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Bolton
Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion
Reebok Stadium,
Bolton. 9th November 2002, 3.00pm. |
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Another game which
I left hugely disappointed, both with the result and Megson's tactics.
I cannot blame the players too much because they looked under orders
to sit back in the second half, and that cost us two valuable points.
The game was there for the taking.
Gilchrist failed his late fitness test leaving Siggy to come back
in on the right of the back three, Gregan replacing Gilly on the
left. Chambers and Dobie retained their starting places.
Albion started brightly and looked the more fired up team. The first
real chance came from Chambers' persistence when he chased down
a Gregan ball into the corner. He outwitted Jaaskelainen before
the Bolton 'keeper recovered to block his shot.
Bolton managed a couple of long shots but never really threatened
the Albion goal. The Premiership's most fouled player was keeping
up his record going down under a challenge from Campo, who was booked.
Another foul on Roberts brought a free kick about 25 yards out on
17 minutes. Clement's shot rebounded up off the wall and DOBIE neatly
chested it down in the box before rifling a volley into the net.
Minutes later, N'Gotty appeared to elbow Roberts in retaliation
for a kick on the ankles, and Mike Riley immediately produced a
red card. Bolton were in disarray and it was probably only down
to Mike Riley's recent history at the Reebok that Campo didn't receive
a second yellow.
Bolton started to look a little more potent when Nolan came on,
but Hoult was only tested once in the first half when he comfortably
gathered Okocha's shot on 37 minutes. Albion always looked dangerous
on the break as the Bolton defence had no answer to Roberts, and
the Grenadan international was denied by a fantastic Jaaskelainen
save just before the break.
In the second half, you had to count the players to be sure who
had more. Bolton were camped in the Albion half as all Albion players
seemed to retreat ten yards into their own half before making a
challenge. Bolton didn't seem to have the ideas to play through
the staunch Albion rearguard and were reduced to long crosses from
the wings which were largely cleared well by Siggy, Moore and Gregan
and often fielded by the outstanding Russell Hoult.
Occasionally, Albion managed to break and Roberts was a constant
menace. On the hour mark, he waltzed past Mendy into the box only
to be denied by a fine save from the Finnish 'keeper. Seconds later,
it was Hoult who was called into action when a ball from Ricketts
found Djorkaeff inside the six yard box, but his volley was superbly
stopped at point blank range by the Albion stopper.
Albion had another chance a few minutes later when Dobie's shot
was deflected just inches past the post by Barness. Megson brought
on Koumas for Dobie, but the Welshman made little impact has he
did not seem to know where he was supposed to play.
Bolton continued to press as Albion dropped deeper and deeper. A
minute from time, a cross from Simon Charlton flicked up off Adam
Chambers and, for once, Gregan lost his man as FRANDSEN ghosted
into the six yard box unmarked to head past Hoult.
It was a bitter blow to concede so late, but the second half performance
did not warrant the three points. Having said that, we had the chances
to finish the game off. The longer we go without a win, the more
pressure is put on the next game. Maybe it's fate that the next
game is Villa.
RESULT - BOLTON WANDERERS 1 WEST
BROMWICH ALBION 1
Marks
Hoult - 9 - MOM. Awesome. One world class save and countless quality
catches on crosses.
Balis - 6 - Did well first half, faded in the second.
Clement - 6 - Still lacking confidence, better first half than second.
Gregan - 7 - Excellent overall performance, other than when he lost
Frandsen for the goal.
Moore - 8 - Excellent performance with his new look.
Sigurdsson - 7 - Did well enough to warrant a recall when Gilly
is back.
Johnson - 6 - OK first half, sat too deep in the second.
McInnes - 5 - Sat far, far too deep.
A Chambers - 7 - Excellent first half, was the only one who pressed
in the second.
Dobie - 6 - Good goal, anonymous second half - I'd still play Hughes.
Roberts - 8 - Great build up play, but two great chances he should
have put away.
Koumas - 4 - Not sure what he was supposed to be doing, but had
no impact.
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Bolton
Wanderers (3-5-2):
Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Campo, Barness; Mendy, Frandsen, Okocha,
Farrelly (Nolan 26), Gardner (Charlton 83); Holdsworth (Ricketts
45), Djorkaeff. Subs not used: Poole (GK), Pedersen. |
West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Sigurdsson, Moore, Gregan; Balis, A Chambers, McInnes, Johnson,
Clement; Roberts, Dobie (Koumas 79). Subs not used: Murphy (GK),
J Chambers, Wallwork, Hughes.
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Scoring: Dobie (17)
0-1, Frandsen (88) 1-1.
Bookings: Bolton Wanderers - Campo (foul 17), Nolan (foul 78). West
Bromwich Albion - McInnes (dissent 40), A Chambers (foul 46).
Sending Off: Bolton Wanderers - N'Gotty (elbow 20)
Referee: M Riley (Leeds)
Attendance: 23,630 |
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