Bolton Wanderers F.C. season 2007–08
Encyclopedia
The 2007–08 season was the 130th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.
's existence, and was their 7th consecutive year in the top-flight, and covers the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008. Having finished seventh the previous season, Bolton had qualified for the UEFA Cup
.
. Lee, who had previously worked under former manager Sam Allardyce
, had taken over from Allardyce towards the end of the previous season, but had yet to record a league win.
, against Newcastle United
, now managed by Allardyce. Three first-half goals for Newcastle ensured an early defeat. This was followed by an away defeat to Fulham
. By the time Bolton lost 3–0 to Portsmouth
, the club found itself at the bottom of the league. However, a 3–0 win over Reading
lifted them off the basement.. Another bright note was that striker Nicolas Anelka
had found the net in three of the four games in August and found himself towards the top of the Premier League scoring charts.
and Birmingham City
saw Bolton quickly return to the bottom three and Lee come under pressure for his job. An unconvincing away draw in the UEFA Cup
to Macedonian
side FK Rabotnički
, only saved by a late equaliser from Abdoulaye Méïté
, was followed by a 1–1 home draw against fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur
.. Much-needed relief was found in an extra time win over Fulham
in the Carling Cup but an early season six pointer against bottom side Derby County
only yielded a draw and meant that Bolton finished September only one place above their opponents.
was won 1–0 with another goal from Anelka. However, if Bolton were looking for an easy passage through the group stage they were disappointed as the draw put them up against former European Cup
winners Bayern Munich
and Red Star Belgrade
as well as highly regarded Portuguese
side S.C. Braga and Aris
from Greece
.. Meanwhile, there appeared to be problems at the club behind-the-scenes, marked by the confusion when Gary Speed
stepped down as player-coach.. However, there was little confusion to what happened following Bolton's 2–0 home defeat to Chelsea
on 15 October, with Lee being relieved of his duties on the Monday.. Assistant manager Archie Knox
was put in temporary charge until a new manager was found. Steve Bruce
, Paul Jewell
and Chris Coleman
were linked to the job. In the meantime Bolton lost again, this time to Arsenal
2–0 on 25 October Gary Megson
was appointed as manager following his resignation from Leicester City
. While chairman Phil Gartside
said "We feel Gary is the right man to take Bolton forward", some fans were decidedly unimpressed, stating that it was "possibly the most bizarre and clueless appointment this season". Megson sat in the dugout for 1-1 draw that evening at home to Braga in the UEFA Cup before taking charge fully in the home game against Aston Villa
, that also finished 1–1.
The month finished with Bolton being knocked out of the |Carling Cup by neighbours Manchester City
1–0, the game being settled late on by a controversial penalty.
goal saved the day at West Ham
in the first game in November. Bolton then travelled to Germany
to take on Bayern Munich. Few fancied Bolton to come away with a result, but an early goal from Ricardo Gardner
and a late equaliser from Kevin Davies
gave Bolton a valuable point in their attempt to qualify from the group stage.. Seemingly buoyed by this result Bolton finished the month unbeaten, drawing 0–0 with Middlesbrough
, beating Manchester United
1–0 (giving Megson his first win as manager and Bolton's first home win against their neighbours for thirty years) and drawing with Aris
in the UEFA Cup, Stelios Giannakopoulos
scoring an injury-time equaliser against his countrymen.
at Anfield
. but this was quickly followed by another famous European night as Red Star Belgrade were beaten 1–0 as Bolton qualified for the last thirty-two of the UEFA Cup, the occasion slightly marred when some fans were held in a hotel in the Serbian capital. This was followed by a 4–1 derby win over Wigan Athletic
, in what turned out to be Gary Speed's last game for the club, and another derby defeat to Manchester City
, 4–2. When the draw for the last thirty-two of the UEFA Cup was made, Bolton were given another tough draw, paired with Spaniards Atlético Madrid. The day after the draw was made fellow strugglers Birmingham City
were despatched 3–0, but this was followed by two defeats over the Christmas period to Everton and Sunderland
.
