FA Carling Premiership Game 35: Saturday 18 April 1998 Bolton Wanderers 2 - 3 Leeds United (Half-time: 0 - 2) Crowd: 25000 Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)
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vs Bolton

Despite the fact that Leeds' 1st goal was against the run of play, despite the fact that they hit the post twice, Martyn made a string of superb saves, and they had a goal disallowed in the 97th min, I never felt that we were in any danger of losing this. And its hard to explain why.

I couldn't believe some of the reports I've read and heard of this game, going on about Leeds' ruthless professionalism, how they muscled poor little skillful Bolton out of the points. The Observer even goes on about this team and GG deserving one another, and how much Revie would approve the cynicism, niggling, shirt pulling, arguing with the referee. From where I was sitting it was Bolton who were guilty of all this stuff. Jimmy was being physically assaulted every time the ball came near him, Hiden was through with a gallop on goal when Todd(?) just took him out, Thompson left Bowyer and Harte in crumpled heaps after late challenges, the second of which got him a booking. - having said that, after the second foul, me and Toby turned to each and said "He'll do for next year". Thompson was the one of theirs that looked quality - I hear that Villa are said to be offering 4m for him, well I think GG should get into the market, he's a good passer, bosses the midfield, good shot, and gets in there -he certainly didn't want to lose on saturday.

As for us, we dropped Molenaar, for Haaland, and played a strange looking defence. It appeared as if Wetherall and Hiden were a back two, with Harte and Kaptain Kelly as wing backs, with Lucas just in front man to man on Thompson. It looked like a 5 man "W" formation. Bowyer had another very influential game, Jimmy didn't get much change out the defence or the ref - who was awful - and Harry, probably under orders, was too deep covering for their RBack Cox, when the best way to defend against an attacking Full back is to keep him occupied in the defence.

From the off they pressed, a header hit the post, a couple of other shots narrowly missed, and Martyn made a stunning flying save from a Thompson volley from 20 yards. Then there was a scramble on the edge of their box the ball fell to Halle, who had two or three goes at controlling it, as it dribbled away from him, Alfie charged up and thumped it home from 20 yards. A few minutes later, and Harte gets the ball down in the left hand corner, he digs out an excellent pacy swinging cross, which Halle, who is unmarked in the 6yd box, heads home. The finger pointing amongst the Bolton defenders was a joy to watch on MOTD.

Half Time

Just into the second half and they get free kick about 25yards out, and while Martyn's screaming at his wall to get 4 men in there and not 3, Thompson thunders a daisy cutter into the bottom corner. Big Nige Not Happy.

The game then went on with loads of Bolton pressure, until about 5 mins from the end when Bowyer intercepted a poor ball on half way, and put Jimmy through all in one touch, Jimmy took off, beat a couple of defenders and clipped the ball over the keeper. A classy goal. They piled forward after that, Fish scoring after Nige had made 2 or 3 great reflex saves. Then after about 97 mins they scored again, and it was disallowed - but the home fans - what was left of them - didn't realise for ages, Oh how we laughed.

Don't believe the papers - we deserved this win.

POINTS

MARTYN -8- MOTM stunning saves.
KELLY -7- quietly efficient.
HARTE -6- swinging between very good and very bad.
HIDEN -7- Mr Rolls Royce again - and would he have scored when clean through?
WETHERALL -7- no problems with Blake.
RADEBE -7- controlled performance, and some excellent passing out of defence.
BOWYER -7- the pick of our outfield players.
HALLE -5- the goal aside, a nothing performance.
HAALAND -6- reasonable, added a" bit of bite" in there.
HARRY -6- too deep, and a bit off the pace - but when he did run at them - devastating.
JIMMY -7- match winning hero.

GG - full marks for continual bollocking of shit referee. Referee - not controversial, just plain wrong. Crowd - shit, apart from us - they'd mostly left by 85 mins.

Nick - it took me 40 mins to get out of the "convenient" away supporters car park.

Downswing gathers speed for careless Wanderers - George Caulkin

Tick, tock. 1pm: a lift inside the Reebok Stadium is reported faulty. It is rumoured that the elevator goes up all right but comes down too quickly. 3.08: Per Frandsen's corner is brushed on to a post. 3.34: Leeds are 2-0 up against the run of play. 3.41: Andy Todd hits the woodwork. 4.50: Bolton have a last-gasp equaliser ruled offside. 5.35: "I don't think there's any justice," says their manager Colin Todd.

Time, luck and precedent are ranged against Todd and his team. They are far too good for the First Division but patently not designed to withstand the rigours of the Premiership. After four seasons of switching between the two - and now almost certainly a fifth - what Wanderers need is a league of their own somewhere in between.

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