A stuttering start to the campaign for Bolton Wanderers, which saw the club take two points from a possible 18 on offer, left them stranded in the bottom three in the opening months.
Things improved little as the first quarter of the season wore on, either, as a first win against Rotherham United proved to be a false dawn, with four successive defeats to follow.
It meant that, 11 games in, Bolton were rock bottom of the table and already focusing their attentions on surviving, rather than mounting any sort of promotion push.
Dougie Freedman was finally shown the Macron Stadium exit following a seventh defeat in 10 outings, with incoming boss Neil Lennon more than steadying the ship from that point on.
An eight-game unbeaten run at the back end of last year had fans dreaming of a charge for the top six, but in the end the damage had been done in those opening months of the season.
Five key results
Watford 3-0 Bolton Wanderers, August 9, 2014: The writing was very much on the wall right from the off, as the Trotters fell to a bleak loss on the opening day. Beginning their third year in the second tier, things were meant to be different as they went in search of the playoffs, but it was to be their opponents who prevailed come May.
© Getty Images
Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Rotherham United, September 16, 2014: A corner looked to have been turned at long last when Wanderers picked up their first league win of the term, just days after holding Sheffield Wednesday to a goalless draw for their opening point. On loan Cardiff City striker Joe Mason was the hero of the day, bagging himself a hat-trick in an attempt to turn around his side's fortunes.
Fulham 4-0 Bolton Wanderers, October 1, 2014: A truly disastrous result for Bolton, against one of just two sides who were below them in the league table. Fulham, themselves managerless, scored four unanswered goals to pile further misery on their opponents, and not even Freedman could survive this result. He departed soon after, before being given a second chance by Nottingham Forest a few months on.
Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Blackburn Rovers, December 26, 2014: Lennon got his reign off to the best of starts by picking up just a second win of the season for the Trotters away at Birmingham in his first game at the helm. It was a mixed beginning to life in Lancashire, with two wins and two defeats, but he then led the club on an eight-match unbeaten run which culminated in a 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.
Nottingham Forest 4-1 Bolton Wanderers, February 21, 2015: There was to be no serious challenge for a place in the end-of-season playoffs, however, with this crushing defeat against Freedman's resurgent Forest side particularly hard to take. Wanderers would win just two of their last 16 games as they slipped back into the bottom quarter of the division.
Best Player - Tim Ream
© Getty Images
His shaky start to life at the Macron led many to believe that his days were better spent elsewhere, but credit to Ream for proving his doubters wrong in some style. For the second year running, he has arguably been the key man for his side, which has earned recognition from national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann.
The United States defender, who appeared a whopping 48 times for Bolton last season, will now be eager to see those around him put in displays of a similar magnitude. Wanderers may have finished with one of the weakest defensive records in the division, but Ream has certainly stood up to the test in the heart of the back four.
Most Improved Player - Josh Vela
© Getty Images
Departed head coach Freedman was not one to turn to youth in time of need, but his replacement has certainly given youngsters far more of a chance under his tenure to date. Zach Clough, Oscar Threlkeld, Tom Walker and Max Clayton have all been given a look-in under Lennon, yet it is Vela who has arguably caught the eye more than any other.
The 21-year-old was a part of the Lancashire outfit's Premier League squad, although having failed to make a true impact he was farmed off on loan to Notts County last season. Thirty-two appearances in all since October, Vela has gone a long way to proving his former boss wrong after the Scot publicly stated that the youngster had not fulfilled his early potential.
Best Signing - Adam Le Fondre
A smart piece of business by the Whites, who took advantage of Cardiff's cost-cutting and recruited Le Fondre on a cheap deal. It is thought that Lennon was told to simply pick up the player's affordable wages in return for his services, which was certainly not a bad deal on reflection.
Eight goals in his 17 games leaves the man who was once prolific in the Premier League with a tough decision to make. Cardiff are likely to want to cash in, but will Bolton cough up the £2m asking price to take him long term?
Best Goal - Saidy Janko vs. Fulham
The Manchester United loanee picked up the ball on the edge of the box following some smart play by Eidur Gudjohnsen, before taking two neat touches to set himself up for a rocket finish into the roof of the net. A promising future awaits if his goalscoring ability from the back is anything to go by.
Must Do Better - Liam Trotter
Liam's Feeney and Trotter left a lot to be desired on the field this campaign, both failing to really make an impact. Feeney's end product too often let him down, although he shows plenty of effort and did have a decent spell at the end of last year. Likewise, Trotter endured a rather poor campaign. The 26-year-old could now be among those to make way this summer should a team come in for him.
End-of-season grade: D+
Just a decade ago, Bolton finished the season sitting in sixth place in the Premier League table. It is not healthy to hold on to the past, of course, because a lot can change in such a short space of time. Bolton must really pick themselves up now, in order to battle their way out of this mire and mount a serious promotion challenge next term. Under Lennon, that could be a realistic ambition.
