feeding to earlier part of bedtime...???

SH
My 9 month old relies on bottle feeding to sleep and that's a problem. I keep reading everywhere to move the feeding to the beginning of the bedtime routine but I'm confused as to what to do to actually get him to sleep then! If I can't rock or pat or any other sleep crutch how do I get him to sleep...??? Do I have to let him cry...? Anyone have any experience with moving their feeding time and getting baby to sleep?