[Jourdan]

Bolton 1-0 Derby

Stelios came off the bench to claim a richly deserved winner for Bolton in their televised clash against Derby.

Despite Bolton dominating for large periods of the game, it was the visitors who started better as Rams defender Jay McEveley sent a defence splitting pass into space for Craig Fagan to chase onto. The former Hull utility man beat the Bolton defence to the ball but as he closed in on goal, pressure from Abdoulaye Meite forced him to poke his shot straight at the body of Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Chances were scarce as Derby managed to keep Anelka and company at bay early on. But it wasn’t long before the home side started to cause problems – yet neither Meite nor Trotters captain Kevin Nolan were able to put Bolton ahead. Meite shrugged off Claude Davis to meet El-Hadji Diouf’s left wing corner but the centre back could only direct his header past Lewis Price’s right hand post. Then Diouf set free Nicolas Anelka down the right wing and the striker sliced the ball into the path of Nolan who was lurking on the edge of the area. Nolan proceeded to slam his right foot volley over the crossbar.

And Bolton were almost left to rue earlier misses as Derby created a catalogue of opportunities late in the first half. Fagan found space in the box to power a header towards goal from a in-swinging corner from the right but as the header looked set to creep under the crossbar and in, Jaaskelainen showed great agility to palm it over. Shortly after, substitute Michael Johnson saw his curling right foot shot cannon off the bar after he had wriggled into space on the edge of the area. This was before Fagan was to come close again but the Birmingham-born attacker could only steer his close range header into the side netting.

The scrappy nature of the game persisted with Kevin Davies, guilty of a clumsy challenge which led to McEveley’s injury earlier in the half, finally being cautioned by the referee after grounding Tyrone Mears. The Rams had to keep their wits about them late in the half as Bolton bounced back from being under pressure minutes earlier with both Diouf and Nolan being denied by some sensible Derby defending.

The second half began with Christian Wilheimsson replacing Kevin Davies and after Matt Oakley dragged his right foot shot wide from a cleverly taken free kick for the away side, the change paid dividends with Wanderers taking complete control of the contest. A flurry of attacks followed but Bolton were unable to break the deadlock, as Barnes deflected Meite’s header over the bar and Danny Guthrie fired over after being freed on the edge of the area by Joey O’Brien.

Bolton’s dominance prompted Jewell to make his second change of the evening as Jon Macken, returning from his loan spell at Barnsley, came on for the woeful Gary Teale. A goal looked on the cards and Diouf thought he’d opened the scoring only to see his close range finish ruled out for offside. And more disappointment was to follow for Megson’s men as Anelka danced into space outside the area before unleashing a fierce right shot that Price somehow managed to guide away from goal before Nolan looped Diouf’s teasing low cross over with the goal at his mercy.

As both sides laboured in search of a vital winner, both managers took a last throw of the dice with Stelios replacing Nolan for Bolton and Benny Feilhaber taking the place of Fagan in the Rams’ midfield. And it was Megson who looked to have pulled off the tactical master-stroke as after Eddie Lewis miscued his left wing cross and saw it fly out of play, Jaaskelainen thumped the goal kick into Derby’s half and as no outfield Derby player committed to attacking the ball, Stelios reached it before Price, who darted off the line, and flicked the ball beyond the Welsh shot-stopper and into the net to spark wild celebrations amongst Bolton players and fans alike.

Realising the importance of avoiding defeat, Derby burst forward from the restart and had an immediate chance to level the scores but Kenny Miller could only spoon his shot straight at Jaaskelainen. From the right wing corner moments later, substitute Feilhaber blazed his 10 yard header over the bar to the dismay of the travelling Rams fans to the right of the goal. Losing to last-minute winners is becoming a common theme for defeat as yet another opportunity to pick up precious points goes begging.

Player Ratings

Price – 6 – Did ok, kept us in the game with a few top-notch saves and dealt with balls into the box relatively well, should’ve really communicated better with the defence for the goal.

Mears – 6 – Didn’t do wonderfully well but was better than most.

Moore – 5 – Cool and composed in the first half, less so in the second half.

Davis – 5 – Very erratic and unpredictable – needs to play with more conviction.

McEveley – 6 – Performed solidly before having to be taken off because of injury.

Teale – 3 – Really disappointing, seems to lack confidence when running at defenders and seems incapable of keeping the ball under control and finding a team-mate with a pass.

Oakley – 5 – Needed to try and play as the ball-winner in midfield but didn’t. Needs to be more authoritative.

Barnes – 4 – Going through the motions, seems like he doesn’t want to dig in and give it his all.

Lewis – 4 – His limitations going forward continue to be exposed.

Fagan – 7 – MOTM – Always delivers in terms of effort and enthusiasm and also delivered this time in terms of attacking threat.

Miller – 5 – Blew hot and cold, seemed to be worn out.

Subs.:

Johnson – 6 – Acquitted himself very well.

Macken – 5 – Didn’t pose much of a threat but held up the ball well.

Feilhaber – 5 – Had little time to make an impact, but showed a good work ethic and tidy technique.