Gary Bowyer thrilled after Burton show bite to beat Bolton

Burton head coach Gary Bowyer said his side were “awesome” in beating Bolton 3-0.

Albion were inspired after defender Finn Delap’s huge block denied Wanderers striker Sam Dalby inside two minutes and Jake Beesley put them ahead from the penalty spot before the half-hour mark.

Fabio Tavares added a second with a smart finish early in the second half and Beesley struck his second with a smart individual finish in added time to earn the Brewers a first home win in League One since the opening day of the campaign.

“We were awesome today,” Bowyer said.

“We always knew we were going to be up against it with their powerful squad, never mind team, but the early block from Finn was amazing and set the tone for the fight, spirit and everything we had to be today.

“We talked in the week about being the underdog, but we all know that a dog has a bite no matter what size it is.

“I am delighted for all of them but in particular Mr Beesley.

“He has been phenomenal for us in all 11 games and the relief when he scored his second goal, from open play, was brilliant.

“He is clinical from the spot, but his work rate epitomises, in my world, everything about what a football player and team is. He sets the tone.

“The lads in the dressing room are buzzing not only for themselves but for him as well.

“We knew the importance of the first goal and we knew they hadn’t won away yet and we executed our game plan terrifically.”

And it was Bolton’s dismal away form – three draws and three defeats in six games this season – that led to boss Steven Schumacher feeling a sense of deja vu.

“It’s a result that we are all not happy with,” Schumacher said.

“I can honestly say that the players are trying, and the effort is there but goals change games, and I am getting sick of saying it every week and sounding like a broken record.

“The outcome will change if we smarten up in the key moments and get a bit more streetwise and clinical. We should have been 2-0 up at Northampton and we should have been 2-0 up here and we haven’t, and we’ve come away with nothing.”

It could all have been different if Dalby had converted his early chance.

And the striker was left still searching for his first league goal for the Trotters after missing a good chance a minute before Albion went in front when Max Conway felled Charlie Webster for Beesley’s penalty.

Schumacher added: “We should be 2-0 up. Sam Dalby should score both chances but he never and we are getting punished.

“All three goals have come from goal kicks and one of those was one of our own goal kicks. We didn’t win contacts from goal kicks and we’ve been done. The basics weren’t done well enough today.”