It’s been a difficult week – many a Baggie found the Hodgson news hard to take. This led to our annual away theme becoming an England one, some obliged like myself and CBB, some refused as they had already bought clown outfits showing we need to someone to sort this out for next season.
Anyway, after I had ‘Englanded’ myself up and we had got to the ground with the other 4,600 Baggies who had made the trip to face a relegation worried side – to think we use to be like them – with only two games to go. The teams came in. We went for a 4-4-2; the same back 5, but Andrews came in for Jerome Thomas, while Long partnered Fortune up top as Odemwingie was out. This was a front line I was very much looking forward to seeing. Also, good to see Morrison back on the bench along with Scott Allan.
Kick off
The game started with Bolton showing they wanted this one – Mark Davies looking good in the middle, while their wide play with Petrov showed that Billy Jones still has a lot to learn. Chris Eagles had an early strike fire wide of Ben Foster’s post but that was just the start of things to come.
They still attacked, pulled us left and right and Petrov showed his ability when he put a ball across the box to Kevin Davies who fired over. This lead to Olsson and Andrews confronting each other on the edge of the box playing the blame game.
In a move identical to the last, Petrov crossed the ball to the back stick, Davies was free and alone but he couldn’t make a connection on the stretch and got the ball stuck between his legs. We lacked what they had: fight in the middle of the pitch.
We created chances of our own with Fortune holding the ball up and Long, who has just been called up to the Ireland squad, attempting to use his pace – although they were offside far too much for me. What is it with our strikers and the offside trap?
Our first real chance fell to Gareth McAuley who towered over everyone, with probably a little help from Ridgewell, to head towards goal. Bolton had many men back though and his target was too small to aim at as Bogdan made a reaction save from the defender.
We got into our stride a little more and Fortune ran at the one-time Albion target Tim Ream, squared to Brunt who caught it horribly on the side-foot and it went well wide of the goal. Foster’s reaction told the story: frustration.
Fortune again involved in a good move finding Shane Long who turned and struck a low shot at the near post, Bogdan touched it on to the post and Bolton survived. From our vantage point it looked like a save not the post, so I was a little shocked to see how close that it was when I watched MOTD later that evening.
Then came the penalty. The ball was floated in, Kevin Davies’ first touch wasn’t great, Mcauley went in for it, the ball broke to Mark Davies, Andrews slid in trying to get the ball, he may have got a nick and Mulumbu put his body in between man and ball. Davies went down by a mix of contact from Mulumbu and Andrews and the ref gave the penalty. When asked who gave it away, he pointed straight at Mulumbu; his leg was out and Davies went over it. At the time we had a great view and said no, don’t think the ref had the best view personally, but he probably called it right.
Petrov hit home the penalty as Foster couldn’t get enough on it – nearly got it though.
Interestingly though, Andrews just before the kick was taken went to Foster and seem to tell him the way to go, Foster seemed to have a little point to the side and then they walked away, nice to see Kiely is watching the videos.
That was it really for the first half, a lot of action in the first 20 and nothing much after. Zat Knight came on at half time for David Wheater, who is now out for 9 months with a knee injury after an awkward fall.
After the break
I wanted Andrews off and Scharner or Morrsion on, preferably Scharner as I didn’t want to rush Morrison back. Dorrans started the second half with a great chance as Ridgewell found him on the edge of the box. He went to place it, but could only find Bogdan’s arms – he probably should have put his foot through it.
It was pretty 50/50 at this stage with Eagles having a half decent chance fly wide and over. Ridgewell got in behind Bolton again, went for the near and forced the ‘Keeper into a low smart save. He should have probably crossed it to an un marked Billy Jones or Shane Long.
Ben Foster, who had an off day kicking wise, made a fantastic save from Kevin Davies as Petrov found him with a great cross. The Englishman headed down and forced Foster to get across and low to stop the shot, nothing our Foster can’t do though. Yes he is ours. He does seem to love the fans, always smiling.
Then with 18 to go, the comical own goal. As we shouted for Roy to change the middle, Jones was caught up field and a bad touch lead to Bolton getting the ball. A little one-two put Petrov in on goal and the winger didn’t lack too much pace – nice to see a winger use pace, take note JT. Petrov drew Olsson from the middle, put a low cross in, nowhere near his intended target of Kevin Davies, but instead found Ridgewell who tried to blast the ball back where it came from. The only slight issue with that is Billy Jones was in the way and as he leant back to try and avoid the ball he managed to wonderfully catch it on the chest and loop over Ben Foster. Bolton didn’t care, they were 2-0 up and staying up according to their fans. Their joy increased as they found out that Spurs had leveled against the Villa. They went barmy.
Morrsion came on, finally, picked up the ball, found Brunt, chipped it to Shane Long who attempted to cut inside but his touch was too strong and as he went to retrieve the ball it broke to Brunt 16 yards out who hit it in between Knight and Boyata with pace to beat Adam Bogdan. Belief was there. Baggies were boinging, Bolton silenced.
They looked like our defence under Mogga, weak in every which way. We pushed, Cox had a strike saved, another Baggie in the Euro squad he replaced another Irishman in the squad – Keith Andrews, who an off day.
Brunt found Fortune, he turned and found Billy Jones who outpaced the Bolton defence to slide pass the ball to Shane Long, he held his man off well and poked one through to Cox, but at shin level the midfield/striker couldn’t control. It hit Reo Coker and fell back to Cox who found the gap through the Bolton defence and an ever-waiting James Morrsion.
The away end erupted! We couldn’t hear the 5 minutes added on go up through celebrations, my face paint ended up on every baggie in there! I still think I have ruined a man’s jumpers, not that it bothered him. Morrison ran over to the Bolton hoards and teased them, they didn’t take to that idea. We were loving it, celebrating like we were in the dog fight and were trying to stay up.
We kicked off again, went for the win but no real chances fell to us, Kevin Davies found a chance but couldn’t connect due to Olsson and McAuley putting bodies in the way and Boyata had a late cross evade everyone.
Final whistle
As the full time whistle went the away end went nuts, the home fans walked out, not even a lap of appreciation from the players for their last home game. ‘One Roy Hodgson’ rang around the Reebok for the man that had created a season to remember with away days that will live long in every Baggies fan’s memory.
As we walked out a Bolton fan was doing the maths on how to stay up. They seemed glum, we later found out QPR had got a last minute winner! If only they had a defence.
Our passing still looks a little bit dodgy and we gave away a lot of ball in the midfield, might become an issue next week with Arsenal, they get enough of the ball as it is without us giving it them. This may not concern Hodgson but I would certainly be saying if they do go down Petrov and Mark Davies would be my targets.
It was a decent fight-back and way to end the away day season. We certainly deserved a point and its good to see us in the top half still. A winn against Arsenal gets 50 points. Don’t forget your England things though! Let’s give Roy a proper send off!
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