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BOLTON 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 0 - MATCH REPORT
Barclays Premier League, Sunday 11th November, The Reebok Stadium
Andy Morgan
Gareth Southgate made one change from the side that drew 1-1 against Spurs last week. George Boateng came in for Fabio Rochemback who inexplicably did not feature in the sixteen-man squad.
Boateng partnered Lee Cattermole in the heart of midfield, with Gary O'Neil and Stewart Downing on the right and left respectively.
Up front Mido was still absent through a groin strain so Tuncay Sanli was to partner Jeremie Aliadiere for the second game running.
Jonathan Woodgate was also injured meaning Chris Riggott and David Wheater formed the defensive partnership once more. Luke Young and Andrew Taylor made up the remainder.
The bench provided more interest meanwhile as it heralded the return of Emmanuel Pogatetz and Mohammed Shawky. The latter has barely featured this season whilst Pogatetz's return from injury will be seen by many as the key event that will turn around Middlesbrough's season.
Schwarzer, Young, Riggott, Wheater, Taylor (Pogatetz 28), O'Neil, Boateng, Cattermole, Downing, Aliadiere, Sanli (Hutchinson 67), Turnbull, Shawky, Lee
THE FIRST HALF
Bolton's first free kick came within the first minute. Danny Guthrie chipped the ball into the Boro box but Lee Cattermole's headed clearance averted the danger.
At the other end Taylor flicked the ball into the Bolton box but it was cleared by a myriad of Bolton players. All at the same time.
Bolton were applying the majority of the pressure in the opening stages - with the two Kevin's - Davies and Nolan - forcing the Boro back on to the eighteen yard line. The Boro defence, however, was holding firm against the team of mechanics.
On six Stewart Downing jumped well in the Bolton area but Jussi Jaaskelainen easily caught his headed attempt. Downing may have been trying to set up Aliadiere but the Frenchman's run was impeded.
The first shot in anger came on eight. Gavin McCann's strong challenge on Cattermole allowed the ball to fall to Kevin Davies. He crossed the ball to McCann but his shot was off-target, much to Middlesbrough's relief.
Thirty seconds later and Bolton's direct play allowed Guthrie another shot. He shifted the ball from his left to his right before having an attempt from twenty-five yards. He wasn't going to beat Schwarzer from there but Bolton's strength was causing problems for Boro's timid backline.
On fourteen Kevin Davies's intelligence forced Cattermole into conceding a free-kick twenty-two yards out. It was taken by Gary Speed and the Bolton fans went wild as the net rustled after his powerful attempt. It took a few seconds for them to realise how stupid they looked. The ball had clipped the outside of the post and dropped behind the goal rather than in it. The Boro had survived but it was close.
On seventeen a strong challenge on Davies by Cattermole allowed the ball to break to Downing. He passed to Young whose cross almost found Tuncay in the box. Bolton cleared for the corner, from which nothing resulted.
Middlesbrough came back at Bolton but the only bounty that could be found was the kitchen roll as Bolton's backline comfortably absorbed the Boro spilling forward. Another corner was won by Boro however but O'Neil's resultant header was easily caught by the Bolton keeper.
On twenty-two Boro's increasing pressure told in another shot, this time through Aliadiere. He delayed for a fraction of a second too long and Nolan made the interception.
On twenty-six Kevin Davies' massive leap allowed the ball to drop to Kevin Nolan but the Boro defended strongly.
At this stage however this wasn't the pinnacle of the excitement. The game had descended into a succession of throw-ins and Gary Speed's attempt (the eight in a series of nine) was something particularly special. Look out for it on Match of the Day this evening - I'm sure the "experts" will have something to say about it. It's certainly more proof that the Premier League is "the best in the world".
On twenty-eight Emmanuel Pogatetz returned to the side but it wasn't under circumstances that Southgate would have wanted. Andrew Taylor was forced out of the game due to a foot injury so Pogatetz debuted the season at left-back.
Aliadiere's excellent play on the left channel allowed him to pass the ball to Luke Young. The Frenchman then darted into the right channel and received the ball back from the right-back. He let himself down with the cross however as he couldn't find Downing or Tuncay in the box. Bolton cleared.
On thirty-two Boateng sprinted down the left hand side after receiving the ball from Downing. His strength allowed him past the Bolton backline and forced them into conceding a corner. O'Neil's effort was once again played too close to the keeper and Bolton survived.
Nolan and Davies were everywhere, thwarting the Boro both defensively and offensively. Guthrie was also causing the away side problems and, like against Spurs last week, you felt it was just a matter of time before the opposition scored. Wayward passes were letting Bolton down but should they be more decisive, they would open the scoring. Gary Megson's new tactics were working wonders - pushing Guthrie into a more central position gave Nolan a foil to play off.
For the Boro, Lee Cattermole was working hard. He picked the ball up at the edge of the Boro area and passed to Downing. Cattermole kept running and picked the ball up once more before crossing it into the Bolton area. A corner was conceded.
From the corner Boro players were queuing up but Bolton won the header and ended up breaking. In an attempt to halt the tide, Wheater put in a strong tackle but like a Great Yarmouth flood-defence he failed. He received a yellow card but nothing came of the free-kick.
On forty-one Andy O'Brien overplayed the ball and Gary O'Neil intercepted. He ran half the pitch but with three against two, the Boro could not capitalise. O'Neil's attempted pass to Tuncay was deflected and a corner was conceded. The dead-ball was a waste as it floated out for a Bolton goal kick.
Into first half stoppage time Guthrie won a header in the Boro box and the ball dropped to Kevin Davies. He launched a shot from eighteen yards out which Schwarzer would not have been able to save. Fortunately for Boro it glanced the other side of the stanchion. This was the last of the first half action.
