna go for another first as well, it just hopped into my mind, and that's it, the referee. tonight was was really good. Thomas Kirk, what a game he had. Um Yeah, I mean it there were there were probably a few complaints in the first half, weren't there? maybe he he let a bit go. He was quite lenient. I think most of the most of the game on the physic Curtis. probably should have been books for some of the challenges that he put in early doors. But I think in fairness the referee was lenient for both teams. He he You know, he he he seemed to be judging things pretty well. His decision making was really strong. could've gone overboard at the end when uh was it Baldwin went rattling in on on When he stepped across him trying to take that quick free kick and it all kicked off and both benches were up and such. Um, but no, I think he managed it really well. you know, took all the the sting out of things. Um, Premier League referee. You know? And he looked like it. And there was no VAR and you just had to make decisions. It's sometimes it's easy isn't it? Um, right, okay. Well I think it's probably time we hear from the head coach then tucked away in a Dark corner of Valley Parade. It's not exactly award winning cinematography, but And we did get some words with him and uh, you know, you might be able to see it, but he does smile once or twice as well. There's a lot of spice substitution as well, isn't it? Yeah, so can you think of anyone best in to score that goal so he's a Wembley, it's been a tough second half of the season for he's found himself sometimes out of starting 11, sometimes out of Matrix Scorch, but he's a model pro, he's done absolutely everything properly all the time, every single day. to come on and score the goal and say just a Wambling. And to say it couldn't give anyone better until I overall that was a gutsy performance wasn't it? Full of character and spirit. Yeah it was because it wasn't an easy game. You know we knew it was going to be difficult coming here. the intensity that was going to be around the game, the cloud, the atmosphere. I thought we played okay in the first half. I thought we were slightly on top. But in the second half, you know, we just didn't we didn't pass the ball well enough. We didn't have any control in the game. Every time that we did turn the ball over we cave it away. They put us under loads of pressure. We need the jack to me. A couple of brilliant saves that you did. You need your goalkeeper in big games like this. So I'm so pleased and for us to get the second goal after they got born. This allowed a kill up all for them. And we saw the game out well. Um I think well without your captain as well. Well you're told what's the latest. Yeah he's when he went on that run on the maze he said he threw his hands thing tighten up so it's too early to to know what what the damage is but you know we wouldn't be coming off the pitch if it wasn't Shay's because that's told he he played through he has played through himself a lot this season but um Fingers crossed he's okay but we'll see. Yeah absolutely I mean and what were your emotions like? It got a bit uh tense on the touch line at one point didn't it? Yeah it was yeah but again that's to be expected it's a game where two teams are going full at it and desperate to win but um But yeah I was I was trying to be best to stay as calm as possible trying to help the players through what was a tough game. But it's not easy, it's hard trying to get information, it was so loud. But um I'm just glad that we've kept another clean sheet to keep two cleets against Baltimore in in the playoffs is really good, it took a whole team actually for that. And um and it's got us got us to Wembley. And Stockport County the way it's interestingly you played them on the first game of the season, you're now playing them on the last game of the season. and then it's gonna be a good game. We know that they're a good team. Every time we played them it's it's close, it's always tight. They've got some good players but we're looking forward to it. We um we know what what's at stake and we have to be prepared as best as we possibly can. And even when Conway came on. As well, you know, when you uh told me to go off and he he played a big part. He did well, John Ost went into back into centre park and was excellent. He John showed really good composure for the goal. Max did well, it's not easy playing against Newville, who's a powerful boy. So um yeah he stood up to really well and and the the whole team did as I say you've played a lot better than that. Everyone's seen us play better football but I don't think anyone really cares and in the second half tonight it's it's the result of what we needed. What was the message at halftime, Steven? Just take care a little bit, I just felt that a couple of opportunities that we had turnovers we were rushing. And I know that's because of the pressure and the intensity, but I thought there was more space and more time for them to relax and play. But um It's easier said than done, it's easier still than to time. Yeah, it's easier from the sides. What do you do now? Do you let them celebrate a bit? Do you get them back in training? We'll be back in on Sunday, yeah. They um they'll have a couple of days to rest and recover. I don't think it's time to celebrate. Obviously, we're pleased that we've got ourselves to Wembley, but the job isn't done. The the objective wasn't to get to the final, the objective is to get to the championship, so we've got work to do. So we'll be back in on Sunday and and prepare them for then to stockpole as best as we can. Are you favourites? Are they favourites? Is there much do you think between the the two squads? I think You know we were third for a long spell of the season and the stockball took us on the final then went third. We know they're a good team, we know they've got good players, they've got a good manager who um knows what the playoffs look like. So yeah we um we're looking forward to it. It's a it's a big task for us but um It's a safe one that we wanted and it's it gives us a chance to to achieve what we want what we sent out for and very starting. What has been the key amongst the squads this season to get you to this point where you are just one step away from your championship? We've um we've always tried to stay calm, and