Watto’s Report: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Birmingham City

My apologies for a late report but thanks to the arrangements of the Bolton Wanderers football club and Lancashire police I was stuck for 90 minutes in the car park and then the M6 traffic. That was swelled  4,200 Blues fans, 5000 Spurs, Stoke and Portsmouth fans and the 25,000 Man U fans going back to London and Essex. Thanks to the fixture computer which practices on Brewery based piss up which it yet to get the hang.

Anyway Blues should have been three up in ten minutes as Bowyer and Jerome (twice) squandered sitters. The ref decided to assist the home side as he allowed Vignal to be hacked down without punishment and then added insult by refusing treatment for the Frenchman. Bolton careered through the gap left and Taylor found himself alone on the penalty spot but Hart came out to make a remarkable save.

Bolton sensed that they were not as far out of the game as the run of play suggested and Knight’s speculative effort flicked the outside of the post with Hart covering the target as he flew across goal.

The home side were awarded three free dubious free kicks in a dangerous area within 20 seconds. The first two were cleared but the third caught Ridgewell out and Davies scored his first ever goal against us.

Blues finally had the ball in the net on 40 minutes when Mcfadden rounded off a ten man move when he forced the ball over the line. The goal was disallowed when the ball hit McFadden’s shoulder. A poor decision was emphasised when Ridgewell got away with a clear hand ball in the box. Both decisions were simply wrong.

Mr Friend had booked several players but in 90 minutes awarded no less that than 10 fouls against Davies without reaching for the Yellow card.

Bolton was more into things in the second half and went further ahead with Blues defence static. Klasnic beat Hart with a left footer from the edge of the box.

Blues sent on Chucho who was impressive on the ball but after missing a header from six yards, was then flattened by Robinson when nowhere near the ball. It was a ludicrous foul to concede but Mr Friend was bound to get one right eventually. Surprisingly Chucho was given the penalty duties. Not so surprisingly Benitez’s shot was pathetic and Jaaskelainen saved with ease. The ball rebounded to Bowyer who also failed to beat the keeper who was prostrate. Eventually the ball was forced over by Mcfadden.

It was a shabby goal in what was becoming a shabby performance by Blues. Blues conceded a second double against perennial drop dodgers and the second defeat to Owen Coyle whose Burnley team beat us in an early season clash. Blues 4-5-1 tactics didn’t work then and they didn’t work this time. As long as Blues continue to spurn chances they will continue to lose games in this fashion.

Frankly this season’s end cannot have come quick enough as this entire 9th place and over achievement talk is becoming tiresome. Let’s get busy and sign some players who recognise a goal chance let alone take them. Have a couple of weeks off Alex, you deserve it. Then start declaring your hand with top signing. Someone who will get us out of our seats. We have a good team but we need heroes and entertainers.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen; Paul Robinson; Gary Cahill; Fabrice Muamba; Matt Taylor (Stuart Holden 66); Zat Knight; Kevin Davies (C ); Gretar Steinsson; Ivan Klasnic; Jack Wilshere (Ricardo Gardner 90); Vladimir Weiss (Lee Chung Yong 66)

Substitutes not used: Ali Al Habsi; Jlloyd Samuel; Mark Davies; Sam Ricketts

Blues: Joe Hart; Stephen Carr (C ); Liam Ridgewell; Roger Johnson; Gregory Vignal; Barry Ferguson; Sebastian Larsson (Chucho 65); Michel (Keith Fahey 74); Lee Bowyer; James McFadden; Cameron Jerome

Substitutes not used: Maik Taylor; David Murphy; Stuart Parnaby; Lee Carsley; Jordon Mutch

Goals

Davies 33  McFadden 77

Klasnic 60

Bookings: Ridgewell, Johnson, Klasnic. Larsson

Attendance: 22,863 (4,220 away)

Ref K Friend ( Simply the worst display of refereeing I have ever seen)

By Alan Watton

What is your view on this story? Have your say below - You DON'T need to register in order to post your comment