Man
City 0 Bolton 1
March 7th 2005 att. 43,050
We
had to suffer yet another home defeat tonight against a Bolton side who were not
outstanding and a really lack lustre performance by a City side lacking Shaun
Wright-Phillips. Life without SWP looks pretty grim at the moment unless the senior
players pull out all the stops in the next few games. If this form continues there
is little chance of reaching one of the available European qualifying places.
There were very few plus points in this pretty poor quality game. The return of
Reyna from long term injury was welcome and there was a bravado display in the
final minutes by Lee Croft who had a final ten minutes or so to show the manager
what he could do. It would not surprise me if Croft gets the managers vote for
the right wing position now SWP is out of the frame for the next few weeks.
Another
Monday evening fixture for TV and another low attendance despite it being a local
derby.
Shock,
Horror as young Willo Flood gets pulled up for a foul in the opening moments.
Claudio
Reyna making a welcome return to midfield was one of the few players to justify
his place.
Sommeil
and partner plead innocence as the referee approaches to admonish the pair.
Robbie
Fowler makes a dash for goal and is brought down by N'Gotty but the resultant
free kick taken by Sibierski is blocked by the wall.
Bolton
always look dangerous at corners so the City defence had to defend well.
Kiki
Musampa improves every match and was even seen to be helping in defence. He is
now getting use to the pace and pressure of the Premier League but often his final
ball lacks penetration.
Looks
as though Jaaskalainen is about to loose control of the ball but he re-covered
well
David
James saves from Nolan
After
20 minutes Jaaskalainen mishandled what appeared to be a back pass from Candella.
Fowler went for the rebound but failed to score what would have been a vital first
goal. A bad and important miss in what was going to be a tight game. City had
the best of the first 20 minutes but the lack of finishing power was to cost us
dearly.
Both
defences came under pressure at set pieces but as half time approached it looked
stale mate.
Just
on half time Danny Mills let in Giannakopoulos down the left and his cross was
converted with ease by EL Diouf who proceeded to taunt City supporters despite
the protestations of the referees assistant. Half time then with Bolton leading
by that goal.
The
poor attendance of Bolton supporters in the top tier meant they were almost outnumbered
by stewards.
James
saves at a corner early in the second half.
McManaman
( on for Flood ) and Mills have an argument with N'Gotty as referee Wiley rushes
in to keep the peace.
Dunne
was again a tower of strength in the City defence, one thunderous tackle being
reminiscent of Bert Sproston.
El
Diouf continued to cause City problems and Distin had his hands full trying to
stop him.
Plenty
of bodies but no ball!
David
James saves well from a Kevin Davies shot after 72 minutes
Another
narrow escape for City as a N'Gotty header flies just wide
Kiki
Musampa was so very nearly the hero of the hour but his diving header goes just
wide in the last minute.
The
ball flies wide of the City goal as full time approaches.
Dunne
fails to connect at a corner
Team
James
6: Mills 5, Dunne 7, Distin 6, Sommeil 5: Flood 4 (McManaman 6), Reyna 6, Bosvelt
5 (Bradley Wright-Phillips 6), Musampa 6, Sibierski 6 (Croft 6), Fowler 6
