Away to Derby County
Derby County 1 - 1 Bolton Wanderers
Ground: Pride Park Stadium | Attendance: 31,503 | Referee: Rob Styles
- [19] Miller - Derby
- [32] Anelka - Bolton
The Rams let go of their early lead and did well to finish with a point.
Doubtlessly Derby were ready for a scrap and looked confident during the early stages of the match. Derby’s David Jones was lucky to remain on the pitch after receiving a yellow card for a late challenge on Gary Speed. Jones continued to make dodgy tackles until he was substituted in the second half.
Bolton lacked the commitment that Sammy Lee is always on about. Fortunately a long ball from Derby’s Tyrone Mears was skilfully controlled by Steve Howard who provided Kenny Miller the perfect pass to score with a powerful low shot. I say, ‘fortunately’ as The Wanderers woke up and began to show signs of determination and flair.
El-Hadji Diouf, Nicolas Anelka and Joey O’Brien all went close shortly after Miller scored, but it was Anelka’s second shot that deflected off Dean Leacock giving County’s ball stopper, Stephen Bywater, little chance of making a save.
Kevin Nolan almost took The Trotters into the lead 5 minutes before half-time but he could only find the side netting after the unlucky Leacock made a foolish back-pass.
Bolton ended the first half a lot stronger than they began it, but Derby stepped up a gear after half-time and Miller drove another fierce shot early on which Jaaskelainen somehow blocked to deny the young Scot.
Christian Wilhelmsson was swapped for Kevin Davies on the hour and was soon pestering the Derby defence, unfortunately his early shots lacked pace and did not trouble Bywater too much.
10 minutes from the final whistle and the Mancunian ‘keeper saved the day for Derby County. Bolton’s Wilhelmsson fired from the left which Bywater parried out to Anelka whose shot was somehow pushed up by the recovering ‘keeper to hit the crossbar. The ball bounced back for Nolan whose sure winner was cleared off the line by Stephen Pearson.
If you had somehow missed the first 20 minutes of each half (perhaps queueing for pies you fat…), then you would be astonished that Bolton did not win as they ended both halves looking stronger and more organised than the home team.
Sammy Lee said prior to today’s match:
“There are always consequences from winning and losing. If you win you step up the table, if you lose you go down the table.”
He forgot to mention draws - perhaps now he will add the following to his previous statement.
“If you draw you remain where you are in the table.”
Of course that is not always the case, but we won’t tell him that, he seems to have a lot on his mind at the moment. Shame it’s not football.
A point for Derby may have cheered manager Billy Davies, but it should not have given Sammy Lee any joy. A lengthy sigh of relief perhaps but he must be frustrated by now as Bolton fail to win and remain on equal points with Derby at the bottom of the league.
After the match Little Sam told the BBC:
“Prior to the game we would have accepted a point given the position we’re in. We knew we were coming to a well-organised Derby team who are fighting for their lives just like us.
“I am very pleased with the chances we created and I have said on many occasions that our football and the amount of chances we have created really belies the position we are in.”
Unfortunately ‘chances’ alone will not see Bolton rise from the depths of The Premier League, more chances need to be turned into actual goals.
“But I think we’re getting better. Football is a game of confidence and that is vital for us to take into the next game. You gain confidence from points and we’ve got a very valuable point today which will hopefully be a great boost.”
A single point that keeps them in the same position will do little to bolster the confidence of players, who is Lee trying to kid? Himself perhaps?
No, Gartside more like.
Tags : away bwfc dcfc Match Reports pride park rob styles
