Summary
Two goals in quick succession before half time were the undoing of City, but they will be bitterly disappointed not to have built upon the great win at home last week. City barely had any chances to speak of, Richard Dunne looking to have an opportunity in the scond half but appearing to miscue his kick completely.
Team News:
Richard Dunne was declared fit, so City were unchanged from the side that started against United. For Bolton, Campo replaced the banned Nakata.
The Match
City were playing in their dark blue away kit, with both teams running out to a small-scale firework display in front of the Nat Lofthouse Stand.
Riera looked to have the first chance of the game in the second minute, but his shot was charged down by O’Brien. 30 seconds later the winger had another shot deflected behind by Campo for a corner, but City could make nothing from it, with Barton shooting a long way wide.
Bolton then went into the ascendent for a while, with Stelios close to a superb Davies cross that James grabbed well. The Greek international then shot from range but the City keeper was well behind the weak effort.
Riera forced another corner after 13 minutes, but Sinclair was underneath the ball and it looped a long way over the bar.
A minute later, Campo floated a ball in from the right towards Borgetti, but James came a long way out to punch in mid-air over the advancing striker. City then went straight down the other end, with Riera chasing right to the byline, but Cole could only deflect the cross into the keeper’s hands.
Wanderers made a substitution after 21 minutes, the imposing Fadiga hobbling off to be replaced by Vaz Té.
With 27 minutes gone the game was suspended for a short spell after Stelios and Dunne clashed heads going for a ball just outside the City area, both players going to the touchline to be treated. Stelios had a clear cut on the top of his head, while the City player was clutching the left side of his head just above the eyeline. Dunne returned to the fray after just two minutes, Stelios seconds later.
Riera made another foray down the left wing with 33 on the clock, but his cross towards Vassell was cut out by N’Gotty.
But on 37 minutes the game to life when the hosts took the lead. Davies dispossessed Jordan and rolled the ball to Nolan. His backheel inside the area found Stelios, but as he ran goalwards Jared Borgetti stole in to slot the ball home, leaving James with no chance.
Two minutes later Vaz Té could have made it two, but his shot from 20 yards was pushed away by the diving James.
And 41 minutes, it did become a two-goal lead. Stelios lifted in a free kick, which touched Distin on the way over. The ball then struck the back-pedalling Dunne’s feet and fell to Kevin Nolan, who slammed the ball in from inside the six yard box.
Half time Bolton 2-0 City
Neither side made any changes at the break.
City began with a quick break down the left, and Riera’s cross, fired in, was not too far away from Andy Cole.
Referee Styles had words with Kevin Davies with 10 minutes gone after the Bolton player went in hard on Riera, but City failed to make anything of the free kick. A minute later, Davies repeated the offence and went into the book, but as before the free kick produced nothing for the Blues.
Riera took another free kick on 65 minutes which found Dunne free in the area, but with a wall of white shirts facing him he appeared to miscue and the ball flew away from goal.
The Blues were putting some pressure on the hosts now and had a couple of corners, Sinclair heading over in the closest chance. And with 23 minutes left, Sibierski replaced Riera and Fowler, prolific at this ground, replaced Cole.
Sibierski attempted a bicycle kick with 16 minutes left but missed completely, and seconds later Ireland tried from around 30 yards out, but his effort was high and very wide of the target.
With 15 minutes left Lee Croft replaced Darius Vassell as City looked create something in the game’s final phase. Joey Barton also tried his luck from range just afterwards, but as before the ball flew a long way over.
Goalscorer Borgetti was replaced by Jansen with 11 minutes left, the former Blackburn man facing the side he was thought to want a trial with just over a week earlier.
City tried their best, but Bolton were still able to get the ball back too often and mount even more attacks themselves, the impressive Nolan firing wide from the edge of the box with just over five minutes left.
Jihai Sun was booked on 85 for fouling Vaz Té. The versatile Chinese player was on the attack just after, but his good cross was just too high for Fowler.
Just as the end of the 90 minutes loomed City threw their all into an attack, but after Fowler’s cross-shot was blocked Jordan fired well wide with a left-footed effort.
Barton tried to weave his way through in stoppage time but was blocked by the home defence, and seconds later Sinclair was booked for taking the ankles away from Ben Haim with the crowd baying for a red card rather than yellow. The game finished seconds later to the loud approval of the Bolton fans.
