Bolton Wanderers 2 - West Bromwich Albion 2

Date: Sunday 6th May 2012 
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Bolton:
5.0
(4-4-2) Bogdan, Boyata, Wheater (Knight, 46), Ream, Ricketts, Eagles, Reo-Coker, M Davies, Petrov (Chung-Yong, 81), K Davies, N'Gog (Klasnic, 68)
Unused subs: Jaaskelainen, Alonso, Ryo, Vela
WBA:
6.8
(4-4-2) Foster 7.9, Jones 4.9, McAuley 6.9, Olsson 7.1, Ridgewell 6.6, Brunt 6.8, Mulumbu 6.3 (Scharner, 78 5.9), Andrews 5.3 (Morrison, 74 7.6), Dorrans 6.4 (Cox, 81 6.7), Fortun 6.8, Long 5.7
Unused subs: Fulop, Shorey, Dawson, Allan
Manager: Roy Hodgson 7.1
Scorers: Brunt (75), Morrison (90)
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) 4.4
Attendance: 25,662   Home Fans 3.9   Away Fans 8.6

Dave Watkin:

At the Reebok Stadium, Albion completed a two goal comeback against Bolton Wanderers to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. Backed by 4,635 fans, many in fancy dress, the Head Coach was given a memorable send-off in his last away match.

England Manager Roy Hodgson made two changes; Keith Andrews returned for Jerome Thomas and Marc-Antoine Fortun? replaced an unfit Peter Odemwingie. Back from injury, James Morrison was given a place on the substitute?s bench.

The home side threatened early on; Eagles rippling the side-netting with a long distance drive and Petrov testing Foster with a fierce cross-shot, before the keeper had to scramble across his goal-line to force Kevin Davies to fire over from close range. That?s not to say that Albion weren?t in action at the other end. After Andrews forced a corner, Brunt swung the ball in and a downward header from Gareth McAuley was saved one-handed by Bogdan. Fortun? set-up a chance for Brunt from which he miscued; then another for Shane Long, when the striker shot on the turn only for Bogdan to make a fortunate save with the legs onto the post. All this action came before the halfway point of the opening period; but just as the Baggies seemed to be getting on top, disaster struck. In the 24th minute, the ball was played into our box and Mulumbu made a clumsy unnecessary challenge on Mark Davies right in front of the referee ? penalty! Petrov struck the kick just inside the left hand post, inches away from the keeper?s outstretched hand. The Baggies most threatening response was when Fortun? raced onto a penetrating ball by Olsson, only to be forced wide by the keeper.

Attacking towards their vociferous fans, Albion created a good chance for Dorrans, but he fired straight at Bogdan; however, minutes later, the keeper was forced to make a fine block at the near post from a fierce rising drive by Liam Ridgewell. Back came Bolton and Ben Foster made the save of the game from a downward header by Kevin Davies, which he tipped away one-handed. In the 72nd minute, the Trotters doubled their lead in very fortuitous circumstances. Petrov raced clear down the left, but seemed to have wasted the opportunity with a loose cross. However, Ridgewell miscued an attempted clearance which struck the unfortunate Jones on his chest and rebounded into the net for a bizarre own-goal. The fight back began with the introduction of James Morrison. He was involved in the build-up to the 75th minute goal, but it was Chris Brunt who played the major part, chipping the ball into the box and when it ran free, striking it firmly past the keeper. The nervous relegation candidates sat back as Albion dominated possession. Substitute Cox found his range with a shot on the turn from outside the area, before playing a crucial role in the 90th minute equaliser. An intricate move involving Olsson, Cox, Brunt and Fortun?, sent Billy Jones behind the defence. He pulled the ball back to Long, who nudged it on to Simon Cox and he cleverly picked out James Morrison at the far post, who fired into the roof of the net. In seven minutes added time both sides threatened without success.

Match statistics show we had 17 shots, 13 on-target and 52% possession, so were well worth at least a share of the points. Referee, Friend, awarded 14 fouls against Bolton and only 8 against Albion, but gave us four bookings to their one! Great backing from our supporters, riled perhaps by those Bolton fans who very unwisely taunted us as they briefly held a two goal lead. We may not have celebrated quite so wildly at the end, if we?d known that our goal ensured safety for the undeserving Villains.

The season?s three outstanding players were all at their best in this game. Ben Foster made crucial saves, Jonas Olsson was a rock in defence and played his part when we were going forward and although only on the pitch for around twenty minutes, James Morrison revitalised the midfield and scored the glorious equaliser. It was a memorable farewell by Roy Hodgson. He made key substitutions at the right time and behaved immaculately throughout. I?m sure that all Albion supporters wish him well.

ALBION FORMRATE: GOOD

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: ROY HODGSON

Today?s Clubs have been well matched over the years, as we?ve drawn more league matches against Bolton Wanderers than any other club. This was our 134th league match against the Trotters and in total we?ve recorded 43 victories to their 47, with 44 matches drawn and a goal difference of 191 to 214. Of the forty-four draws (24 home / 20 away), exactly half, twenty-two, have been 1-1 (11/11), a quarter, eleven, have finished 2-2 (6/5), there have been eight 0-0 (5/3), one 3-3 away and two 4-4 at home. The high scoring three-all draw was at Bolton?s earliest league ground, Pike?s Lane, on the opening day of the 1898/99 season. Centre-forward Ralph Brett, signed for ?28 from the Army, scored on his debut and outside-left Ben Garfield added two more. This was the eleventh consecutive top flight season for the two founder members, but an unfortunate one for Bolton, they were relegated. The two four-four draws at The Hawthorns were more recent. In the top flight in 1979/80, Peter Barnes scored a hat-trick, including two penalties and Remi Moses added another; we finished 10th and Bolton were again relegated. In 1999/2000, we narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier, Sean Flynn, Richard Sneekes (pen), Adam Oliver with his only goal for the Club, and Bob Taylor were our scorers; Bolton were defeated in the play-offs. Incidentally, eight of twelve Premier League fixtures have been drawn, with both clubs winning two.

Albion are 10th with 47 points. Mathematically, we could finish anywhere between 9th and 14th, but realistically can?t be lower than 12th; a point would make certain of 11th spot and probably 10th and a win would ensure a top ten finish with a possibility of 9th.