BOLTON WANDERERS v NEWCASTLE UNITED, 2-1 Tue 26 Dec
2006
Nicolas Anelka smashed home his third goal in two games to hand
Bolton Wanderers a comeback victory over Newcastle United.
Wanderers trailed to Kieron Dyers eighth-minute strike and could
have been in even deeper trouble as the Magpies made an excellent
start.
However, keeper Pavel Srnicek, making his first start for Glenn
Roeders side since October 1997, got himself into a tangle with
Peter Ramage on 32 minutes which saw the defender head into his own
net to drag Bolton back into the game.
Sam Allardyces half-time team talk seemed to do the trick and his
side needed only 12 minutes to get their noses in front, Anelka
slotting home at the far post after El-Hadji Diouf had sliced
across goal.
The Frenchmans strike handed the home side a fourth successive
Barclays Premiership win as the Magpies tasted defeat for only the
second time in seven attempts in front of a crowd of 26,437.
But while Bolton were vastly improved in the second half, the
visitors headed back across the Pennines knowing they should
perhaps be doing so with something to show for their efforts and
having contributed to their own downfall.
Newcastle arrived at the Reebok Stadium with five wins in their
last six Premiership games, but with injuries still forcing Roeder
to change his plans by the game.
Shay Givens groin problem meant Srnicek got his chance, although
that was perhaps expected after the Irishmans premature departure
during Saturdays 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Nolberto Solanos absence with a similar problem handed a
debut to 19-year-old David Edgar, son of former Magpies keeper
Eddie, at right-back.
The prospect of launching a senior career in the company of the
likes of Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf may have made for a sleepless
night for the youngster in a back four with an average age just
slightly above 20.
However, for 32 minutes Edgar and his team-mates thoroughly enjoyed
their Boxing Day test.
That was due in no small part to the fact that Dyer fired them in
front within eight minutes of kick-off, capitalising on a careless
defensive header by striker Kevin Davies to sprint into the box and
fire past the helpless Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Obafemi Martins might have doubled his sides lead on 17 minutes
when he blasted a left-foot drive beyond the keepers dive but just
wide of the far post, and James Milner threatened on more than one
occasion as Bolton looked repeatedly vulnerable at the back.
Despite enjoying a more than healthy share of the possession, the
home side struggled to create much of any note even with Anelka and
Diouf concentrating on Edgar, who was ably assisted by Scott Parker
and Nicky Butt ahead of him.
But just as the visitors started to anticipate a pat on the back
from their manager they shot themselves in the foot, and it was the
elder statesman who had to shoulder the blame.
Ramage waited until he could wait no longer for Srnicek to come for
Gary Speeds hopeful header into the box and, with Kevin Nolan
bearing down on him, the defender tried to head the ball back to
his keeper but succeeded only in putting it into his own net.
Ivan Campo volleyed over from a 42nd-minute Anelka cross as Bolton
staged a late flurry, but both sides left the pitch on the whistle
with mixed emotions.
Roeder was nothing if not positive at the break, asking Dyer to
push on alongside Martins and Antoine Sibierski in a three-man
frontline.
However, it was Bolton who were quicker into their stride with
Edgar once again the man under pressure, and the breakthrough
arrived just 12 minutes into the half.
Davies flicked on Ivan Campos long throw and when Diouf scuffed a
shot across the face of goal, Anelka arrived at the far post to
slam the loose ball into the net.
Srniceks uncertainty was causing panic at the back and although he
got a punch to Dioufs 61st-minute free-kick, he needed help to
complete the job.
Nolan might have made it 3-1 with a 77th-minute flicked header, but
the visitors were preparing a late assault of their own.
Substitute Giuseppe Rossi poked a shot into Jaaskelainens arms and
fellow newcomer Emre, on for Dyer, sent a dipping long-range effort
just over in quick succession.
But it was Butt who went close six minutes from time, forcing the
keeper into a diving save with a shot from distance as Roeders men
battled all the way to the whistle, but did so ultimately in
vain.
