Matchday 18 ~ Bolton vs Birmingham

[Freddy Adu]

Then, six minutes later, on-loan Arsenal defender Johan Djourou's throw-in back to his goalkeeper Maik Taylor was short, allowing Nicolas Anelka to steal in and score from a tight angle.

[Freddy Adu]

City gave the ball away poorly in midfield in injury-time, allowing Kevin Nolan to play in Anelka for his second.

[Freddy Adu]

City goalkeeper Taylor was forced into action after little over a minute when he palmed Ivan Campo's curling free-kick from 20 yards round the post following Jaidi's foul on Anelka.

[Freddy Adu]

Bolton were well on top early on and Taylor was forced into a far better parry in the sixth minute when the ball broke to Anelka eight yards out.

[Freddy Adu]

well wide

[Freddy Adu]

Campo's brilliant crossfield ball found Diouf on the left, allowing the Senegalese star to cut in and cross for Anelka who hit straight at the Northern Irishman.

[Freddy Adu]

Djourou had a half-chance for Blues but headed Gary McSheffrey's corner well wide.

[Freddy Adu]

The lively Danny Guthrie, on loan from Liverpool, tried his luck with a volley from 20 yards after Kelly's headed clearance dropped temptingly but he skewed his effort tamely off target.

[Freddy Adu]

And when Anelka's shot was half blocked and the ball spun into the path of skipper Nolan, he shot wide at full stretch from a tight angle six yards out.

[Freddy Adu]

Birmingham exploded into action after 30 minutes when McSheffrey set Sebastian Larsson free, who in turn off-loaded to Cameron Jerome. The striker cut in from the left flank with intent but his mishit effort was wide and harmless from the edge of the area.

[Freddy Adu]

almost embarrassed

[Freddy Adu]

Jaidi was almost embarrassed when he deflected Kevin Davies' cross towards his own goal, but it struck Taylor and was cleared.

[Freddy Adu]

City manager Alex McLeish brought on Kapo for Matt Sadler at half-time in a bid to add some attacking verve to his lacklustre side.

[Freddy Adu]

Bolton had a dubious claim for a penalty early in the second half when Davies was tugged down - but Megson's men then had a lucky escape.

[Freddy Adu]

McSheffrey's curling free-kick from the right was met by a diving Campo at the near post who glanced the ball towards his own net. Luckily for the Spaniard, Jussi Jaaskelainen was able to block and the ball was cleared.

[Freddy Adu]

Jaidi joined Hunt in the book in the 65th minute for tugging back Diouf, and from the resulting free-kick Bolton had the ball in the net.

[Freddy Adu]

Diouf's cross was flicked on by Davies and finished from two yards by Nolan who wheeled away to celebrate - only to see a linesman's flag.

[Freddy Adu]

Bolton did have the lead in the 72nd minute, however, following a defensive error from Kelly.

[Freddy Adu]

Anelka did well to break down the left and fire in a low cross from the byline, but Kelly should have cleared the bobbling ball with ease.

[Freddy Adu]

Instead, he mis-kicked completely, allowing Diouf to collect at the far post, turn inside the full-back and fire into the corner of the net.

[Freddy Adu]

defensive mistake

[Freddy Adu]

It was two six minutes later as another defensive mistake let in Anelka.

[Freddy Adu]

Kapo then had Blues' best chance of the match when the ball broke for him on the edge of the area. He dribbled around Jaaskelainen but a combination of O'Brien and Hunt were able to clear his shot on the line.

[Freddy Adu]

Anelka was then gifted a third in injury-time after Blues gave the ball away in midfield. Nolan casually played in the Frenchman who fired home confidently.

[Freddy Adu]

"It is a great result for us - whether it was actually a true 3-0 or not I'm not sure. The game seemed a lot closer than that, especially in the first half, but you can't complain about winning 3-0. We started well but seemed to run out of ideas a bit. In the end we needed a few bits of quality to get us through."
- Gary Megson

[Freddy Adu]

"It was never a 3-0 game - Christmas came early for Bolton. Jussi Jaaskelaninen made a crucial save for Bolton and at the time it looked we could go on and win. I can't fault any of my players on work rate but to capitulate like that with those late mistakes is very hard to take."
- Alex McLeish

[Freddy Adu]

Nicolas Anelka
Two goals and an assist for the Frenchman in a dominating display.

[Freddy Adu]

Bolton Wanderers 3-0 Birmingham City

[Freddy Adu]

Bolton Wanderers' renaissance under Gary Megson continued as they brushed aside Birmingham City 3-0. El-Hadji Diouf put the Trotters ahead with a calm finish before Nicolas Anelka took full advantage of a short throw-in by Johan Djourou to net a second before adding a third in stoppage time.

[Freddy Adu]

For full match report, click here