, Stelios Giannakopoulos again coming up with a winner.. The game proved to be Nicolas Anelka's last game for the club before he was sold to Chelsea
for £15 million.. Other players to leave in the transfer window were Gary Speed
, Christian Wilhelmsson, Gérald Cid and Lubomir Michalik. Megson used this opportunity to strengthen the defence with the purchases of Grétar Steinsson
from AZ Alkmaar and Gary Cahill
from Aston Villa
. Matt Taylor
, who had scored against Bolton earlier in the season for his previous club Portsmouth
, was also brought in, as was Tamir Cohen
from Maccabi Netanya
. Surprisingly, the only like-for-like replacement for Anelka brought in was Grzegorz Rasiak
on loan from Championship side Southampton
. An early FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United
could be put down to Megson putting out a largely reserve side. This was followed by another derby defeat to Blackburn Rovers
before two successive 0–0 draws, away to Newcastle United
, by now managed by Kevin Keegan
, and then home to Fulham
.
gave Bolton a much-needed three points over relegation rivals and gave them their first double over a team for the season but this proved to be Bolton's last win in the league until mid-April as they embarked on a run that put them back into the bottom three. A game that they dominated against Portsmouth
ended up as a 1–0 defeat. The next two games were the UEFA Cup home-and-away legs against Atlético Madrid. A 1–0 victory at home, courtesy of an El Hadji Diouf
goal, was followed by a 0–0 draw away, meaning that Bolton would go further in Europe this season than in their previous UEFA Cup attempt two seasons previously. However, there was trouble again for some Bolton fans, with seventeen being injured in what was seen as "heavy handed tactics" by Spanish police. Both Bolton and Athletico Madrid were subject to a UEFA investigation. Bolton were drawn against Sporting Lisbon in the last sixteen of the competition. On their return home Bolton were beaten again by Blackburn Rovers
, 4–1.
in the month of March, with only one point being gained in the league. A 3–1 defeat to Liverpool
was epitomised by a bizarre own goal scored by Jussi Jääskeläinen
. Bolton then met Sporting Lisbon home and away in the UEFA Cup. A 1–1 draw at home was followed by a 1–0 defeat away. Megson suffered criticism as again he had put a weakened side out in a cup competition, but he vindicated his choice by stating that Premiership survival was more important. Fans who had travelled to Lisbon for the game were not happy with this excuse and they were made to feel worse when a virtually wholly changed side lost to Wigan Athletic
in the following league game, despite being up against ten men for the majority of the game. In the following game, Cristiano Ronaldo
put two early goals into Bolton's net to continue Manchester United's push for the title. Despite picking up a point a week later at home to United's city rivals with a goalless draw, a week later Bolton managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by throwing away a two goal lead against ten-man Arsenal
to lose 2–3.
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
's existence, and was their 7th consecutive year in the top-flight, and covers the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008. Having finished seventh the previous season, Bolton had qualified for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
.
Regular season
After finishing runners-up in the Peace Cup Bolton entered the new season under the management of Sammy LeeSammy Lee (footballer)
Samuel "Sammy" Lee is an English football coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder, and also represented England fourteen times....
. Lee, who had previously worked under former manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
, had taken over from Allardyce towards the end of the previous season, but had yet to record a league win.
August
The league season kicked off at homeReebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
, against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, now managed by Allardyce. Three first-half goals for Newcastle ensured an early defeat. This was followed by an away defeat to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. By the time Bolton lost 3–0 to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, the club found itself at the bottom of the league. However, a 3–0 win over Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
lifted them off the basement.. Another bright note was that striker Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka
Abdul-Salam Bilal on 14 March 1979) is a French international footballer, who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Chelsea. Anelka was also a regular starter for the French national team...
had found the net in three of the four games in August and found himself towards the top of the Premier League scoring charts.
September
Back to back defeats to EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
saw Bolton quickly return to the bottom three and Lee come under pressure for his job. An unconvincing away draw in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
to Macedonian
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
side FK Rabotnički
FK Rabotnicki
FK Rabotnički is a football club that plays at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian First League.-History:...
, only saved by a late equaliser from Abdoulaye Méïté
Abdoulaye Méïté
Abdoulaye Méïté is a French born Ivorian footballer who plays for Dijon FCO. He represents Côte d'Ivoire internationally and has been awarded 48 caps.-Career:...
, was followed by a 1–1 home draw against fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.. Much-needed relief was found in an extra time win over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in the Carling Cup but an early season six pointer against bottom side Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
only yielded a draw and meant that Bolton finished September only one place above their opponents.
