Bolton Wanderers

[Freddy Adu]

Late drama in opening weekend games

Late goals and significant contributions by newcomers to the Barclays Premier League mark the new season.

Spectators were richly entertained in the opening round of matches as spectacular goals and late twists of fate meant no one could take their eyes off any of the games until the final whistles blew up and down the country.
Newly promoted Sunderland scored the first goal of the season - pulling off a shock result against big-spending Tottenham. New £5million signing Michael Chopra came off the substitutes bench to hit the decisive strike with practically the last kick of the game.
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson made his Barclays Premier League debut as Manchester City manager at Upton Park where his expensively assembled, multi-national side got off to the perfect start with an impressive win against West Ham United. Both City's goals came from new signings - Rolando Bianchi in the first half after impressive work by Elano, before Geovanni put the result beyond doubt in the 87th minute.
After the game Eriksson commented: "We played some really good football - not for 90 minutes because we suffered as well but we started well and the last 15 minutes we did very well again."

spectacular own goal
Liverpool's talismanic captain Steven Gerrard was another late scorer as his superb 87th minute free kick proved the winner against Aston Villa. Liverpool had gone ahead in the 31st minute when the luckless Martin Laursen hit a spectacular own goal, deflecting Dirk Kuyt's cross past keeper Stuart Taylor.
Elsewhere other teams widely expected to be challenging for the top of the table did not have it all their own way. Chelsea were made to work hard for three points in a five-goal thriller against Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge. And Arsenal were given a fright after just 52 seconds when a horrendous mistake from goalkeeper Jens Lehman gifted Fulham debutant David Healy an easy goal. The Cottagers' keeper Tony Warner, on as a late substitute for Anti Niemi who was injured in the warm-up, pulled off a string of fine saves before a Robin van Persie penalty in the 94th minute brought matters level ahead of a dramatic last minute winner from Alexander Hleb - securing the points for the Gunners.
But perhaps the biggest shock came at Old Trafford where last season's champions Manchester United were held in the weekend's only goalless draw by Reading who made the Red Devil's work hard against resolute man-for-man marking. Reading's Dave Kitson earned himself the unwanted statistic of being the season's first sending-off - lasting just 37 seconds after coming on as a substitute - a high tackle on Patrice Evra bringing out referee Rob Styles' red card.

long range strike
Newcastle United manager - Sam Allardyce - went back to former club Bolton Wanderers and looked on proudly as his new charges raced into a 3-0 half time lead. Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins led the way with two goals, the first a stunning overhead kick followed by a deflected long range strike. Bolton rallied in the second half with a goal from Nicolas Anelka but the Newcastle defence held firm for the rest of the game.
Afterwards Allardyce was full of praise for his players: "The application by the players was terrific and I think that the quality of the finishing was the difference between the two teams. I'm not sure what level these players are at yet but they are starting to hit a standard I don't want them to drop."
Blackburn Rovers came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside. New signing Roque Santa Cruz scored within minutes of coming off the bench to equalise before another substitute - England Under-21 star Matt Derbyshire - scored a spectacular goal with just his third touch.

unstoppable header
Barclays Premier League newcomers Derby County shared the points in a four-goal thriller with Portsmouth at Pride Park as they got their campaign off to a creditable start. Pompey had countered the Rams early goal with two of their own before another debut man Andy Todd - son of former Derby player and manager Colin - powered an unstoppable header into the top of the net in the 84th minute.

In the remaining match of the weekend Everton built up a two-nil lead over Wigan Athletic before an 80th minute goal from yet another debutant - Antoine Sibierski - made it a nervous last ten minutes for the Toffees.

[Freddy Adu]

Late drama in opening weekend games

Late goals and significant contributions by newcomers to the Barclays Premier League mark the new season.

