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West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. 8th February 2003, 3.00pm.
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I left the Hawthorns with mixed feelings. Relieved that we'd got the point which kept us in the hunt, but disappointed that we didn't win a game that I felt beforehand that we had to win, and certainly should have won. Other results went our way which means we're still fighting. After an abysmal first half in which Elleray failed to spot three penalties for the home side, Albion played well in the second half creating chance after chance, all spurned until the man you can always bank on to miss a golden opportunity...didn't.

Despite the record that Lee Hughes has started every game Albion have won in the Premiership, and despite his excellent performance at Maine Road, Megson saw fit to start with Dichio and Roberts in an otherwise unchanged line up. Hughes was on the bench alongside Johnson, returning from suspension, Siggy, Udeze and Murphy.

Albion started brightly and should've had a penalty in the first minute. Camp climbed all over Roberts in the box and Elleray put his whistle to his mouth, realised it was in the box, and failed to blow. He gave a decision outside the box for exactly the same type of foul later in the half. Despite the early promise, Bolton's crisp passing soon saw them take control of the game. Okocha, disappointing in our visit to the Reebok, was on top form and ran the midfield during the first half. When in possession, Albion's passing and movement was too slow, the midfield failed to get forward quick enough leaving Roberts and Dichio exposed. It was extremely frustrating.

Despite their control of the game, Bolton had not created any chances until the 19th minute. Albion lost possession on the edge of the Bolton penalty area and Mendy slipped passed the challenge of Clement and ran unhindered to the edge of the Albion box. Gregan moved across to challenge him leaving Djorkaeff free. Mendy passed to Djorkaeff whose tame shot was only parried by Hoult and PEDERSEN was following up to slip the ball into the net.

Then Albion started to get back into it. Roberts headed the first Albion effort on target from a Chambers cross but it was easy for Jaaskelainen. Dichio shot wide from twelve yards before it should've been penalty number two. As Dichio rose to meet a McInnes cross, Campo clearly shoved the big Londoner but Elleray waved protests away.

A Bolton breakaway saw Djorkaeff shoot wide before a free kick from Clement shaved the post at the other end. Bolton should have been two up just after the half hour when Frandsen found Campo unmarked just eight yards out, but the Italian could only head weakly into Hoult's arms.

Seconds later, Campo should have been heading for the dressing room after preventing Roberts from running unchallenged at the 'keeper, but Elleray decided a yellow card was sufficient, and Koumas wasted the free kick.

Another penalty shout went unhindered when Mendy appeared to shepherd the ball out for a corner with his arm.

On the stroke of half time, Jaaskelainen received the ball from a back pass and delayed long enough for Dichio to challenge him. Deech won the ball only to be brought down by the Bolton 'keeper. McInnes took the free kick quickly but Koumas's attempt on goal was cleared by Campo on the line. Elleray angered the home fans once more by only booking Jaaskelainen, when it was a clear goalscoring opportunity which should have seen a red card.

So instead of 3-1 to the Albion (OK, I'm assuming we would have converted the penalties) and Bolton down to nine, Bolton ended the half with eleven men and a goal up.

The second half was all Albion. The best chance of the half fell to Roberts when Dichio clipped an exquisite ball over the Bolton defence to find Roberts unmarked ten yards out, but JR's shot was weak and straight at Jaaskelainen when it seemed easier to score. Campo made a last ditch challenge to end a Roberts run a few minutes later and Gregan was so unlucky to see a shot from twenty yards hit the inside of Jaaskeainen's left hand post and bounce across the line before going out for a goal kick.

Bolton were holding firm and the Albion fans were screaming for a substitution to change things around. When it did come, it was only to replace a struggling Gilchrist with Udeze, with Clement dropping into the back three.

Albion were throwing everything forward with all of the back three involved in the attacks time and time again. Another chance went begging when a Koumas free kick found Dichio two yards out in the centre of goal, but the big striker failed to react and the ball simply rebounded into the arms of Jaaskelainen.

Megson finally made the changes the fans wanted to see with just 13 minutes left, hardly enough to make an impact or so we thought. Johnson and Hughes replacing the wasteful McInnes and Roberts, whose confidence is approaching rock bottom.

Hughes almost re-established his hero status when he went through on goal but Jaaskelainen made a fine stop to deny his attempted lob.

Then in the second minute of injury time, a Koumas free-kick was flicked on by Big Dave and the ball dropped to JOHNSON whose shot somehow squeezed past Jaaskelainen and bobbled into the net.

We did to Bolton what they did to us at the Reebok, and all in all, both results were just about right. Although, we'd both have wished to win one lose one than draw both! I thought the substitutions were too late, and I would have started with Hughes and Johnson anyway. But we're still in the pack, and if we can make our game in hand count, it will look a lot brighter.

RESULT - WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 1

Marks

Hoult - 6 - Bad mistake for the goal, otherwise excellent.
A Chambers - 7 - Good performance, he's made the right wing back berth his own.
Clement - 7 - Another good performance.
Gilchrist - 6 - Did well, but if the injury is troubling him, we should start as we finished at the back.
Moore - 8 - Excellent.
Gregan - 9 - MOM. Excellent in defence, intelligent passing, oh-so-unlucky with that shot.
Koumas - 6 - Not his best game, one or two good moments.
McInnes - 5 - I'm sorry, but he's found his level of incompetence; wasteful with passing and far too slow in body and mind.
Wallwork - 7 - Good performance, but too deep at times.
Dichio - 7 - Did OK, but doesn't move enough to create space.
Roberts - 5 - Good at times but too little movement, and his confidence is gone.

Udeze - 7 - Did well, good feet.
Johnson - 7 - Too late to really show, but a high mark as he finally managed to score.
Hughes - 7 - Again too late to make an impact, but I felt he offered more than Roberts at times.
West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gregan, Moore, Gilchrist (Udeze 71); A Chambers, Koumas, Wallwork, McInnes (Johnson 77), Clement; Roberts (Hughes 77), Dichio. Subs not used: Murphy (GK), Sigurdsson.
Bolton Wanderers (3-5-2):
Jaaskelainen; Bergsson, Campo, N'Gotty; Mendy, Okocha (Andre 86), Frandsen, Gardner, Charlton; Pedersen (Ballesta 80), Djorkaeff (Nolan 74). Subs not used: Poole (GK), Barness.
Scoring: Pedersen (19) 0-1, Johnson (90+2) 1-1.
Bookings: West Bromwich Albion - Chambers (foul 40). Bolton Wanderers - Campo (foul 34), Jaaskelainen (foul 45), Frandsen (foul 64), Ballesta (unsporting behaviour 83).
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
Attendance: 26,933
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