Postmatch Review – Home to Tottenham Hotspurs
Bolton Wanderers 2 – 0 Tottenham
Ground: Reebok Stadium | Attendance: 22,899 | Referee: Phil Dowd
- [09] Davies – Bolton
- [13] Campo – Bolton
The Trotters cantered into the new season with a comfortable and outstanding win over Tottenham Hotspurs. Bolton showed that they could work well as a team, even with new signings, Quinton Fortune and Abdoulaye Meite, seamlessly fitting into Sam Allardyce’s starting eleven.
Diouf showed promising signs of being an excellent playmaker and showed determination to win the ball and take on the Spurs defence with his distinctive close-ball control skills. Diouf’s persistent pestering of the defenders on the right channel was conducive in winning The Wanderers twice as many corners as the visitors.
It was from one of these corners that Kevin Davies headed in Gary Speed’s inch perfect corner. New defender Meite did help Davies escape from his marker a little with some shirt tugging while he was also held back by Tottenham’s other central defender. There may have be enough of a tussle to have the goal disallowed but Davies would have been clear without his team-mate’s aid.
Despite going ahead within the first 10 minutes, Bolton kept up the pressure, spurred on by constant chanting. The chanting and singing rose further when Bolton’s Ivan Campo fired the ball from 43 yards diagonally across the goal curving the ball away from England’s ‘keeper and into the lower left corner. The Reebok erupted as the seemingly hopeful shot spun in the netting. Bolton’s early contender for goal of the season for sure.
Robinson couldn’t be blamed for not making a save and showed that he could make great saves on occasion by tipping away Speed’s freekick near the end of the half.
Bolton held back during the second half and most of it was played in the centre of the pitch with Spurs having a lot of the possession but unable to utilise it. There were occasional forays into Bolton’s defensive area but these were either wasted with wayward shots or expertly defended by a confident rear guard.
Overall, Bolton outplayed the Londoners and made what could be described as a perfect start with a clean sheet and well earned 3 points. Unlike the first match of last season, in which Davies and Campo scored early to take BWFC ahead Aston Villa after Kevin Philips scored in the 3rd minute. Although this time Bolton stayed ahead securely while last year Villa quickly earned themselves a point in the 9th minute.
Bolton face more London teams for their next few games and this home win on the first day of the season will boost the team’s confidence, and that of the fans too.
