Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons: Trotters still "in the mire" despite moving to positive points
- Published
Daryl Murphy has scored in all three of Bolton's League One wins this season
Bolton are still "in the mire" despite moving into positive points for the first time this season with a stoppage time win over MK Dons, says boss Keith Hill.
Daryl Murphy made amends for his 90th-minute penalty miss by scoring three minutes later, in stoppage time, to secure Bolton victory against the 10-man visitors.
Murphy's spot-kick was saved by goalkeeper Lee Nicholls after substitute Baily Cargill had handled in the area.
But in the third minute of stoppage time, the striker turned in Luke Murphy's cross from eight yards to earn a third straight League One win for Hill's side, who started the campaign on -12 points after going into administration in May.
"All I can do is support this group of players who have done everything to get to positive points," former Rochdale manager Hill told 大象传媒 Radio Manchester.
"The feeling in the changing room is amazing and it's a scoreboard victory today, not a performance victory."
Following the victory, Bolton are 12 points from a position of safety, with three games in hand on the four teams immediately above them - including MK Dons, who remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.
MK Dons, beaten for a fourth successive league game, played for 24 minutes with 10 men after defender George Williams' red card for pushing lively substitute Thibaud Verlinden in the face.
However, Nicholls, who earlier saved a hat-trick of shots from Luke Murphy, looked set to be the Dons hero until the even later drama.
"We're still trying to climb a mountain, and by the way it's a massive mountain," Hill said.
"People seem to have forgotten that - maybe I've created too much of an expectation that we should beat every team in League One now.
"Right here right now we are in the mire, still don't forget that - we are in the mire.
"We're not going to win every game - if we do I think I might be Manchester City's next manager, but that's highly unlikely because I know the football land that I'm operating in."
Dons, seeking a first league win since 14 September, saw former Bolton striker Joe Mason, on his full debut for Russell Martin's team, have an 18th-minute shot pushed against the post by goalkeeper Remi Matthews.
Joe Walsh also skied a late chance to break the deadlock before the late drama consigned them to another defeat.
Match details supplied by PA Media.