there's always a lot of noise around a club because of the size of it and the expectation, but whenever we've had good results we've tried to stay calm, whenever we've had four results we've we've been the same. We've used the squad wisely, you know, we've seen today substitutes come on one. plays the pass in in behind another substitute cuts it back after the assist and one scores the goal so using the squad and understanding that it's a team game and we're gonna need everyone if we want to achieve what we need to achieve. And that was some hit your first shot on target I think in the game nine minutes and up what a hit as well. It's a great finish yeah it's not an easy finish coming across your body and on your right foot like that and to keep it down and keep it low was brilliant and as I say it came out a really good time for us. Brilliant. It was a great atmosphere. Again, the size of the both clubs, both sets of fans played the part, but our phones have been brilliant, especially away from all more all season and for us to channel to visual tomate and get that win. Celebrate the goal the way we did is excellent, but as I say the job isn't done. We've got still got work done. You mentioned the only cameras was that he tonight so that cam heads and all kicking off at one point. It was the easiest easy set than joiners heated and the benches is really close together. There's a bit of a scuffle influence of the bench putting. But yeah, that's probably to be expected and I've just tried my best to focus on the game, which sometimes isn't easy. Obviously Talk and off as an ideal but join win and losses. They were really good on and they needed to be as just said that on Sky there but play Baffert five times this season and we've won conceived once against them. So to do that and against the team play the way they play, you can continue to put pause in your box, you know, where and put you under constant pressure. You have to all be on it, you have to concentrate and we've done that. to do that again on a week on Sunday. Yeah it was so it wasn't vintage football it wasn't the way we usually play. But um we I think we've showed a lot this season that if we have to stand and have a fight with people we will. And if it's a football game we've no we've got a good plays to do that as well. How proud are you of this performance? Because you say it wasn't necessarily a a Baltimore's performance. I'd played better, played better football, but that was a gutsy display. Well, sometimes you say there's loads of different ways to win games of football and you've got to have it all. If you want to get promoted, you can't just be a one sick pony you've got to um yeah you've got to be organised I think you know the wave that we've done over the last few weeks to prepare for these super outfits and ties have been excellent. You know I must give loads of credit to Mark and Mitchie again always working constantly with the friend in the unit formers with the goalkeepers because you have to be organised, you have to have people in the right areas and And the players as well need credit for that because it's not easier doing defensive sessions and going over the same thing over and over again. We play them three times in three weeks, so they must be sick of my voice saying the same message, but it shows it's worth it because we kept them two clean sheets in the playoffs, which I'm sure we kept a clean sheet here in the week as well. Yeah. You've said calm and the chaos quite a bit and and and that seems to be the the message really. You've managed to keep your head in a place that very easily could have come off, can it? That's it, especially on with with the crowd and the atmosphere. Again, I don't think we were paying for that tonight. I thought we would have lose a little bit with a Sabch decision here than there, but it's gonna happen. It's 100 minutes of football. It's gonna happen, but um but in general we've I thought we've we've deserved to go through over the two legs, so I know they were making the second half tonight better team than us, but over the two legs I thought We've played well enough and deserve to be in the final, so we'll enforce them. Go back to Wembley. Go back to Wembley, yeah. Make some good members. Hopefully. It's not as bad as last time. Yes, we've got some interviews with Jack Bonham and Zav Simons. Uh again, it was very, very frantic afterwards. There was loads of stuff happening. Um can't include them on here because I still need to kind of do something with the audio and It's gonna take too long, basically. So um we'll stick them up on our YouTube channel and obviously on the Baltimes websites uh and and pick the bits out of them for articles as well. Um we have got loads of uh of player interviews coming up. Um Because you'll be pleased to hear we're going to be doing a supplement for the final. I think it'll be on the Friday or the Saturday, printed on the Friday or the Saturday in the paper. Um before the final. loads of exclusive stuff in there. Um so go and get a a copy, a real copy of a real newspaper. Go to a news agency and get one. That'd be lovely. Um But uh if you don't, then you know, I'm sure we'll Bring the best we can online as well. And uh yes, subscribe to the Bolton News. to make sure you get all that stuff. I've got a busy week ahead. Um, in fact I've got a busy night ahead. We are talking now at one fifteen AM. just wrapping up the talking bit of this video. No need to put it together. So uh yes, best get cracking. Water night. My voice Pretty croaky. Daden's voice is pretty croaky, by the way. Um, we're all gonna be croaky together this week. Uh rest up. Enjoy the week and then let's get to The capital. So Let's see. What can my last word be after a two legged playoff semi final win against Bradford City. Ah yes. My last word for this week is gonna be Wembley If Watching Wanderers is stressing you out, then why not book a nice break with our podcast sponsors Destinology? award winning Baltimas company and proud sponsor of Balton Wanderers FC, specialising in crafting exceptional holidays that blend expert knowledge, luxury accommodation and exclusive perks. Experience seamless service and unforgettable destinations with Tailormate Journeys designed just for you. You ready for the trip of a lifetime? visit destinology.co.uk today.