BWFC 24

Birmingham City 1 – 2 Bolton Wanderers

Early and Late Goals Secure 3 Points

• Saturday, September 26, 2009
• Venue: St Andrews Stadium
• Attendance: 28,671
• Referee: Steve Bennett

• Tamir Cohen [10]
• Roger Johnson [64]
• Stephen Carr [75]
• Jlloyd Samuel [78]
• Kevin Phillips [84]
• Chung-Yong Lee [86]

Yesterday’s trip to Saint Andrew’s Stadium was to be a veritable walk in the park compared with the fixures The Wanderers have lined up next month. After Bolton’s midweek win against West Ham in the League Cup expectations had been raised considerably and clearly The Wanderers needed earn more points. Ahead of visiting his former club Frabrice Muamba said, “I’m just looking forward to trying to get the three points on Saturday.” He also indicated that his team–mates were too and spoke of a happy squad.

Bolton only took a couple of minutes to show a willingness to win but Ivan Klasnic’s shot sailed over the bar. Bolton had to wait until the 10th minute to get ahead created from a throw–in deep inside Birmingham City’s half. Kevin Davies flicked Sam Ricketts long throw to the centre of the six–yard box where Tamir Cohen scored with relative ease having lost his marker Sebastian Larsson.
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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.

Tranmere Rovers 0 – 1 BWFC

Bolton Score!

• Venue: Prenton Park
• Attendance: 5,381
• Referee: Nigel Miller

• Mark Davies [41]
• Aaron Cresswell [55]

Mark Davies first goal for The Wanderers was enough to book a place in the Third Round of The League Cup.

Finally, Bolton get a goal, albeit against League One strugglers Tranmere Rovers — but it gave The Wanderers a crucial win. To loose or draw would have been disastrous for Gary Megson who already lacks the support of Bolton fans, sports writers, TV pundits…

“For some reason Bolton seems to be viewed entirely differently from the 19 other clubs in the Premier League. We need to change that. I was watching television today we were described as Bolton, who haven’t won a game all season — it didn’t say the season was nine days old.

“It motivates me and it motivates the players. We have to keep everything within the four walls of the dressing room. There is not a great deal of assistance from anywhere else but we get on with it.

“Today the fans were chanting ‘Megson give us a wave’. I turn around and wave and get booed! To be perfectly honest that’s normal.

“The players in the circumstances have been fantastic because it is a lot harder for us than most.”

Bolton did create a number of chances either side of Mark’s goal and really should have increased their lead. The most notable was fairly late on when Johan Elmander should have sealed the victory but his header from within the 6 yard box was somehow deflected by Tranmere’s Luke Daniels.

Thankfully Bolton kept a clean sheet to ensure progress to the third round. Bolton will discover who they will face next in The League Cup this Saturday (August 29, 2009) after their next Premier League match when Liverpool visit The Reebok Stadium. Let’s all hope that Bolton begin to convert their chances into actual goals and get their first points of the season.

Full Match Reports

Bolton Wanderers official website
Tranmere Rovers official website

Hull City 1–0 Bolton Wanderers

Opportunistic Tigers Take Three Points

• Venue: The KC Stadium
• Attendance: 22,999
• Referee: Michael Jones

• Sean Davis [19]
• Stephen Hunt [30]
• Seyi Olofinjana [35]
• Johan Elmander [55]
• Kamel Ghilas [61]
• Deiberson Geovanni [65]

Both clubs were hoping to earn their first points of the season and Bolton perhaps should have secured all three points in the first half with a number of decent chances.

Johan Elmander almost took Bolton Wanderers ahead in the 2nd minute but his shot skipped wide. Kevin Davies had a number of decent chances in the first half but failed to take The Trotters ahead, most notably from free kick crosses. Matthew Taylor’s shot from a free kick tested Hull’s ‘keeper Boaz Myhill who made a great save. Overall Bolton applied pressure but seemed unable to convert the numerous chances.
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