What the papers say: Bolton

[premiership_bound]

Express

BOLTON lost precious ground in their race for a UEFA Cup place as they met their perfect match at home to Reading.

The visitors, who freely admit they model their game on the Wanderers, snatched an amazing win, coming from behind with three goals in a stunning late show.

But just as crucial for Bolton, Wanderers lost three players to injury in the first half, leaving their resources paper-thin as they tackle a difficult run-in that starts at Chelsea on Saturday.

Striker El-Hadji Diouf was stretchered off, and full-back Nicky Hunt and skipper Kevin Nolan were both helped off as Wanderers came up against an opposition just as rugged and unyielding as themselves.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was not a happy man. He said: “We’re very despondent and disappointed that we didn’t get what we deserved from the game. The word ‘robbed’ comes to mind. We weren’t clinical at the right times and didn’t put the ball in the net often enough and we paid a high price for that.

“The injuries leave us very short. Hunt has a calf injury, with Diouf it’s a hamstring and Nolan has gone to hospital for an X-ray on a nasty ankle injury after a nasty tackle that went unpunished – but there wasn’t much going for us in terms of decisions today.â€

[Cookie]

According to that nice Mr. Howe, two places higher equates to nearly £1M.

[zac naloen]

That last one has misinterpreted using the Bolton method of building your team slowly with playing the Bolton Game.

[Lieutenant Pigeon]

Coppell finds understanding
Bolton Wanderers 1 Reading 3: Uefa Cup reluctance is not lost on AllardyceScott Watson
Steve Coppell has said that he is not ready for it, but like it or not, a year after hosting the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Crewe Alexandra, Reading are on the brink of entertaining some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The Reading manager says that his squad is not big enough to cope with playing in the Uefa Cup and competing in the Barclays Premiership. As Wigan Athletic and West Ham United will testify, the second season in the top flight is much tougher than the first and Coppell does not want any distractions from his main task of establishing Reading as a Premiership force.

Yet while Reading supporters are struggling to accept Coppell’s reluctance to embrace Europe, Sam Allardyce knows where his opposite number on Saturday is coming from. “The warning signs with other clubs have been there,â€

[papereyes]

According to that nice Mr. Howe, two places higher equates to nearly £1M.

960, 000 pounds. Apparently.

[philM]

"We are not ready for it," he said. "We would need a bigger squad that we could not afford and that could actually be a hindrance.
Europe is a feather in the cap but it is no gravy train." .

"Europe is a feather in the cap but it is no gravy train."


I'm getting on the gravy train.

Me too, but first I'm going to go and find a cap feather.

[79Royal]

To be fair to Allardyce, I think he called the game correctly. Duberry's challenge on Nolan was a shocker, really nasty and did deserve at least a yellow. For the ref to just blow for half time was out of order.

Other than that, Bolton would have won the game if they were more synical with their chances and they did pay the price for not being able to freshen things up at the end.

I found Bolton's fans to be annoying and rude, but I have a lot of respect for Allardyce.

[RoyalBlue]

Anyone who thinks Coppell doesn't want Europe just look at this emotion on the sideline today. He wanted a win today badly and you could see it in his demeanor. From minute 80 on he was up barking at the boys, the ref, the linesmen, anyone within shouting distance. Great job by SC today!

Jesus wept!!!

So, because he wanted to win yesterday means he wants European football next season despite his constant assertions to the contrary....................................some of you beggar belief

He wants it! this is S. Coppell! come on lads we know him by now surly

He may tend to be deadpan but it's a bit unfair to call him surly!