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Later than usual but if people want a fan's eye view of the game, here it is. The City fans were behind the goal we defended in the first half and I was right down behind the goal, so while I had a good view of the action at this end, my view of the far end was limited...
After a few balmy days it was distinctly cooler on Saturday and only a blustery wind, which made the flight of the ball a bit unpredictable made it less than perfect for football. So I dropped the family off at some friends near Manchester and headed on to the macron stadium which had a poor turnout - if the capacity is nearly 27,000 I'd guess there were only 15,000 inside. A good turnout by the City fans as always.
Bolton are safely mid table so you'd expect them to be building for the future but oddly they started both Heskey and Gudjhonssen. Le Fondre looked lively up front as did their left winger who Whtiiaker had to work hard to stop all game (mostly with success) but surely you'd try to give some younger players some experience rather than a couple of ageing pros with no real future in the game?
Without BJ, AN had opted for both Wes and Redmond in 5 man midfield and we started brightly with lots of possession and the early play was around the Bolton box but without any real threat on goal until about 10 mins in when Redmond was taken out on the edge of the box and Dorrans struck the free kick home. It was the far end but it was obvious even to me (right behind our goal) that it had taken a massive deflection which wrong-footed the keeper, but if you put shots on the target that sort of thing happens.
City were firmly in control and you felt Bolton would crumble if we got a second which looked likely. Jonny Howson hit a stinging shot on target from outside the box which the keeper did well to save but we couldn't press hone our advantage.
At the far end Bolton had done nothing until a high ball for Heskey to run onto in the box looked threatening but showed his lack of pace (no surprise) but coming up to 20 minutes their winger beat Whitts and delivered a low cross which Le Fondre buried at the near post - a hard goal to defend and it showed that Bolton were just the attacking threat we'd been warned about. Oddly after the goal Le Fondre gave a hard stare at the City fans behind the goal rather than running to celebrate before the home fans - not sure what his problem is. Bolton were looking sharper and a couple of minutes later he had another chance which he mis hit completely and the ball sliced away with no danger. He didn't make eye contact with the away fans this time...
After a few minutes City regained control of the game with plenty of possession and some Half chances but no clear ones; Bolton were restricted mainly to breakaways and you always felt there was a chance they could score a repeat goal. But City were snapping up most of the loose ball in midfield, whether it was Howson or Dorrans looking a pace ahead, or Tettey looking majestic in front of the defence, and Wes effective in attack despite being closely patrolled by Bolton. Only Redmond struggled to make an impact, again he was closely maked by defenders who obviously knew to give him no time or space to get going.
A good run by Dorrans led to another free kick on the edge of the box but no end product and the half ended 1-1.
The second half resumed with City still having better possession but as it wore on, our dominance was eroded probably as some players tired and Bolton were looking more threatening. One spell of pressure from a corner ended with a clearance off the line and Ruddy had to make a few easy saves and field a few crosses but it was worrying that they were creating chances.
AN rolled the dice bringing on Grabban for Wes (probably tiring and maybe having in mind we have a game Tuesday) and instantly this brightened things up for us going forward - his pace and mobility adds so much and we were looking much more threatening . Soon after he brought on Hooper for Redmond who'd had little impact and with Grabban, Hooper and Jerome all on the field we were creating chances but no end product.
One move saw Whits setup for a shot on the edge of the box but it was blocked; another saw a great chance for Jonny Howson but his shot was just over with the keeper nowhere. I felt BJ was missed as he has developed a genius for arriving late in this sort of situation and thumping home a shot, no one else in our team has that ability. One through ball for Jerome was tantalisingly close as he ran onto it but he just couldn't make contact before the keeper got it. At one point you could see how much Jerome wanted the win as he berated some City fans for being slow to get the ball back for a corner - this guy is really motivated.
With about 15 minutes to go you could see Bolton were settling for a point and keeping possession with no real attacking intent. When we got the ball we looked lively up from but you started to feel it wasn't going to happen. AN made a final change with Ryan Bennett on for Whitts - RM moved to right back.. Presumably this was for injury but I felt we instantly looked more secure at the back as Bennett is a natural CB with a calm command of the defence.
As the board came up with 5 minutes stoppage time we finally got the ball back from a long spell of Bolton keep-ball and Basso sent a long ball forward which Jerome flicked on and Hooper running on somehow managed to hook it over the keeper without putting it over the bar - not a stylish goal but really difficult technique. A defender chased it all the way but it bounced ahead of him into the net and the away fans went into delirium. We were able to see out the rest of stoppage time with no real threat from Bolton and a win which is exactly the sort of 3 points against a difficult side that you need If you're going to get a top two spot.
