BWFC 24

Chelsea 4 – 0 Bolton Wanderers

League Cup, Fourth Round

Chelsea Give Wanderers The Blues

• Tuesday, Ocotber 28, 2009
• Venue: Stamford Bridge
• Attendance: 41,538
• Referee: Andre Marriner

• Salomon Kalou [15]
• Florent Malouda [26]
• Deco [67]
• Didier Drogba [89]

It was never going to be easy for The Wanderers to get a result at Stamford Bridge but who would have known that it was going to so easy for Chelsea.

Bolton boss, Gary Megson, had made a few changes to the side that eventually beat Everton last Saturday. The most notable change was that Ali Al-Habsi was chosen over Jussi Jaaskelainen to face that could have been easily predicted as a barrage of shots. It is almost as Megson had already resigned to the fact that Bolton’s cup run would be halted.
Read more…

Bolton 3 – 1 West Ham (AET)

League Cup, Third Round

Cheers Replace Jeers at The Reebok

• Tuesday, September 22, 2009
• Venue: The Reebok Stadium
• Attendance: 8,050
• Referee: Howard Webb

• Herita Ilunga [59]
• Kevin Davies [86]
• Extra Time
• Scott Parker [94]
• Gary Cahill [96]
• Johan Elmander [119]

With the last Saturday’s boos still ringing in Megson’s ears expectations were low, as was the attendance, but The Wanderers were not disheartened and made a livley start forcing a corner in less than a minute.

West Ham soon fought back and so the evening was set, both teams were to unleash forays deep into each others halves.
Read more…

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

League Cup — Away to Tranmere Rovers

A trip to The Wirral for Bolton Wanderers who been drawn against Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup.

Tranmere Rovers booked their place in the second round of the competition by beating Grimsby Town 4–0.

The exact date for the tie is yet to be announced but it will take place the week beginning August 24th at Prenton Park.

There has been rivalry between the two clubs since the early 90s when Tranmere beat Bolton by a single goal at Wembley in the play–offs for a place in the Second Division. In 2000 Tranmere beat The Trotters 4–0 over two legs for a place in the final of the League Cup.

The last time they met was at The Reebok Stadium for a reply in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup (2004). Once again Tranmere were winners (2–1) after The Wanderers had forced the replay by drawing 1–1 at Prenton Park.

Although early in the cup competition this fixture promises to be quite battle as Bolton will be eager to beat their old adversaries and make progress towards a very distant piece of silverware.