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.

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Bolton Wanderers 3 — 2 Everton

First Prem Home Win of the Season

• Sunday, October 25, 2009
• Venue: The Reebok Stadium
• Attendance: 21,547
• Referee: Phil Dowd

• Chung-Yong Lee [16]
• Gary Cahill [27]
• Kevin Davies [30]
• Louis Saha [32]
• Marouane Fellaini [55]
• Gary Cahill [57]
• Jlloyd Samuel [61]
• Marouane Fellaini [63]
• Ivan Klasnic [86]

The Wanderers’ great start was evened out by the visitors but persistence earned Bolton a late goal and their first three points to be won at The Reebok since April.

The win was a perfect way for Gary Megson to celebrate his second anniversary in charge at The Reebok Stadium and three of his signing provided the goals and two more providing assists.

Bolton made a terrific start instantly applying pressure to Everton’s defence and nearly scored just a couple minutes into the game but Tamir Cohen’s header from Jlloyd Samuel’s superb cross went just wide. Two minutes later Kevin Davies did the same with Matthew Taylor’s free kick delivery.

While Bolton dominated in the early stages of the match Everton managed to test Bolton’s defence with Sam Ricketts blocking Louis Saha shot. The resulting corner showed Bolton’s ongoing problems defending set–pieces as Joao Alves Jo gets a clear header that fortuitously went wide.

Sam Ricketts was also instrumental in Bolton’s first goal. He strode down the right wing, evading Tony Hibbert with a skilful cross into Everton’s penalty area where Chung–Yong Lee scored his first goal at The Reebok.
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Midweek International Roundup

A roundup of news about Bolton Wanderers players who have been on international duty this week.

South Korea 2 – 0 Senegal

Bolton’s Lee Chong–yong assisted Ki Sung-yong in getting on the score sheet in the friendly against Senegal in Seoul. Celtic’s Sung–yong took South Korea ahead with a shot from 20 metres a few minutes before half–time. Oh Beom-seok scored the second goal in the 80th minute.

South Korea have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup and this friendly extends their unbeaten record to 26 games.

Australia 1 – 0 Oman

Oman failed to continue with their unbeaten qualification campaign for the 2011 Asian Cup. The Socceroos went ahead in the 75th courtesy of Everton’s Tim Cahill to give Australia their first win in the qualifying rounds of the Asian Cup.

Apart from the single goal Bolton’s Ali Al–Habsi and his defence fought well to put a stop to the Soccoroos’ advances and Oman ruled the first half which led to Oman’s coach, Claude Le Roy, to comment:

“I’m very disappointed, but this team of Oman, we know we aren’t the best team in the world, but this team has a fantastic spirit, with very loyal people.”

Oman and Australia meet again next month at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Muscat, Oman. It may be a crucial game as both teams are on 4 points in Group B of the Asian Cup qualification the finals of which are to be held in Qatar in 2011.
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Cahill not the Only One on International Duty

While Gary Cahill joins England for their World Cup qualifier against Ukraine we look at which other Bolton Wanderers team members are on international duty.

Jlloyd Samuel was meant to be playing for Trinidad and Tobago but once again he has had to miss out. There is a farce that surrounds Samuel’s non–involvement with the Soca Warriors. It starts with his flight details being emailed to him a few hours after the plane had taken off. The farce continued until Samuel picked up a groin injury during practise but not before his mother had made a complaint to the T&T manager.

Other Wanderers on International Duty

Welsh International Sam Ricketts will miss a trip to Helsinki due to an ankle injury. However, Bolton team–mate Jussi Jaaskelainen will be in Helsinki for the World Cup qualifier, in goal for Finland at the Olympiastadion. Jussi is also expected to travel to Hamburg on October 14, for Finland’s clash against Germany at the HSH Nordbank Arena.

While Jussi is in Germany his fellow BWFC goalkeeper, Ali Al Habsi will have travelled over 10,500 miles to Australia for a friendly. Ali will be between the sticks at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne when Oman take on Australia.

Bolton’s Chung Yong Lee is back in South Korea where Senegal will visit the Seoul World Cup Stadium for a friendly — that will be a round trip more or less equal to Al Habsi’s one–way journey to Victoria in Oz.

Ivan Klasnic does not have to travel to far for Croatia’s friendly again Qatar ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan’s captial city.

Tamir Cohen probably gets the second least amount of airmiles (after Jussi) with a trip to Isreal and back to Bolton via Basel midweek for World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Switzerland.

Danny Shittu (still a Trotter) travels to the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, to take part in the World Cup qualifier against Mozambique at the National Stadium. Nigeria are also set to play Kenya on Wednesday but this yet to be confirmed.

Sweden visit Copenhagen but it is not clear if Johan Elmander will be taking part in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against group leaders Denmark or the midweek match against Albania.

Gary Cahill is not the only Wanderer to represent England at international level either. Fabrice Muamba will be playing for the England Under 21s tonight in and will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run in qualification for the 2011 UEFA Under-21 Championship against FYR Macedonia U21. Meanwhile Ricardo Vaz Te joins the Portugal U23s who take on Poland at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Related Articles

• International Wanderers Weekend Roundup
• Midweek International Roundup
• Chelsea 4 – 0 Bolton Wanderers

TTFF manager takes Jlloyd for a joy ride
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