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Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt has paid tribute to Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Oliwier Zych and dubbed the 20-year-old ‘absolutely magnificent’.
Evatt’s Trotters side met Aston Villa’s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night and were firm favourites to claim a comfortable win on home turf.
The evening did not work out that way though as Bolton missed a hatful of opportunities to score and it ended 1-1, meaning a penalty shootout was held to decide who would grab the extra bonus point.
Collins forces an excellent save from Zych with a swerving shot from the edge of the box.
The Villa stopper gets a strong hand to palm it over the bar.
[0-1] 39′ #bwfc pic.twitter.com/Y5Q0ixoN5H
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) October 8, 2024
Villa’s talents won the shootout 4-1 and Zych was in superb form throughout, winning special praise from Bolton boss Evatt.
He told the Trotters’ site: “Great credit to their young players. They have absolutely run their socks off and defended admirably.
“I think their goalkeeper was absolutely magnificent, but it’s very, very disappointing.
“People have had opportunities today to try and impress to get into the league team and have let themselves down.”
Despite the draw and shootout loss, Bolton still sit top of their group in the EFL Trophy, with five points to their name.
Aston Villa Under-21s sit second, with four points, while Fleetwood Town are third with three points; bottom placed Barrow, who lost 3-0 at Fleetwood on Tuesday, have yet to collect a single point.
