Sunday, November 14, 2010

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 3 Bolton Wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 3 Bolton Wanderers

Trotters hold on for win

Johan Elmander
PA Photos
Johan Elmander doubles Bolton's lead
Scoring Summary
Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers
Kevin Foley (69)Richard Stearman (og 1)
Steven Fletcher (77)Johan Elmander (62)
 Stuart Holden (67)
Match Stats

Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers
Shots (on Goal) 15(5) 17(5)
Fouls 13 11
Corner Kicks 12 3
Offsides 2 1
Time of Possession 55% 45%
Yellow Cards 1 0
Red Cards 0 0
Saves 3 3
Match Information
Stadium: Molineux Stadium, England
Attendance: 27,508
Match Time: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Peter Walton
Updated: November 13, 2010, 8:04 AM GMT
Bolton survived a late comeback by Wolves to take all three points from a thrilling contest at Molineux. • Coyle happy with Elmander talks
Wolves dominated the opening period but shot themselves in the foot - as they had in their previous game - by conceding a goal in the first minute, Richard Stearman heading past his own goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.
Second-half strikes from Johan Elmander and Stuart Holden gave Bolton a 3-0 lead, and although Kevin Foley and Steven Fletcher swiftly reduced the deficit, Mick McCarthy's side were unable to find the equaliser.
While the visitors will be delighted to have held out to keep their impressive form going, McCarthy's side remain in the Premier League's bottom three.
They have earned plaudits for their football over the last few weeks, but have taken only nine points from 13 league fixtures and results need to improve fast.
Wolves had caused Arsenal plenty of problems on Wednesday night in one of a string of creditable performances they have put in recently against top-four sides, but made life difficult for themselves from the off in that match by conceding a goal almost immediately after kick-off. It seemed they had learned little from the experience as they again fell a goal behind only a few seconds in against the Trotters.
Lee Chung-yong's cross from the right was only partially cleared and the South Korea winger headed the ball straight back into the danger zone where Stearman, under pressure from Matt Taylor, nodded it past Hahnemann and into the net.
It was a disastrous start, but the hosts tried to rally quickly and their skipper Karl Henry forced a save out of Jussi Jaaskelainen with a lofted delivery. From the resulting corner, Matt Jarvis teed up Nenad Milijas, whose drive was blocked.
Moments later Sylvan Ebanks-Blake brought down Stephen Hunt's cross and protested that Gary Cahill pulled him back as he shaped to shoot, but referee Peter Walton ruled that the Wolves striker controlled the ball with an arm.
Kevin Davies then saw a shot saved by Hahnemann, before Ebanks-Blake hit the post at the other end - although replays suggested he had used his hand.
Wolves went the closest yet to making it 1-1 when Milijas rifled a free-kick at goal which Jaaskelainen did well to parry. The ball fell to Foley, whose floated cross was volleyed over the bar by Ebanks-Blake.
Milijas called Jaaskelainen into action again a minute before the break with a swerving shot and Bolton survived a scramble that followed shortly after.
Jarvis then broke into the box but was thwarted by the Finnish stopper.
Wolves' hunt for a leveller showed no signs of letting up as the second half got under way, with Milijas unlucky once more after his chip from the edge of the box clipped the bar.
Bolton attempted to wrestle back possession and Elmander was beaten to Davies' flick-on by Hahnemann.The Swedish striker then laid the ball square to Fabrice Muamba, whose shot was deflected wide.Jarvis, tipped to be in the England squad announced after the game, sent an inviting ball into the Bolton box but a handful of his team-mates had all run too soon and it drifted behind them.The hosts looked to be in the ascendancy, but just after the hour mark, they were undone by a moment of magic.Holden, who had brought a save out of Hahnemann moments earlier, played the ball in to Elmander, who had his back to goal but twisted and turned around a crowd of defenders before calmly finishing in the bottom corner. Holden then got on the scoresheet himself, slotting Lee's pass into the net and Wolves looked dead and buried.
They swiftly pulled on back, though, as Foley collected the ball from Jarvis and angled it past Jaaskelainen.
Suddenly Wolves' tails were up and after piling on the pressure for 10 minutes, they grabbed another.
Jarvis was again the provider, sending in a corner which Jaaskelainen flapped a glove at but missed, allowing substitute Fletcher to nod the ball over the line.
The comeback appeared to be on, but nobody could get on the end of crosses from George Elokobi and Fletcher in the closing stages and Steven Mouyokolo glanced wide right at the end as Bolton made off with the win.
  • Coyle happy with Elmander talksAfter the match, Bolton boss Owen Coyle insisted he is comfortable with Johan Elmander's contract situation after seeing the striker further boost his reputation with a fine strike."He is in the last year of his contract and he is well within his rights to let that run its course if he so deems," Coyle said. "But I speak to him every day on the training ground and we have a very good relationship. I'm comfortable with the situation and he keeps giving me everything he's got."We are delighted to have him and would I love to be able to say Johan has signed a new three-year contract? Absolutely. We haven't got to that stage yet but we will continue the dialogue."Asked if Elmander was giving the impression he wanted to stay, Coyle added: "Yes he does, but footballers are strange characters in many ways."I have been there myself and sometimes when you are in a run of form you don't want too many distractions or to be talking about contracts. I can understand that."But the feedback I have is that he enjoys being here and if he didn't, I don't think you would see this level of performance from him. I think that speaks for itself."A first-minute own-goal by Richard Stearman and a goal from Stuart Holden either side of Elmander's effort meant Bolton enjoyed a 3-0 lead with a little over 20 minutes remaining.Wolves swiftly reduced the deficit through Kevin Foley and Steven Fletcher, and Coyle admitted it had been a nervy finale."We got ourselves into a tremendous position, but you have to give Wolves credit," Coyle said. "They showed tremendous spirit and got themselves back into the game, which added a few grey hairs to myself. But over the piece I don't think anyone could say we weren't worthy of the three points."Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, whose team also conceded in the opening minute in their previous game against Arsenal, was left with mixed emotions after a late rally failed to improve his side's standing in the bottom three.Asked if he felt encouraged or distraught by the performance, McCarthy said: "A bit of both. We made it very difficult (for ourselves) and we shouldn't have to come back from three goals down, or one after 50 seconds, that is for sure."It's difficult then to repair it, although I thought we had plenty of chances in the first half and I thought we started the second half well."It's a great goal for Elmander from his point of view, but from mine it is awful. We lost the plot for a few minutes and got caught for the third, but having come back we should have got the equaliser."

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