A month ago I would never have believed that I would be writing a positive account of such a mauling. I don’t think this shows inconsistency on my part but, rather, reflects the apparent change in attitude, application and tactical philosophy. I have nothing but praise for the Bolton players, supporters and – yes – even the manager. For though we faced a club with infinitely more resources, and incomparably more gifted players, we matched them until Samuel’s dismissal, and even more remarkably, continued to match them for a while when we had only ten men. It was stirring stuff and the crowd responded to the brave effort. To hear a chorus of ‘We are the one and only Wanderers’ immediately after the second Chelsea goal was, to say the least, heartening. Inevitably we succumbed, but a four goal losing margin was a miserable reward for a brave and wholehearted performance.
Mego was critical of the display against the same opponents earlier in the week in the Carling Cup and changes were expected. However few could have anticipated the degree to which personnel and tactics were switched around. No 4-4-3, no 4-5-1, no 4-4-2; instead both Taylor and Gardner were left out and we matched Chelsea’s diamond formation with Chung-Yong Lee at the apex of midfield. Who said Gary Megson had no imagination? For the record the starting eleven was Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Samuel; Muamba; Basham, Cohen; Chung-Yong; Davies, Elmander.
It was immediately apparent that Bolton had an appetite for the game. We were quick to the ball, eager to attack and our relatively young and inexperienced midfield was the equal of their more celebrated opponents. For fifteen minutes we had the best of it but without troubling Cech in the Chelsea goal. Cohen should have done better with a header but gradually the visitors began to impose themselves on the game. They might have scored after quarter of an hour but for a couple of exceptional saves by Jussi and the keeper had further plenty more opportunities to show he was in fine form. Chelsea did eventually get the ball in our net and we were a tad lucky that the effort was disallowed for offside. At the other end, Cohen directed a fierce drive into Cech’s midriff after good work by Chung-Yong and Davies ought to have scored when Elmander headed on a long cross from Ricketts; the captain’s left-foot shot missed the target. Shortly after Elmander himself shot over the bar after a neat turn from a route one ball out of defence.
Although we were holding the league leaders it was through effort and commitment as much as the new diamond formation. The tactic wasn’t a hundred per cent success because we didn’t play the ball through Chung-Yong enough and, whilst Ricketts was moving forward to provide width on the right, Samuel wasn’t doing the same on the left. Nevertheless, it seemed that we would reach the interval with honours even, after an entertaining forty five minutes.
Then fate intervened. Not for the first time, Chelsea cut a path through our defence to put Drogba clear on goal. Samuel raced in but his challenge clipped the striker’s heel and, despite the victim’s theatrical writhing, it meant a penalty for Chelsea and a red card for Jlloyd. There was inevitable frustration; it echoed the feeling when the unfair dismissal of Sean Davies negated a similarly good display against Liverpool. However the decision was one of the few that Mr Walton got right and we had no reason to complain. With hindsight Samuel would have done better to leave Drogba to Jussi for, though a goal would probably have resulted, it was even more probable that Lampard would score from the penalty. He did, and we faced the second half with ten men.
As you might expect I hoped that Mego would bring on Gardner at left back and expected him to take off Elmander. I’d forgotten about Robinson and his disastrous game against Sunderland but he was the man introduced in Samuel’s place. Bibi did also join the fray; Chung-Yong and Basham were the players replaced and we continued with two strikers. Who said Gary Megson was negative?
Incredibly, for a time, Wanderers continued to exert pressure on the visitor’s defence. Admittedly Jussi had to save the day a few times but with the big Finn in such form, and the North Stand in full voice, nothing seemed impossible. At this stage the Wanderers were playing out of their skins, even Robinson. Gardner was the major creative influence in midfield while Muamba and Cohen put in the tackles. Then, following some sustained Bolton pressure, Essien passed to Anelka, he fed Deco, and the little Portuguese star turned inside Robinson and curled his shot beyond Jussi’s desperate reach. It was a classic breakaway goal and it might have dampened the fighting spirit but, buoyed on by the supporters, and boosted by another attacking substitution, Mark Davies for Muamba, Wanderers continued to strive for a goal. Our best chance came when a brave run by Ricketts resulted in a free kick that the absent Taylor might have relished. Unfortunately, Cohen could only lift it over the bar.
Eventually the extra class, and more pertinently, the extra man told, and we were overrun. Chelsea added two more goals; the first when Knight, with a Chelsea player’s boot in his face, misdirected a Carvalho cross into his own goal; the second after some clever trickery, was scored by Drogba, who was clearly offside. Wanderers found it difficult to get a kick during this period but they still never stopped trying. One incident near the end typified the performance. Cohen threw everything into yet another desperate tackle and the ball ran towards the touchline. With really nothing left to play for, Ricketts raced after it in a lung bursting sprint, stopped the ball on the line, and launched another abortive attack.
A lot of Bolton fans left before the end and I found this disappointing. Yes, we had been beaten, and in the end, perhaps, humiliated, but there was no disgrace. The players, the manager, and everyone associated with the performance should feel nothing but pride. I dislike Chelsea because of their source of funding. They began the money-fuelled trend that has made the playing field so unlevel. Nevertheless they are a fine team with a number of excellent players and I think they will end the season as champions. Losing to them brought no discredit.
On an individual level, the principal accolade must go to Jussi. He had no chance with the goals and produced a succession of excellent saves. For a while he kept our hopes alive; on this form he makes the incredible look commonplace. Muamba wasn’t far behind. He has shown much better form this season and this was the best game I have seen him play for us. His work rate and tackling were first class and his passing much improved. He was unlucky to be withdrawn. It was a positive move that with hindsight was probably a mistake but at the time seemed a risk worth taking. Zac Knight also had his best game as a Wanderer; he was the pick of the defence, Jussi excepted. His own goal was a blemish but, on the day, he played better than Cahill.
But it’s perhaps unfair to single out individuals in such a performance, which was in line with the recent upturn in form. All played their part; no one let us down. October looked a difficult month and we haven’t garnered many points but the future looks less bleak at the end of the month than it did at the beginning.
Finally, a word about the officials. I’ve no problem the big decision; it was a penalty and Samuel had to go. But some of the refereeing was unbelievable. Yet again Kevin Davies was constantly fouled but the offenders were hardly ever penalised. Robinson was booked for what looked like an excellent tackle. And then there was Chelsea’s fourth goal, not to mention the raised foot when they scored their third. It’s the same every game. The standard of refereeing is on the decline.
Let’s hope the massacre doesn’t affect team spirit. The players looked understandably dejected at the end and they face another stern test next week at Aston Villa. We still need to gather some points but I hope Mego continues with his new found attacking zeal.