October
The UEFA Cup home leg against FK RabotničkiFK Rabotnicki
FK Rabotnički is a football club that plays at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian First League.-History:...
was won 1–0 with another goal from Anelka. However, if Bolton were looking for an easy passage through the group stage they were disappointed as the draw put them up against former European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
winners Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
and Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
as well as highly regarded Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
side S.C. Braga and Aris
Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
from Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.. Meanwhile, there appeared to be problems at the club behind-the-scenes, marked by the confusion when Gary Speed
Gary Speed
Gary Andrew Speed, MBE was a Welsh football player and manager. He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and he remains the most capped outfield player for Wales and the second overall, having appeared 85 times at senior level between...
stepped down as player-coach.. However, there was little confusion to what happened following Bolton's 2–0 home defeat to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
on 15 October, with Lee being relieved of his duties on the Monday.. Assistant manager Archie Knox
Archie Knox
Archibald "Archie" Knox is a Scottish football manager and former player, and is currently the assistant manager of Aberdeen....
was put in temporary charge until a new manager was found. Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
, Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
and Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
were linked to the job. In the meantime Bolton lost again, this time to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
2–0 on 25 October Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
was appointed as manager following his resignation from Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. While chairman Phil Gartside
Phil Gartside
Philip 'Phil' Gartside is a businessman and the current chairman of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.He joined the board of Bolton Wanderers Football Club in April 1989, having been a fan of the club since his days as a pupil at Leigh Grammar School.He became chairman of Bolton Wanderers in October...
said "We feel Gary is the right man to take Bolton forward", some fans were decidedly unimpressed, stating that it was "possibly the most bizarre and clueless appointment this season". Megson sat in the dugout for 1-1 draw that evening at home to Braga in the UEFA Cup before taking charge fully in the home game against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, that also finished 1–1.
The month finished with Bolton being knocked out of the |Carling Cup by neighbours Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
1–0, the game being settled late on by a controversial penalty.
November
A late Kevin NolanKevin Nolan
Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan is an English professional footballer who plays for and is the current club captain of West Ham United in the Football League Championship. An attacking midfielder, he has represented England at under-21 level....
goal saved the day at West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in the first game in November. Bolton then travelled to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to take on Bayern Munich. Few fancied Bolton to come away with a result, but an early goal from Ricardo Gardner
Ricardo Gardner
Ricardo Gardner is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers. He is naturally a left winger but can also play in the centre of midfield or at left wingback.-Early career:...
and a late equaliser from Kevin Davies
Kevin Davies
Kevin Cyril Davies is an English footballer who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team as a striker. He was made Bolton team captain in January 2009....
gave Bolton a valuable point in their attempt to qualify from the group stage.. Seemingly buoyed by this result Bolton finished the month unbeaten, drawing 0–0 with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, beating Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
1–0 (giving Megson his first win as manager and Bolton's first home win against their neighbours for thirty years) and drawing with Aris
Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
in the UEFA Cup, Stelios Giannakopoulos
Stelios Giannakopoulos
Stylianos "Stelios" Giannakopoulos , popularly known as Stelios, is a retired Greek footballer who is currently president of the Greek Professional Footballers Association...
scoring an injury-time equaliser against his countrymen.
December
Bolton's busiest month of the campaign started with a 4–0 hammering at the hands of LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
. but this was quickly followed by another famous European night as Red Star Belgrade were beaten 1–0 as Bolton qualified for the last thirty-two of the UEFA Cup, the occasion slightly marred when some fans were held in a hotel in the Serbian capital. This was followed by a 4–1 derby win over Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, in what turned out to be Gary Speed's last game for the club, and another derby defeat to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, 4–2. When the draw for the last thirty-two of the UEFA Cup was made, Bolton were given another tough draw, paired with Spaniards Atlético Madrid. The day after the draw was made fellow strugglers Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
were despatched 3–0, but this was followed by two defeats over the Christmas period to Everton and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
January
The new year started with an unconvincing last-minute win over Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, Stelios Giannakopoulos again coming up with a winner.. The game proved to be Nicolas Anelka's last game for the club before he was sold to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
for £15 million.. Other players to leave in the transfer window were Gary Speed
Gary Speed
Gary Andrew Speed, MBE was a Welsh football player and manager. He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and he remains the most capped outfield player for Wales and the second overall, having appeared 85 times at senior level between...
, Christian Wilhelmsson, Gérald Cid and Lubomir Michalik. Megson used this opportunity to strengthen the defence with the purchases of Grétar Steinsson
Grétar Steinsson
Grétar Rafn Steinsson is an Icelandic footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers.-Club career:He started his career with local team KS in Siglufjörður and later played for ÍA Akranes before going abroad to play professionally for Swiss club BSC Young Boys.On 2 July 2007, AZ Alkmaar announced they...
from AZ Alkmaar and Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill
Gary James Cahill is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team.-Club career:...
from Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. Matt Taylor
Matthew Taylor (footballer)
Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:...
