UEFA Cup : Home To Braga
Bolton Wanderers 1 – 1 Braga
Ground: Reebok Stadium | Attendance: 10,848 | Referee: Darko Ceferin (Slovenia)
- [67] Diouf – Bolton
- [87] Jailson – Braga
Bolton’s newly appointed manager joined caretaker boss Archie Knox in the dugout for tonight’s UEFA Cup clash between The Wanderers and Portuguese club SC Braga.
A disappointing turn out for the match left The Reebok looking sparse which probably pleased new boss Gary Megson whose lack of popularity prompted fear of intense booing and even the threat of a demonstration.
Knox was still in charge but before the game passed comment that did not resonate with the optimism of a confident manager:
“I will pick a side that I firmly believe can go and win the game. We need a little bit of luck and determination to get a win.”
Indeed the booing could be heard which is a little disconcerting for the new manager, as were the chants directed at Chairman Phil Gartside and the rest of the board:
“You don’t know what you’re doing!”
Both goals came in the second half and were both scored by substitutes’ headers. The equaliser ruined the night for Bolton as home wins may prove to be vital if the club are to make progress past the group stages of The UEFA Cup.
Al-Hadji Diouf had only been on the pitch for 5 minutes before taking The Wanderers into the lead when Kevin Davies floating pass from the right was headed in by the Senegalese striker.
Once Bolton were one up Braga pushed for an equaliser which did eventually come as injury time began to tick by. The ball was crossed in from the right by Pereira and nodded in by an unmarked Jailson leaving Jaaskelainen with little chance of making the save.
With Anelka and Davies going close during the game perhaps Megson’s first job ought to be to make sure that these forwards sharpen up their shooting skills.
Overall an worryingly average performance by The Trotters who could have beaten Braga convincingly if it wasn’t for an apparent lack of determination. Though a tad unlucky to concede a goal late on Wanderer’s defence pick up on Jailson loitering in the penalty area.
Next in the UEFA Cup Bolton travel to Germany to loose against Bayern Munich in the impressive Allianz Arena on November 8th.
