Postmatch Report – Home to Manchester City
Bolton Wanderers 2 – 0 Manchester City
Ground: The Reebok Stadium| Attendance: 26,466 | Referee: Rob Styles
- [37] Borgetti – Bolton
- [41] Nolan – Bolton
Today saw the 100th league match between Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City since their first meeting in 1900. Sam was hoping to get his 100th win since managing The Trotters while Man City were looking for their 100th Premiership win.
With these notable 100ths in mind this derby promised a lot of passion and determination from both sides.
The promise was fulfilled equally in the opening half hour although there were not many attempts to open the scoring early in the game. The whinging Fadiga found himself being picked for the start only to be substituted halfway through the first half with a crowd-pleaser Vaz Te coming on to replace him because of injury.
Stelios Giannalopoulos and Richard Dunne clashed heads resulting in both teams going down to 10 men while they both disappeared down the tunnel for treatment. Dunne seemed to come off the worse and certainly looked to have lost more blood. A dropped ball in the centre circle restarted the game.
Bolton slowly turned up the pressure and began to move forward with more determination.
The added pressure pays off when Jared Borgetti scores his first Premiership goal with a powerful low shot that beat City’s ‘keeper David James. Kevin Davies started the move with a great pass into the box, Nolan and Giannakopoulos battle to get the ball to the waiting Mexican.
Stephen Ireland attempted to make a quite equaliser but sees his shot sail over the bar and Bolton’s Vaz Te was denied by David James despite his superb effort which the Man City goalkeeper kept out with an equally superb save parried out for a corner.
With 5 minutes to the break Joey Barton provides Bolton with a free-kick that Stelios used to pick out Kevin Nolan who scores from just outside the six-yard-box.
Just before half-time Kevin Nolan tries to get his second goal with a spectacular right-foot ed volley from just outside the penalty area (far left). Nolan’s shot was always dipping but went just over the bar.
With no changes Bolton began the second half settled back with their two-goal advantage. As the game progressed Bolton started to increase the pressure again as they were in total control.
Stuart Pearce made changes to get back in the game, introducing Robbie Fowler and Antoine Sibierski. However, no matter what Man City tried Bolton continued to dominate the game. Goal scorer Borgetti was replaced by former Blackburn striker Matt Jansen had turned down Stuart Pearce before moving to The Reebok.
Sub Ricardo Vaz Te was himself substituted in the last minute of the game as Nicky Hunt come on. It must be embarrassing for a player to be taken off having been a sub themselves, Ricardo did look somewhat puzzled by Big Sam’s tactical decision.
Ben Haim was clattered by Dunne (only a yellow?) resulting in the last free-kick of the game which allowed Bolton to make a couple of simple passes until the final whistle. Hopefully Ben Haim will not be added to the injuries list as Bolton are missing a number of players either to international duty or injury, not that you noticed if you had seen today’s match.
Bolton were, without question, worthy winners but remain 7th in The Premiership. The Wanderers dominance of the game was proven by Jussi Jaaskelainen not having to make a save. Not even the woodwork had much to do this time.
Bolton’s 100th win under the management of Sam Allardyce must have left his former Coventry City colleague, Stuart Pearce, wondering where his team’s Manchester United beating form had gone.