Spectators were richly entertained in the opening round of matches as spectacular goals and late twists of fate meant no one could take their eyes off any of the games until the final whistles blew up and down the country.
Newly promoted Sunderland scored the first goal of the season - pulling off a shock result against big-spending Tottenham. New £5million signing Michael Chopra came off the substitutes bench to hit the decisive strike with practically the last kick of the game.
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson made his Barclays Premier League debut as Manchester City manager at Upton Park where his expensively assembled, multi-national side got off to the perfect start with an impressive win against West Ham United. Both City's goals came from new signings - Rolando Bianchi in the first half after impressive work by Elano, before Geovanni put the result beyond doubt in the 87th minute.
After the game Eriksson commented: "We played some really good football - not for 90 minutes because we suffered as well but we started well and the last 15 minutes we did very well again."

spectacular own goal
Liverpool's talismanic captain Steven Gerrard was another late scorer as his superb 87th minute free kick proved the winner against Aston Villa. Liverpool had gone ahead in the 31st minute when the luckless Martin Laursen hit a spectacular own goal, deflecting Dirk Kuyt's cross past keeper Stuart Taylor.
Elsewhere other teams widely expected to be challenging for the top of the table did not have it all their own way. Chelsea were made to work hard for three points in a five-goal thriller against Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge. And Arsenal were given a fright after just 52 seconds when a horrendous mistake from goalkeeper Jens Lehman gifted Fulham debutant David Healy an easy goal. The Cottagers' keeper Tony Warner, on as a late substitute for Anti Niemi who was injured in the warm-up, pulled off a string of fine saves before a Robin van Persie penalty in the 94th minute brought matters level ahead of a dramatic last minute winner from Alexander Hleb - securing the points for the Gunners.
But perhaps the biggest shock came at Old Trafford where last season's champions Manchester United were held in the weekend's only goalless draw by Reading who made the Red Devil's work hard against resolute man-for-man marking. Reading's Dave Kitson earned himself the unwanted statistic of being the season's first sending-off - lasting just 37 seconds after coming on as a substitute - a high tackle on Patrice Evra bringing out referee Rob Styles' red card.

long range strike
Newcastle United manager - Sam Allardyce - went back to former club Bolton Wanderers and looked on proudly as his new charges raced into a 3-0 half time lead. Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins led the way with two goals, the first a stunning overhead kick followed by a deflected long range strike. Bolton rallied in the second half with a goal from Nicolas Anelka but the Newcastle defence held firm for the rest of the game.
Afterwards Allardyce was full of praise for his players: "The application by the players was terrific and I think that the quality of the finishing was the difference between the two teams. I'm not sure what level these players are at yet but they are starting to hit a standard I don't want them to drop."
Blackburn Rovers came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside. New signing Roque Santa Cruz scored within minutes of coming off the bench to equalise before another substitute - England Under-21 star Matt Derbyshire - scored a spectacular goal with just his third touch.

unstoppable header
Barclays Premier League newcomers Derby County shared the points in a four-goal thriller with Portsmouth at Pride Park as they got their campaign off to a creditable start. Pompey had countered the Rams early goal with two of their own before another debut man Andy Todd - son of former Derby player and manager Colin - powered an unstoppable header into the top of the net in the 84th minute.

In the remaining match of the weekend Everton built up a two-nil lead over Wigan Athletic before an 80th minute goal from yet another debutant - Antoine Sibierski - made it a nervous last ten minutes for the Toffees.

[carpediem33880]

English Premier League
Table Table 2007-08 Table Team GP W D L Pts GF GA GD Everton 2 2 0 0 6 5 2 3 Manchester City 2 2 0 0 6 3 0 3 Chelsea 2 2 0 0 6 5 3 2 Sunderland 2 1 1 0 4 3 2 1 Newcastle United 1 1 0 0 3 3 1 2 Arsenal 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 1 Liverpool 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 1 Blackburn 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 1 Fulham 2 1 0 1 3 3 3 0 Wigan Athletic FC 2 1 0 1 3 2 2 0 Portsmouth 2 0 2 0 2 3 3 0 Manchester United 2 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 Birmingham City 2 0 1 1 1 4 5 -1 Derby County 2 0 1 1 1 2 3 -1 Reading 2 0 1 1 1 1 2 -1 Aston Villa 1 0 0 1 0 1 2 -1 Middlesbrough 2 0 0 2 0 1 3 -2 West Ham United 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 -2 Bolton 2 0 0 2 0 2 5 -3 Tottenham 2 0 0 2 0 1 4 -3

[carpediem33880]

England - Premier League
21:55	August 18
FT	Portsmouth	3 - 1	Bolton W.
FT	Birmingham C.	0 - 1	West Ham U.
FT	Fulham	1 - 2	Middlesbrough
FT	Reading	1 - 0	Everton
FT	Tottenham H.	4 - 0	Derby County
FT	Wigan Athletic	3 - 0	Sunderland
FT	Newcastle U.	0 - 0	Aston Villa

