Peterborough United 1-1 Bolton Wanderers - Match reaction

Chris Forino’s first-half goal ensured a share of the spoils and though Luke Southwood did have to make a save to deny Malik Mothersille his second penalty of the day, Bolton were more than deserving of a result in the end.

Mothersille had threatened to take the headlines, winning and taking a spot kick in each half, but he was denied a chance to put his side into the lead with 20 minutes to go.

Schumacher – who had just 10 senior outfield players to pick from before kick-off – saluted a hard-working display.

“I think it would have been an injustice if we didn't get anything from the game. So, I’m really pleased that Luke saved the second penalty,” he said.

“Both penalties were a bit cheap, I didn't think there was much in either of them. And our performance, I'd say, definitely deserved something from the game. We maybe should have won the game, because the way we turned the ball over, the way we were aggressive with our press and the way we organised is what we spoke about beforehand.

“We said that we had to be really organised and do our job. When we haven't got the ball against a team with forward players like they have got, they are excellent. So, I’m really pleased with the performance and I’m just a little bit disappointed that we didn't win.”

After disappointing outcomes against Lincoln and Wycombe, Wanderers looked energised against another one of last season’s beaten play-off teams.

Schumacher also lost Kyle Dempsey to a knee injury on the eve of the game, prompting another tactical reshuffle, but was delighted with the application shown on the day.

“It can happen sometimes when you have an off day, and the game at Barnsley was the first time it had really happened since I have been here,” he said.

“We were just below par and we got punished for it. Lincoln, we didn't do well for 25-30 minutes and then we got into the game. But we said before the game: ‘Look, it's gone now. Today is a new challenge.’

“We were really stretched from a squad point of view and I said it was going to need to be a whole team performance.

“We knew we would have to stick together and try and get through this game.

“We also wanted to force mistakes and turnovers, and we did that. The lads carried out the game plan to a tee and I'm a lot more positive after because it shows under really difficult circumstances that they can perform.”

Schumacher had to do without centre-back George Johnston, who stayed in the North West with his partner, who was due to give birth. And that forced the Bolton boss into a decision – play George Thomason in the back four, or go with the untested Sam Inwood, whose only previous experience of senior football had been off the bench in the Vertu Trophy.

“Sam Inwood was the man of the match for me,” he said.

“I thought he was brilliant. I thought from the very first minute when he got the ball and he hit a big diagonal to Szabi Schon, he just grew in confidence.

“We were umming and aahing over what to do. We considered playing George Thomason at centre-back because George Johnston, his missus, is getting induced today for the new baby.

“We were umming and aahing what to do and I just said, do you know what? Let's play him because if you're a young kid sitting there and there's somebody playing out of position in your slot, that would be horrible. That happened to Hughesy (Mark Hughes) at Everton when he was a young player, similar to myself.

“So, we've got to give these young lads an opportunity and he's absolutely took it. He was brilliant.”

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