BWFC 24

Portsmouth 2 — 3 Bolton Wanderers

3 Points!

• Saturday, September 12, 2009
• Venue: Fratton Park
• Attendance: 17,564
• Referee: Chris Foy

• Tamir Cohen [13]
• Younes Kaboul [25]
• Matt Taylor (Penalty) [41]
• Kevin–Prince Boateng [63]
• Gary Cahill [89]
• Younes Kaboul [90 +2]
• Nadir Belhadj [90 +5]

A late goal by Gary Cahill secured Bolton’s first points of the season leaving Pompey languishing at the bottom of the Premier League.

Tamir Cohen could have given The Wanderers the lead even earlier but his headed attempt flew over the crossbar. Moments later Matt Taylor really should have scored but with only a wrong–footed David James to beat his shot was sliced embarrassingly wide. Thankfully, Gretar Steinsson’s neat pass allowed Cohen to take Bolton ahead with an impressive shot from the left.

Portsmouth equalised from a corner taken by Jamie O’Hara which was met by Younes Kaboul who duly nodded the ball past Jussi. A few minutes later Kaboul almost took Pompey ahead but this time failed to meet O’Hara’s corner kick. This season Bolton seem to struggle most when defending corners. Defending set plays is something that Gary Megson needs to improve as it is a vulnerability that could prove costly over the course of the season.

Bolton took the lead again about five minutes from half–time. Former Wanderer Tal Ben–Haim made what was adjudged to be an unfair challenge on Kevin Davies and Bolton were awarded a penalty. Looking a replays of Ben–Haim’s tackle it could be argued that Portsmouth were unlucky that referee Chris Foy instantly pointed at Penalty Spot. Matthew Taylor stepped up to take the penalty against his former club and placement rather then power took The Trotters ahead once more.

Bolton held on to the lead beyond the break but, perhaps inevitably, Portsmouth equalised again. Bolton failed to successfully clear the ball from their penalty area and Portsmouth debutante Kevin–Prince Boateng fired a grass–cutting shot from near the penalty spot.

Predictably Ivan Klasnic made his debut for The Wanderers with 20 minutes to go but failed to make an impression. However, Gary Megson’s final substitution, Gavin McCann (who replaced goal scoring Israeli Tamir Cohen), did make a difference late on. McCann scored an unusual goal following a long throw–in deep into Portsmouth’s penalty area — two consecutive headers by Gavin McCann and Bolton were ahead for the third time in the game.

Obviously disheartened by what turned out to be the late winner for Bolton, Portsmouth ended the game with two yellow cards as they became increasingly scrappy in the final minutes of the match. For once luck was on Bolton’s side and arguably enabled them to earn their first points of the season leaving poor Portsmouth languishing at the bottom of the Premier League.

Bolton Wanderers Official Website
Portsmouth Football Club Official Website
Watch highlights on MannyRoad — they include Ben–Haim’s super tackle.