So, back to Elland Road on Tuesday!
After a few balmy days it was distinctly cooler on Saturday and only a blustery wind, which made the flight of the ball a bit unpredictable made it less than perfect for football. So I dropped the family off at some friends near Manchester and headed on to the macron stadium which had a poor turnout - if the capacity is nearly 27,000 I'd guess there were only 15,000 inside. A good turnout by the City fans as always.
Bolton are safely mid table so you'd expect them to be building for the future but oddly they started both Heskey and Gudjhonssen. Le Fondre looked lively up front as did their left winger who Whtiiaker had to work hard to stop all game (mostly with success) but surely you'd try to give some younger players some experience rather than a couple of ageing pros with no real future in the game?
Without BJ, AN had opted for both Wes and Redmond in 5 man midfield and we started brightly with lots of possession and the early play was around the Bolton box but without any real threat on goal until about 10 mins in when Redmond was taken out on the edge of the box and Dorrans struck the free kick home. It was the far end but it was obvious even to me (right behind our goal) that it had taken a massive deflection which wrong-footed the keeper, but if you put shots on the target that sort of thing happens.
City were firmly in control and you felt Bolton would crumble if we got a second which looked likely. Jonny Howson hit a stinging shot on target from outside the box which the keeper did well to save but we couldn't press hone our advantage.
At the far end Bolton had done nothing until a high ball for Heskey to run onto in the box looked threatening but showed his lack of pace (no surprise) but coming up to 20 minutes their winger beat Whitts and delivered a low cross which Le Fondre buried at the near post - a hard goal to defend and it showed that Bolton were just the attacking threat we'd been warned about. Oddly after the goal Le Fondre gave a hard stare at the City fans behind the goal rather than running to celebrate before the home fans - not sure what his problem is. Bolton were looking sharper and a couple of minutes later he had another chance which he mis hit completely and the ball sliced away with no danger. He didn't make eye contact with the away fans this time...
After a few minutes City regained control of the game with plenty of possession and some Half chances but no clear ones; Bolton were restricted mainly to breakaways and you always felt there was a chance they could score a repeat goal. But City were snapping up most of the loose ball in midfield, whether it was Howson or Dorrans looking a pace ahead, or Tettey looking majestic in front of the defence, and Wes effective in attack despite being closely patrolled by Bolton. Only Redmond struggled to make an impact, again he was closely maked by defenders who obviously knew to give him no time or space to get going.
A good run by Dorrans led to another free kick on the edge of the box but no end product and the half ended 1-1.
The second half resumed with City still having better possession but as it wore on, our dominance was eroded probably as some players tired and Bolton were looking more threatening. One spell of pressure from a corner ended with a clearance off the line and Ruddy had to make a few easy saves and field a few crosses but it was worrying that they were creating chances.
AN rolled the dice bringing on Grabban for Wes (probably tiring and maybe having in mind we have a game Tuesday) and instantly this brightened things up for us going forward - his pace and mobility adds so much and we were looking much more threatening . Soon after he brought on Hooper for Redmond who'd had little impact and with Grabban, Hooper and Jerome all on the field we were creating chances but no end product.
One move saw Whits setup for a shot on the edge of the box but it was blocked; another saw a great chance for Jonny Howson but his shot was just over with the keeper nowhere. I felt BJ was missed as he has developed a genius for arriving late in this sort of situation and thumping home a shot, no one else in our team has that ability. One through ball for Jerome was tantalisingly close as he ran onto it but he just couldn't make contact before the keeper got it. At one point you could see how much Jerome wanted the win as he berated some City fans for being slow to get the ball back for a corner - this guy is really motivated.
With about 15 minutes to go you could see Bolton were settling for a point and keeping possession with no real attacking intent. When we got the ball we looked lively up from but you started to feel it wasn't going to happen. AN made a final change with Ryan Bennett on for Whitts - RM moved to right back.. Presumably this was for injury but I felt we instantly looked more secure at the back as Bennett is a natural CB with a calm command of the defence.
As the board came up with 5 minutes stoppage time we finally got the ball back from a long spell of Bolton keep-ball and Basso sent a long ball forward which Jerome flicked on and Hooper running on somehow managed to hook it over the keeper without putting it over the bar - not a stylish goal but really difficult technique. A defender chased it all the way but it bounced ahead of him into the net and the away fans went into delirium. We were able to see out the rest of stoppage time with no real threat from Bolton and a win which is exactly the sort of 3 points against a difficult side that you need If you're going to get a top two spot.
So, back to Elland Road on Tuesday!
