Ol' gang
Burnley 0 Bolton 2
Report by Becko
Three consecutive defeats in three derby
clashes. Is this the start of a terrible decline or just a setback? Were we kidding
ourselves when we talked of the playoffs or even promotion? Or is a relegation dogfight to
be expected by the end of the season? Well, what about mid table mediocrity? 13th
place on 6th May: wouldn't that be a worthy achievement? I would be happy with
that, and I don't think that is selling ourselves short. I said that if we were in the top
six at the halfway stage of the season, I didn't see why we shouldn't be there at the end.
Well, we're 9th, and I think that might be as high as we are until May. Don't
get me wrong; if we finish higher, even in the top six, I'll be happy, even ecstatic, but
the realistic aim for the season must be to stabilise ourselves in this division.
With a few injuries and suspensions the squad
looks stretched, perhaps threadbare. Jepson shouldn't be featuring this much should he?
Whilst experience is vital, I think that the older legs are tiring and mistakes are
costing us goals, Bolton's first being a prime example. Michael Ricketts was allowed to
slot home from within the six yard box after a great run by the impressive Jamaican
international Ricardo Gardener, but why wasn't there a Clarets defender even remotely near
him? It was the same against Birmingham when Adebola came on.
Another worrying point is that, with Gray, Lee
and Cooke sold, Robinson returned and Payton and Moore surprisingly injured, we
didn’t have an effective strikeforce. Mullin and Branch tried hard, gave 100%, but
neither really looked like scoring. Michael Ricketts, on the other hand, does and did. He
looks like Emile Heskey and, while there are a few rough edges to polish off, he is well
on his way to becoming the bargain of the season at £25,000.
Onto the details of the game. Bolton came out
with all guns blazing, and for the first 20 to 25 minutes played incisive, passing
football, usually involving Gardener. A couple of neat saves by Nik the Greek, good
defending and poor finishing kept the score at 0-0. However, as the half wore on, and
especially in the last ten minutes of the half, we were on top. We forced a succession of
corners, and although we didn't look like scoring, apart from one long range effort from
Branch, there was all to play for in the second half. In fact, we took the game to them
again after the interval.
The turning point came in the 48th
minute. Hendry played Weller onside, and the winger squared the ball for the incoming
Micky Mellon, who looked odds on to steer home his first goal of the season in front of
the McIlroy stand, only to be pulled back by the long haired Scotsman who used to play for
our East Lancs neighbours. Penalty? Only the referee, of those in the ground, felt not,
and within five minutes we were 1-0 down.
Realistically, that was it. Little was
introduced but couldn't turn in a similar performance to his opening day role at the
Reebok. He didn't see much of the ball, and he hasn't had much play in the last two
months. It could also be that Bolton had learned from that, and tried to keep the ball
away from him as much as possible.
Bolton's second arrived 18 minutes from time. It
was as good a team goal as you'll see all season, straight through the middle of our team.
It was just too good for us.
We never gave up, but the old players looked
tired. Paul Cook couldn't wait to go off. But we were beaten (only just, but by enough) by
a team who will be disappointed not to finish second in May.
So what does the half way report say? Keep up
the good work! Dig deep, battle hard, get the five wins we need to ensure we're in this
division next year, and then build for next season.
Team:
Michopoulos, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Smith, Weller (Little 57), Cook (Johnrose 59), Mellon
(Jepson 69), Ball, Mullin, Branch. Subs not used: Crichton and Maylett.
Scorer:
Ricketts (53, 72).
Crowd:
19,552.
Referee: P
Richards of Preston.
London Clarets Man
of the Match: Paul Smith.
The away game
