Match Review - Derby vs Bolton

[Jourdan]

Derby 1-1 Bolton
By Jourdan Rhule

Nicolas Anelka powered home his fifth goal of the season to claim a deserved point for Bolton in the battle between the league's bottom two at Pride Park.

The hosts were in the ascendancy in the early stages of the game but failed to ask too many questions of Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Stephen Pearson couldn't finish off his probing run from midfield as he poked an inviting opportunity wide. Matt Oakley was first to force Jaaskelainen into a save, albeit easy as his 25 yard strike trickled towards the Finn's left hand post.

The Rams stormed ahead 19 minutes into the game, Tyrone Mears floated a long ball into the path of Steve Howard who chested the ball away from the defender on his heels before diverting the ball across the goalmouth at pace to tee up Kenny Miller who sidefooted the ball beyond Jaaskelainen and into the far corner with a crisp left-foot first time shot.

The visiting side fought back but El Hadji Diouf and Joey O'Brien were wasteful as two good opportunities went begging. But yet again French international Anelka led by example as he opened up the Derby defence on 31 minutes. After picking up the ball just inside the opposing half, he surged forward forcing the home defence to retreat. He attempted to play a one-two with Kevin Davies on the edge of the area, but Davies' return pass was overhit but Anelka still had time to collect the loose ball before sidestepping Oakley and smashing the ball low and hard past Bywater from 20 yards - his shot deflecting off Dean Leacock on its way towards goal.

Both sides seemed to take a cautious approach as half-time loomed - neither side wanted to go into the break behind. Bolton had the most telling chance of the remainder of the half, but after rounding Bywater - Trotters captain Kevin Nolan couldn't steer the ball in from an acute angle as he was only able to find the side-netting.

The home side came out for the second half looking to force the issue but could not find a way past Jaaskelainen with Miller unable to convert the best of the chances. The first opportunity came within minutes of the restart. Jay McEveley had muscled his way into the area from the left before picking out Miller with a clever pass but the Scottish international's first time shot was flicked away by Jaaskelainen who produced an instinctive save to deny the striker who was looking for his third goal in as many games for the Rams. More good work down the left wing carved open the Trotters defence but Kenny Miller hooked over and wide from close range after finding space at the back post.

Managers Sammy Lee and Billy Davies looked to the subs bench for inspiration to break the stalemate - Davies introduced starlet Giles Barnes for the disappointing David Jones, meanwhile Little Sam threw Christian Wilheimsson and Gavin McCann into the mix with Kevin Davies & Gary Speed coming off.

And it was the Swedish star Wilheimsson who had the biggest influence, teaming up well with Ricardo Gardner as the Trotters began to take control of the contest. The Swede gave Wanderers some much needed impetus down the left and he kept Bywater awake with a snapshot after a quick throw-in. Bolton were having alot of joy down the left but Diouf nodded a tame header into Bywater's arms from Gardner's incisive cross.

After Howard failed to reach Lewis' inviting low cross from the left, Derby's spark faded and they had to hold off a late charge by the away side.

Bywater swatted away Wilheimsson's curling shot from 22 yards into the feet of Anelka who thrashed the ball against the underside of the bar. Nolan was there to pounce from close range but his weak stab at goal was scrambled off the line by Pearson.

As the game headed towards a draw, neither side had the creativity to muster chance after chance. Howard nodded over McEveley's sweeping free kick from the left, meanwhile Diouf was unable to prod home Anelka's cross in the key moments of the final 10 minutes.

Rob Styles blew the final whistle with both sides forced to settle for a draw in a game they desperately wanted to win. A draw won't do and both managers will view the game as a missed opportunity to try and hoist themselves out the relegation zone, particularly Rams manager Billy Davies as his side embarks on consecutive away games in October hoping to rediscover their fabulous form on their travels from last season. Make no mistake, they will need to as defeats to teams like Reading and Fulham who are lingering around the relegation zone will be fatal.

Player Ratings

Bywater - 8 - Pulled off some vital second half saves to curb a late Bolton rally

Mears - 6 - Not the sparkling performance we've come to expect from Tye, although this was mostly down to him being without a natural right winger supporting him.

Leacock - 7 - Slowly but surely he is returning to the form that earned him the adulation of the Derby fans last season

Davis - 8 - MOTM - Resounding and commanding in all aspects of his defensive work

McEveley - 7 - Looked solid in all departments and looks more willing to get forward than Griffin

Jones - 5 - Set the tone for a disappointing display with some irrational early challenges, had his chance to impress but failed miserably

Oakley - 6 - Was isolated by the Bolton midfield and really couldn't orchestrate as he usually would

Pearson - 7 - Seems buoyed by recent improved performances and his athleticism in midfield gave Bolton a headache

Lewis - 7 - Not blessed with much pace, but still managed to cause problems

Miller - 7 - Continues to shine with his workrate and slick finishing, although he looked jaded nearer the end of the game and wasted two key chances

Howard - 7 - Was bullied by the ruthless Meite but battled on determinedly and although he didn't score, he chipped in with a clever assist

Subs.:

Barnes - 5 - As expected with him coming back from injury, he looked off the pace and quite anonymous. No doubting that he'll make more of an impact with a return to match sharpness

Teale - 5 - Was on for a short period of the game and had little time to inspire a comeback, really should have started as we lacked purpose down the right