[Liverweb] Bolton Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Liverpool 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard(C),
Alonso, Cisse, Kewell, Fowler, Crouch

Subs Used : Garcia for Cisse (45), Hamann for Fowler (74), Traore
for Kewell (87)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Sissoko

Ref : Rob Styles

Att : 44,194

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The Reds nailed another three points thanks to Birthday Boy Robbie
Fowler. Fowler struck in first half stoppage time and it proved to
be the only goal of the game. Other results of the weekend probably
mean that one more win from the final four games will be enough now
for the Reds this season to finish third at least.

The Reds got the game started defending the Kop in the first half
but it was Bolton who tried to push forward early on. The first
minutes seemed to be a case of the ball just bobbing around in the
air for ages. No-one seemed to want to get the ball down and pass it.

Bolton had a great chance on eight minutes to score and only expert
keeping from Reina prevented the goal. Stelios nipped in behind the
defence after a sloppy ball from Alonso. His low shot to the far
post though was grabbed by Reina and cleared by Carragher.

The first half was in truth dull really. Cisse was a complete waste
of space on the right for the Reds and just looked like he couldn't
be bothered. That had the effect that the Reds pushed most things
down the left where Kewell at least looked like he wanted to do
things. He ended up on the right side as well as the half went on as
Cisse went left but it just moved the attack from left to right
really.

Kewell had two efforts in the first half. The first on the half hour
went miles over the bar as it just didn't seemed to sit up as he hit
the shot. His second came on thirty seven minutes but his shot
across the box went just past the far post with the strikers just
missing turning the ball in.

On forty one minutes Steven Gerrard went down in the box claiming a
penalty and from my angle it looked similar to the one in Istanbul
in a way. He certainly seemed to be impeded but Rob Styles waved
play on. Of course based on the first half performance of him and
his assistant I don't know if knows the rules anyway. At one point
the linesman on the centenary side flagged for offside from a throw
in. Not a single person could understand this but the ref somehow
backed his assistant despite Benitez practically running on the
pitch with a rule book to remind him of what should happen.

The deadlock was broken in first half stoppage time. That stoppage
time which had been added because Bolton had wasted so much time at
throw in's etc; Fowler headed on a ball for Crouch who took the ball
down and laid it back to Fowler who instantly smashed it home. This
just changed the half time team talk around a bit and a great goal
from a great striker.

Half time saw Garcia warming up and he was obviously ready to come
on and thankfully Cisse didn't re-appear for the half. The change
was made and Bolton were ready to kick off but play wasn't allowed
to start. Referee Rob Styles was told more than once to hold it by
the TV bloke on the sidelines - presumably the adverts were still
on. Not of course that football these days is ruled by the TV of
course.

The second half was brighter than the first it has to be said and
within minutes Garcia had got through more work than Cisse in the
whole of his first half. Garcia came on like a breath of fresh air.
Five minutes in to the half Garcia hit the side netting as he tried
to put the game beyond doubt. Crouch then fired and overhead kick
over the bar minutes later. A minute later Alonso hit the post with
a shot and it was certainly looking like the Reds would increase
their goal tally.

On fifty five minutes Pepe Reina was called in to action as Bolton
sub Pedersen ran in behind the Reds defence. Reina though was out
superbly well to smother the ball away and cleared for a throw in.
It rarely looked like Bolton were going to trouble the Reds at the
back. At the other end it seemed we were happy to hit Bolton on the
break. Fowler was getting through superb work up front as he hassled
and harried both centre backs. It often paid off as well with Bolton
giving up possession easily.

On eighty two minutes the Reds had a great break on the counter
attack. Kewell had the ball and was sprinting clear whilst Gerrard
was also streaking forward on the right. Nicky Hunt managed to keep
up with Kewell merely by grabbing hold of his shirt which the ref
ignored because Kewell stayed up. It made the square ball to Gerrard
a non starter though and Kewell ended up shooting just wide.

The one worry towards the end of the game that we wouldn't take
three points was the introduction of Traore. The thought of him
coming in worried so many people around me. One even praying that
Benitez was merely giving him instructions to start the players bath
in the dressing room. He came on and played midfield in place of
Kewell which proved ok in the end.

The Reds saw the game out and another three points. With the United
game having followed soon after this one we knew later on that
perhaps one more win could see us through to that third spot. This
game won't go down as one of the most memorable on the pitch and the
crowd were pretty quiet too. As one text afterwards said to me it
had an end of season feel to it this one.

MotM : Robbie Fowler - on his birthday he scored but he also worked
so incredibly hard that surely he has earned at least another years
contract.

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Match Stats
Liverpool Bolton
53% Possession 47%
5 Shots On Target 3
9 Shots Off Target 3
2 Blocked Shots 1
3 Corners 2
6 Fouls 7
3 Offsides 5
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0

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