Bolton Wanderers' Alex Murphy passes the ball despite the attentions of Burton Albion's JJ McKiernan and Charlie Webster
Bolton Wanderers' Alex Murphy passes the ball despite the attentions of Burton Albion's JJ McKiernan and Charlie Webster (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
STEVEN Schumacher has praised Alex Murphy for coming to the rescue and helping to end Wanderers’ long wait for a win at Burton Albion.
The Newcastle United loanee was drafted into the line-up at the last moment after George Johnston picked up a minor hamstring injury in training.
Murphy then featured on the left side of the back three in what was Bolton’s first-ever victory at the Pirelli Stadium, and one which lifted them into the top six for the first time since October.
Schumacher picked out the 20-year-old after a bruising game, adding that it had been his best game for the club since coming in on loan from Tyneside in the January transfer window.
“George was going to play but Alex stepped in and I thought he was brilliant,” said the Bolton boss. “It was his best game for Bolton, definitely.
“Like I say, he wasn’t going to start for us but when we knew George had picked up the injury he had to step in right at the very end.
“He had done the match prep but not the 11 v 11 stuff yet in training, but I thought he was great.
“Sometimes in games since we have been here it has maybe taken him 10-15 minutes to get going and get up to the speed of the game.
“That can sometimes be the case with young players who have come out of academy football. But he was brilliant, he slotted into that left-hand side centre-back role, which was perfect for him because he is a bombing, running-forward, full-back really.
“So, for him to play that role and nail down the tactics of what we wanted, it actually suited him, and he was excellent.”
The club have played down the severity of George Johnston’s injury, but it is not yet known whether he will be in contention for a place in the squad for Tuesday night’s game at Bristol Rovers.
Schumacher believes his performance at Burton will stand the young defender in good stead.
“Alex is a good player, and he's really good at defending his back post as well.
“He's tall, he jumps well and heads it well. Maybe there has been a concentration thing for him to start the games properly, and maybe that comes down to confidence as well?
“In earlier games he's made a mistake early in the game, which can affect him for 5-10 minutes. But we just tell him to keep doing what he's good at. He showed there what a good player he can be.”
Schumacher had never won a game at Burton as a manager and saw two points snatched away in controversial fashion in his last visit as Plymouth boss with an injury time goal.
Burton piled forward in search of the same at the Pirelli Stadium but Josh Sheehan’s excellent finish proved the difference between the two sides.
“The drop-balls, I was just thinking ‘here we go again’ – I hate this place!” laughed Schumacher.
“But Josh’s goal was worthy of winning any game, it was a brilliant strike.
“I'd say we should have had more goals than what we did, but right now that doesn't matter.
“Burton is a really tough place to get a result, it’s a tough pitch, tough crowd, a team that are in form. It was a great result.”