THE SECOND HALF
The Boro tried the route one approach in the opening stages of the half, with Aliadiere almost getting on the end of a Schwarzer punt. This beating them at their own game approach flummoxed Bolton but they managed to get things together and defend it.
On forty-nine a Pogatetz throw-in fell to O'Neil. He crossed to Downing who tried a shot which was deflected. O'Neil tried to keep it in but have to settle for a corner. From this Cattermole had a powerful shot from twenty-five yards that was blasted over.
On fifty-two Guthrie had a free-kick from the left-hand side but over-hit his attempt. Schwarzer gratefully accepted it as if it was a new contract.
The game was scrappier than a fight in the Bigg Market - and it had about as much punch as well. Neither side was being allowed to play as both sides were nullifying each other.
On fifty-seven Pogatetz nearly gifted Bolton a goal as there was a mix-up between him and Schwarzer. The Australian had to come off his line and clear, saving the Austrian's blushes. This was against the script and I blame the dyslexic script-writer. In the process Schwarzer clattered into Ricardo Gardner who assumedly can't spell Gardener.
An injury to Chris Riggott halted proceedings for the next minute or so and he had to leave the field of play to get his right foot strapped. With Boro down to ten men, Kevin Davies spied an opportunity and he broke into the Boro box. He took a shot from twelve yards which was blocked by George Boateng.
The ball was half-cleared from the resulting corner but it was chipped back into the Boro box. Every away player had forgotten about Ivan Campo who found himself unmarked and twelve yards out. He tried a shot from an acute angle which was missed. The Boro had been let off.
At the other end Jaaskalenien was forced into conceding a corner after he had initially opted not to catch the long ball that had been launched into his box. From it, Chris Riggott had a shot after he had stolen in front of Andy O'Brien but unlike his strappings, he failed to wrap his foot around the ball. He therefore blasted wide, gifting Bolton a throw-in. Another Match of the Day highlight there.
On sixty-four Wheater's positioning prevented Bolton from scoring the opener. McCann chipped the ball into the box looking for Stellios Giannakopoulos but Wheater intercepted and headed it back to Schwarzer.
On sixty-seven Southgate opted to be more offensive in an attempt to test Bolton's shaky backline. He brought off Tuncay and replaced him with Hutchinson, who is a more natural striker.
A minute later Campo had a thirty-yard free-kick but Schwarzer comfortably collected. Schwarzer distributed the ball quickly through route one and the ball was allowed to drop and bounce. This confused Jaaskelainen once more and Aliadiere almost stole in. He didn't however.
On seventy Boro forced the first real save from any keeper in the match. Boateng found Aliadiere who initially hesitated as he thought he was offside. When he realised he wasn't, he went for a shot on his left when he should have possibly taken it on his right. In doing so he allowed the Bolton keeper to read his shot and he saved comfortably.
The balance of play had now switched towards the Boro once more and Downing had a strike from a free-kick on seventy-three. His effort needed more power and precision however as Jaaskelainen saved easily.
The Boro were finishing the stronger, possibly as a result of Bolton's mid-week exertions at Bayern Munich. On seventy-four Downing got the ball, cut inside and forced an excellent save from the Bolton keeper after shooting from distance.
On seventy-eight Cattermole's challenge forced a corner but Bolton could make very little of it. Schwarzer was punching more often than a heavyweight boxer at a drinks-social but the Boro escaped.
Two minutes later Davies was dragged down by Riggott. A free-kick was awarded on the left-hand side of the penalty area but Schwarzer caught Campo's poor effort.
On eighty-two a two-footed challenge by Davies on Wheater allowed the ball to fall to Stellios. He darted into the box but the ball bounced off his knee. His lack of control saved the Boro.
Three minutes later Andranik Teymourian crossed the ball into the box but it was cleared by that man again, Wheater. Gavin McCann then had a shot from twenty-five yards but this was saved by Schwarzer.
A minute later Chris Riggott headed a Stellios cross over the bar, although it was close. Had he not done this, the fantastically named Gerald Cid almost certainly would have had a free header. Maybe a flat-cap would have aided him.
From the corner Andy O'Brien crossed the ball into the box, with Campo and Davies arriving on the far post. Schwarzer intercepted and caught however.
On eighty-eight Riggott stuck his foot out to concede the corner from an O'Brien thirty-yard effort. From the cross Abdoulaye Meite had a shot from the edge of the area, which was blocked by Gary O'Neil.
Bolton had the last roll of the dice after Chris Riggott headed the ball over. The ball was crossed in but the whistle blew for the end of the game.
After Spurs' thumping of Wigan, many Boro fans will see this as a poor result. Middlesbrough have dropped back to seventeenth place in the League but there are many positives to be taken from the game.
First and foremost our defence stood up to be counted. They kept a rare clean sheet and the hope is they can gain confidence from this. The fact that Pogatetz is now back (and back to his bruising best) is another good sign.
Up front Aliadiere was lively although it is clear that the Boro still have attacking problems. Today they dominated the game and had they had the goal-scoring touch, like in so many games before this one, the result may have been more positive.
This game was a must not lose game rather than a must win game and the Boro did that. As a unit they were strong and they did show some attacking flair. An away point is always a point gained and now focus must be on the home game against Aston Villa.
At least we don't go into the international break in the bottom three.
Man of the match: Lee Cattermole. After last week's outburst Cattermole was back to his best. He harried, he hassled and he was a constant thorn in Bolton's side.
FAN REACTION
"Nice one Boro, well done. A point is always good at the Reebok"
Ayresome_82
"Good result today for the team and a clean sheet as well. Things look like they are getting slowly better."
Marktheborofan
"We're still undefeated in November"
Lord Sherington
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