[carpediem33880]

English Premier League
Table Table 2007-08 Table Team GP W D L Pts GF GA GD Wigan Athletic FC 3 2 0 1 6 5 2 3 Manchester City 2 2 0 0 6 3 0 3 Chelsea 2 2 0 0 6 5 3 2 Everton 3 2 0 1 6 5 3 2 Portsmouth 3 1 2 0 5 6 4 2 Newcastle United 2 1 1 0 4 3 1 2 Reading 3 1 1 1 4 2 2 0 Sunderland 3 1 1 1 4 3 5 -2 Tottenham 3 1 0 2 3 5 4 1 Arsenal 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 1 Liverpool 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 1 Blackburn 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 1 Fulham 3 1 0 2 3 4 5 -1 Middlesbrough 3 1 0 2 3 3 4 -1 West Ham United 2 1 0 1 3 1 2 -1 Manchester United 2 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 Aston Villa 2 0 1 1 1 1 2 -1 Birmingham City 3 0 1 2 1 4 6 -2 Derby County 3 0 1 2 1 2 7 -5 Bolton 3 0 0 3 0 3 8 -5

[Freddy Adu]

Bolton vs Reading

Premier League 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 4

Bolton Reading

Date 2007-08-25 15h00 City Bolton Stadium Reebok Stadium Referee

Last Matches

League	Home	Result	Away	Tournament
PL	Bolton	1-3	Reading	Premier League 2006/2007

[Amo-te Benfica]

Garry Speed has given Bolton the lead:

Bolton W. [1 - 0] Reading

32' [1 - 0] G. Speed

[kevindoyle9]

Bolton 2-0 lead Nicolas Anelka with the second

[Amo-te Benfica]

Full time and Bolton take their first points of the season:

Bolton W. [3 - 0] Reading

32' [1 - 0] G. Speed

55' [2 - 0] N. Anelka

71' N. Hunt (Yellow card)

72' U.D.L. Cruz (Yellow card)

77' A. Meite (Yellow card)

90' [3 - 0] D.O. Braaten

[Freddy Adu]

Standings
		Total							Home						Away
Pos.	Team	Points	G	W	D	L	F	A	G	W	D	L	F	A	G	W	D	L	F	A
1	Chelsea	10	4	3	1	0	7	4	2	2	0	0	4	2	2	1	1	0	3	2		Fixtures
2	Man. City	9	4	3	0	1	4	1	2	2	0	0	2	0	2	1	0	1	2	1		Fixtures
3	Everton	7	4	2	1	1	6	4	2	1	1	0	3	2	2	1	0	1	3	2		Fixtures
4	Liverpool	7	3	2	1	0	5	2	1	0	1	0	1	1	2	2	0	0	4	1		Fixtures
5	Arsenal	7	3	2	1	0	4	2	2	2	0	0	3	1	1	0	1	0	1	1		Fixtures
6	Wigan Ath.	7	4	2	1	1	6	3	2	2	0	0	4	0	2	0	1	1	2	3		Fixtures
7	Blackburn	5	3	1	2	0	4	3	1	0	1	0	1	1	2	1	1	0	3	2		Fixtures
8	Portsmouth	5	4	1	2	1	6	5	2	1	1	0	4	2	2	0	1	1	2	3		Fixtures
9	West Ham	4	3	1	1	1	2	3	2	0	1	1	1	3	1	1	0	0	1	0		Fixtures
10	Sunderland	4	4	1	1	2	3	7	2	1	0	1	1	2	2	0	1	1	2	5		Fixtures
11	Newcastle	4	2	1	1	0	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	1		Fixtures
12	Aston Villa	4	3	1	1	1	3	3	2	1	0	1	3	3	1	0	1	0	0	0		Fixtures
13	Birmingham	4	4	1	1	2	6	7	2	0	1	1	2	3	2	1	0	1	4	4		Fixtures
14	Reading	4	4	1	1	2	2	5	2	1	cPanel®	1	2	2	2	cPanel®	1	1	cPanel®	3		Fixtures
15	Middlesbrough	3	3	1