Match Reports BWFC v Middlesbrough Sat 16th Sept 2006
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Would you like to write a match report? Email us and you'll get your name on t'internet! EMAIL US Now! Build Up - Bolton welcomed back Stelios with Nicky Hunt dropping to the bench (good one Sam), while Boro replaced injured Stewart Downing with Adam Johnson - the last Boro player to score at the Reebok going into today's game. Suspended captain George Boateng with Lee Cattermole as Jonathan Woodgate made captain. Boro-born Woodgate has demonstrated all the characteristics of a natural leader and was genuinely delighted when offered the armband by Gareth Southgate. We here at BWFC Scotland still think he should have gone to Bolton instead! Boro lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation which saw a back four of Andrew Davies, Woodgate, Emanuel Pogatetz and Andrew Taylor; midfield consisted Cattermole and Jason Euell sitting behind James Morrison, Fabio Rochemback and Johnson, with Yakubu the solitary striker. Mark Viduka was carrying a slight injury and didn't travel. Bolton started with Anelka up front with Stelios and Dioufy to his sides. . . . . . . . Davo still out due to suspension and injury. |
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Bolton started well. Anelka's English
lessons must be coming on well as I could see his lips moving as he was
brought down in their box within the first two minutes - but we didn't
get anything. Last week I almost spelt his name wrong
- Anelak - sounds like a laxative to me - if we play shit I'll know why.
Christina couldn't make today's game unfortunately. Bolton's midfield
triangle allowed Bolton to dominate early on. Speedo was looking good.
He had a long shot slip past the post and worrying the away fans
somewhat. Boro haven't beaten Bolton on their home soil since 1957 at
Burnden Park. Bolton's defence started well. Boro's first real shot of
the match came from James Morrison on eighteen minutes when last week's
goalscorer forced a fine save from Jussi when he unleashed one from
twenty yards. On twenty-three minutes Adam Johnson was booked for a
routine foul on Campo
With 30 minutes gone Bolton were looking the better of the two teams - neither keeper having much to do. Boro's defence looked solid. With ten minutes to go until half-time, Boro started to press a little through Cattermole but once again, failed to produce any real threat to our goal.
Our old Scottish mate Champagne Charlie
not seeming to get too excited with his job as pundit for our game.
Why
does Kammy never get our games? Anelak fizzed a powerful shot past the
post on 41 minutes - good effort. As the last five minutes approached
Bolton were pushing hard for that goal that would give them home
advantage but to no avail. With just a minute to go until the break,
Anelka took a free-kick that had Schwarzer beaten but unluckily went
just wide. His first goal can't be far away.... The resulting corner was
poor but it was a warning that although the threat posed by Bolton had
been stifled, it was still very much present. Abdoulaye Faye blasted a
shot over the bar as the half ended goalless. That reminds me - one of
my mates is a special constable in Horwich. A couple of weeks ago he was
in the panda car around midnight when they spotted a great big vehicle
driving through Horwich erratically. They stopped the car and
breathalysed the driver. But it all ended with a smile - the driver was
Abdoulaye Faye's wife - he was giving her her first driving lesson in
this country! Let's hope she passes her test real soon!
The half time whistle had gone - It was up to Sam to gee up the lads in the interval as we weren't doing as well as we hoped.
The second half started as the first began
- goalless. I texted Christina the half time score but she didn't reply.
Back to the game. Champagne Charlie was late getting back from the break
- probably drying his trousers with the hand dryer.
Analak started well
- I think Sam must have had a wee word in his ear during the break. Boro
then stepped up a gear and Jason Euell spurned a great chance when he
just took a touch too much (cue AC/DC), but it was a worrying moment for
our lads. Charlie was sounding a little more excited, his earlier
spillage now put from his mind. Meanwhile AJ scored for Everton... mmm....
With 55 minutes gone Campo took an early free kick but again it went wide. Shades of the free kick Arsenal fluffed last week. Not our lucky day so far - mind you we did have a bit of luck last week for a change. At this point this was the only goalless game in the Premiership. Boro were threatening again with our lads trying to counter attack. Exciting stuff. Vaz Te came on for Stelios and injected some pace to the team. Bolton were upping the pressure in the hunt for an opening goal. Steve Bennet was as popular as ever waving play on to two fouls on our players, one on Idan Tal apparently inside their penalty box then a trip on Speedo just outside the box. The crowd didn't like him much.
75 minutes gone then it happened - my pocket started to vibrate - it was a text message. With high hopes of a text from my wee friend, my hopes were dashed - another Vodafone message telling me the half time score. Middlesbrough kept the pressure up. Nobby went off and Idan Tal came on. Faye slipped and Euell took the ball and passed to Yakubu who fluffed the shot and Jussi made an oh-too-easy save. No sign of Dioufy's new tattoos. Let's hope one of the bling brothers can stick the ball in the net before the final whistle - we could do with the three points. Meanwhile Bruno had Gotty'd himself sent off at Brum - nice.
Ten minutes left on the clock and it was
still goalless. Tal's introduction was a positive one.
Both
teams were still going for it. It took us 96 minutes last week, so
there's still time yet. We had scored in 17 or our last 18 home games
but since Woodgate joined Boro they haven't conceded a goal in open
play. And today was no different. Anelka had a superb effort from a neat
Dioufy pass tipped over the bar by Schwarzer. Neither team gave up on
the chance of grabbing a late winner in the last five minutes but
neither side looked as thought they really had the cutting edge to
achieve it. Gareth Southgate made a late substitution when Stuart
Parnaby replaced James Morrison but there was no time for any further
meaningful action. Southgate's 4-5-1 gained them a useful point. Bolton
did well in the first half but failed to product many chances in the
second. Both keepers had good games today. The final whistle blew,
closing the lid on a not so memorable game. Nic still hasn't opened his
account. I was hoping we would get a result today but it wasn't to be.
Well one point is better than none and we still haven't conceded at home yet this season... I suppose. Frustrated Bolton, Position 7th at the whistle. Attendance 21,164
Match report by - The Editor - again! Come on lads, if you write one match report each we'll be laughing and I'll get to spend more time in the pub!
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