COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Bolton (H)

Beckford?s beaut bails out Blues from a game that I can only describe as frustrating.

The team selection was baffling to the average fan... and there were thousands of us baffled. My only thought was the manager may have reflected on playing 3 games in 9 days plus some injuries to players. From the off, we dominated the game and early on Bilyaletdinov had sliced wide from a Fellaini knock down and then just failed to meet a Baines cross at the far post and then Saha belted one well over the bar. Even Phil Neville danced his way into the area neatly but he met the curse of Everton ?It comes to nought at the business end?.

Then Saha had a hot shot pushed away by the keeper and Cahill was first to react but the keeper was too close to him and the ball went for a corner off the keeper?s chest. Arteta took one of his better ones and Saha met it and guided the ball toward the corner of goal only to have it cleared off the line by a well placed defender. Bolton did have the odd chance, the best of which fell to Elmander who left Jags for dead but a tremendous sliding block by Distin saved the day. Almost on the break, another decent corner was delivered but Fellaini didn?t control his volley and blasted high into the Park End.

Half-Time and the frustration was already showing. Bolton?s away support seemed to have come in 4 taxis yet they out-sang and out-shouted the gathered faithful.

Second half wasn?t much different although Bolton did come out of the traps more quickly and early on Taylor hit the top of the bar from a Holden corner; then the roles were reversed when Holden got in a powerful close range header in from a Taylor corner and Howard made a tremendous reflex save. ?USA-USA? chanted the Bolton fans bringing only stony silence from the faithful gathered.

We continued to dominate but could find no way to unlock the Bolton rearguard and when things looked promising it never quite came off. Things were summed up in one small passage of play when Bilyaletdinov was supplied with a throughball for him and he seemed to stop, look around for instruction and then hared after it; he did catch up with the ball but the quick break chance was lost.

Not long after this ,Coleman replaced him much to many a fan's delight. His pace immediately caused trouble and his willingness to run at defenders should have rubbed off on a few more. His introduction at last brought some semblance of vocal support and we upped our tempo but alas that final third was the graveyard of invention.

Blues started to build another move from the back with Jags who got caught in two minds and was not able to make either of them up. He got caught in possession and, with the rest of the team moving forward, Taylor was sent down the left and crossed for the unmarked Klasnic to bundle the ball home at the far post on 79 mins.

With this setback, Beckford and Yak were readied and the fourth official was primed when Robinson slid in on Fellaini, the Everton man took exception and whilst prone kicked out donkey fashion and was sent off. "Idiot," I thought, sawdust for brains. Beckford and Yak put their training tops back on whilst the manager rethought his subs. Eventually Saha and Neville came off.

4 mins of time added on and Bolton timewasted superbly in the corner of the Park End and Bullens Road. Many Blues left... eventually, in the very last minute, we got out of the corner, while many more had left; we got the ball to their box but it was headed away, Bolton?s Lee was first to it but Baines somehow wrestled it from him and poked it into the box. Beckford picked it up, bounced a marker off him and then deliciously curled it with power into the top corner with the keeper motionless. Those that were left celebrated, many by way of amazement, that goal was as good if not better than the Torres one on Sunday but I doubt anyone of the Sky mafia would acknowledge that.

Overall, a frustrating night, a good brand of football to a point, some good individual performances, non better than Fellaini until he let himself and everyone else down... so my MotM goes to Distin. Pienaar was splendid first half but does seem to have tendency to fade as the second half goes on.

Those not up to the mark I thought Bilyaletdinov, Arteta, Jags and Saha which also left Cahill isolated for periods of time. I got the feeling that our inability to convert chances is getting to the players as tonight a lot of wrong options were taken, i.e. shooting when a pass was required and a pass when a shot was required. A bit of work down Finch Farm way required.

Arsenal next and on recent performances a daunting task especially with Fellaini unavailable but, the way results are going in this league, I will be hoping for ?Tales of the unexpected? with the ball travelling with power and accuracy in-between those white things that hold the nets up.

See you there...
UP THE BLUES

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