, who had scored against Bolton earlier in the season for his previous club Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, was also brought in, as was Tamir Cohen
Tamir Cohen
Tamir Cohen is an Israeli football midfielder who plays for Maccabi Haifa. He is the son of the late Maccabi Tel Aviv and Liverpool player Avi Cohen.-Early career:Cohen started his career in Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth team where in 2001–02 he won the double...
from Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya F.C. is an Israeli football club based in Netanya. Established in 1934, the club were founding members of the Israeli League in 1949. After winning their first championship in 1970, the club's golden period lasted until the late 1980s, including four more league titles and a double...
. Surprisingly, the only like-for-like replacement for Anelka brought in was Grzegorz Rasiak
Grzegorz Rasiak
Grzegorz Rasiak born 12 January 1979 in Szczecin, is a Polish international footballer who last played for AEL Limassol in Cyprus. Since 2002, he has played for the Poland national team....
on loan from Championship side Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. An early FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
could be put down to Megson putting out a largely reserve side. This was followed by another derby defeat to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
before two successive 0–0 draws, away to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, by now managed by Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
, and then home to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
.
February
A 2–0 victory over ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
gave Bolton a much-needed three points over relegation rivals and gave them their first double over a team for the season but this proved to be Bolton's last win in the league until mid-April as they embarked on a run that put them back into the bottom three. A game that they dominated against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
ended up as a 1–0 defeat. The next two games were the UEFA Cup home-and-away legs against Atlético Madrid. A 1–0 victory at home, courtesy of an El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers. He can play on both wings as well as in attack. He has also garnered a large amount of notoriety for a series of controversial incidents.-Early career:Diouf started his career in France with...
goal, was followed by a 0–0 draw away, meaning that Bolton would go further in Europe this season than in their previous UEFA Cup attempt two seasons previously. However, there was trouble again for some Bolton fans, with seventeen being injured in what was seen as "heavy handed tactics" by Spanish police. Both Bolton and Athletico Madrid were subject to a UEFA investigation. Bolton were drawn against Sporting Lisbon in the last sixteen of the competition. On their return home Bolton were beaten again by Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, 4–1.
March
Bolton's season reached its nadirNadir
The nadir is the direction pointing directly below a particular location; that is, it is one of two vertical directions at a specified location, orthogonal to a horizontal flat surface there. Since the concept of being below is itself somewhat vague, scientists define the nadir in more rigorous...
in the month of March, with only one point being gained in the league. A 3–1 defeat to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
was epitomised by a bizarre own goal scored by Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen is a Finnish football goalkeeper, who plays for Bolton Wanderers.-Club career:Jääskeläinen was born in Mikkeli, and made his Veikkausliiga debut in Finland for MP Mikkeli in 1992, and became the club's first choice goalkeeper in 1994. In 1996, he moved to VPS Vaasa where...
. Bolton then met Sporting Lisbon home and away in the UEFA Cup. A 1–1 draw at home was followed by a 1–0 defeat away. Megson suffered criticism as again he had put a weakened side out in a cup competition, but he vindicated his choice by stating that Premiership survival was more important. Fans who had travelled to Lisbon for the game were not happy with this excuse and they were made to feel worse when a virtually wholly changed side lost to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in the following league game, despite being up against ten men for the majority of the game. In the following game, Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
put two early goals into Bolton's net to continue Manchester United's push for the title. Despite picking up a point a week later at home to United's city rivals with a goalless draw, a week later Bolton managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by throwing away a two goal lead against ten-man Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
to lose 2–3.
April
Bolton entered April knowing that they would probably have to go undefeated through to the end of the season to avoid relegation, but got off to the worst possible start with a 4–0 defeat to Aston Villa. However, two successive victories at home to West Ham and away to Middlesbrough took them out of the bottom three and left them in control of their own destiny, even after being outplayed but still drawing at Tottenham.May
Bolton's penultimate game of the season, at home to Sunderland, kicked off at 5:15pm with Bolton having the knowledge that, as Birmingham City and Reading had lost earlier that day, a win would virtually secure their Premiership status. And win they did, with goalscorer El Hadji Diouf doing a personal lap of honour at the end of the game after stating that he would be leaving the club, even though he wasn't out of contract.. The final game, away to title chasing Chelsea, finished 1–1 with Matt Taylor scoring Bolton's final goal of the season and making sure that they did not avoid relegation on goal difference.| August | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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