BWFC 24

Bolton 0 — 2 Blackburn Rovers

Sam Ricketts Seals 3 Points for Rovers

• Sunday, November 22, 2009
• Venue: The Reebok Stadium
• Attendance: 21,777
• Referee: Mike Dean

• David Dunn [32]
• Matthew Taylor [42]
• David Dunn [45]
• Fabrice Muamba [45]
• Sam Ricketts (og) [73]
• Ivan Klasnic [80]

A distinctly mediocre first half gave the visitors the lead which in turn led to a lively second half in which more goals seemed inevitable.

With the beginnings of an unenviable run of defeats Bolton manager, Gary Megson, decided that a change of tactics would be enough to take on local rivals Blackburn Rovers with a 4-4-2 formation that saw Johan Elmander and Kevin Daives up front.

Sadly former Bolton player and manager, Sam Allardyce, was absent due to health concerns. Sam followed his doctor’s orders to take a break from the stresses of being BRFC’s boss and left Neil McDonald at the helm.

Bolton rarely put Blackburn under pressure during open play and Rovers’ goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, was only employed to gather lacklustre shots and wayward passes. Only Matt Taylor produced a couple of fine saves from Robinson. Matt also came close to scoring early on but could not find space to take a shot as Gavin McCann’s long pass fell awkwardly. Despite the defeat both Taylor and McCann were instrumental in giving the Reebok faithful hope.

Blackburn’s David Dunn threatened to score early in the first half with a series of shots that required Bolton’s defenders to be alert — most notable was a looping header that Gary Cahill skilfully kicked off the line while facing the goal.

The first of Matt Taylor’s direct free kicks almost took The Wanderers ahead but his ambitious shot from 35 yards was deflected onto the post. Bolton kept possession after the rebound but Taylor’s second attempt was plucked from the air with ease by ‘keeper Robinson who immediately initiated a speedy counterattack leaving Bolton chasing. Intelligent passing from Di Santo to Roberts and on to David Dunn gave the visitors the lead with Dunn’s volleyed shot. Jussi Jaaskelainen did manage to get a touch but sheer power sent the ball in off the far post.

Bolton only looked like scoring from set pieces. Paul Robinson produced a great save from another Matt Taylor free kick, this time from the far right, near the corner. Matt’s shot swerved and dipped towards the far post and had to be tipped over the bar by the Blackburn goalkeeper. The resulting corner was delivered from the opposite corner by Gavin McCann and once again Taylor came close, heading his effort just wide of goal at the near post.

Bolton perhaps ought to have been on equal terms going into the break even though Blackburn created more chances with flowing passes, whereas Bolton seemed to become reliant on set pieces.

The second half kicked off and both teams certainly looked livelier. Former Wanderer El-Hadji Diouf’s early second half shot almost doubled the visitor’s lead but having beaten Jussi Jaaskelainen he was denied by Gavin McCann’s header off the line.

Moments later Ricardo Gardner perhaps should have at least found the target but his shot from 12 yards was wide of the mark.

Following a great save by Jussi Jaaskelainen to deny Argentinian Franco Di Santo Bolton were forced to defend a corner as Jlloyd Samuel failed to clear efficiently. Gavin McCann once again rose to header the ball off the line following Jason Roberts headed shot.

At the other end Paul Robinson made his second fine save to once again deny Matt Taylor.

Despite Bolton trailing by a single goal it seemed that either team could take three points. Bolton were defending a lot better and had been provided with many a goal scoring opportunity. Then calamity struck as Blackburn pushed forward with a long searching pass by Brett Emerton. Jaaskelainen rushed out to receive the ball just outside his penalty area while Sam Ricketts headed towards goal where his obviously though Jussi would be waiting. Alas it was an open goal and what must have been a total lack of communication between Jussi and Sam resulted in Blackburn’s rather fortuitous second goal.

Brett Emerton almost extended Blackburn Rovers’ lead further with a grass–cutting shot that caused Jaaskelainen to dive low to make a super save.

As the final whistle beckoned substitute Ivan Klasnic (on for Johan Elmander) saw his shot from an acute angle hooked away by Blackburn’s Danish substitute Lars Jacobsen. Gary Megson’s other substitutions had very little impact on the game. Mark Davies replaced super off–the–line headerer McCann and Gardner was replaced by Chung–Yong Lee, who, apart from delivering a couple of corners, looked ineffectual and out classed.

Bolton continue their run of defeats while helping Blackburn Rovers to get their first away win of the season. At least Big Sam Allardyce will have appreciated the good news. BWFC24 wishes Big Sam a full and speedy recovery from his impending heart surgery and hope the stress levels remained low over the weekend.

Official BWFC Match Report
Official BRFC Match Report
Sam to miss Bolton fixture