Postmatch Review – Home to Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers 0 – 0 Blackburn Rovers
Ground: The Reebok Stadium | Attendance: 24,405 | Referee: Graham Poll
- No goals
The main highlight of the day was acknowledgement of Nat Lofthouse’s recent 80th birthday which saw all supports giving a heartfelt round of applause.
There then followed a scrappy game in which both teams seemed to lack considered conviction and verve resulting in a goaless draw, with plenty of petty fouls and, thanks to ref Poll, not many cards considering.
An early opportunity whet Blackburn’s way when Robbie Savage acted as if Stelios had attacked him with a hatchet. Savage soon got up as the free kick was given, much to the distress of the home fans. His free kick came to nothing as Gary Speed headed his attempt away to safety.
A few minutes later, in the 17th, El-Hadji Diouf fired the ball goalward after some creativity from Henrik Pedersen and Kevin Nolan’s super pass. Diouf’s powerful shot was blocked convincingly by Ryan Nelsen.
Overall, chances were few and far between as both side played with just one striker up front. Diouf and Giannakopoulos kept being pestered by Robbie Savage, who eventually was booked.
Blackburn began to sit back to defend and seemed happy to be quenching seldom Bolton attacks.
15 minutes from half-time and Bolton’s Jay Jay Okocha delivered a long free-kick which was flicked on by Kevin Davies towards Kevin Nolan who, despite getting the header, couldn’t get enough of the ball to guide it goalward. It was one of those moments that make you think you could do better, but when you see it replayed on TV your opinion is changed when you realise that he was off balance and stretching the best he could.
Campo headed Bolton final good chance of the first 45 over the bar after slipping away from his marker to receive the ball from Gary Speed’s corner.
Half-time, no score.
10 minutes into the second half Ricardo Gardener was brought on to replace Stelios. Gardener soon made an impression that saw him leaving Savage behind to take a shot which sailed over the bar.
With over two thirds of the game played neither Jaaskelainen or Friedel had had very much to do, until Okacha’s free-kick had to be pushed away by the Rovers’s keeper.
More chances came Blackburn’s way after Mark Hughes made a couple of changes bringing on David Bentley and Shefki Kuqi. With Bently providing crosses and trying to chip Jussi who managed to get a hand to the ball.
Jussi was tested again as Kuqi stormed towards the ball following Tal Ben Haim lame backpass. Jussi and Kuqi made contact resulting in the Wanderer’s goalie needing a little TLC.
The closing minutes belonged to the visitors, but no goals came and the two teams took away just one point each.
