Taylor steals point for Trotters

Potters gift Trotters a point with late penalty

By Jamie Casey   Last updated: 19th September 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Taylor steals point for Trotters

Taylor: Late penalty strike

Match facts:
Man of the Match: Jussi Jaaskelainen kept his side in the game with some heroic keeping particularly in injury time.

Moment of the Match: Danny Collins' trip on Tamir Cohen late in the game was needless and cost his side two points.

Save of the Match: Jaaskelainen's save amid a scrappy penalty box in stoppage time came with injury but was as vital as it was brave .

Goal of the Match: Dave Kitson's strike was the sign of a striker with confidence as he bent in a fine opener from a difficult angle.

Talking Point: Are Bolton fans fed up with their style of play? Can Stoke better last season's dizzy heights?

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A late penalty from Matt Taylor rescued a point for Bolton as they were held 1-1 at home to Stoke City.

A fine individual goal from in-form striker Dave Kitson had given Stoke the lead early in the second-half after an uninspiring first period.

The diving debate dominating football recently looks set to continue as both Ricardo Fuller and Kevin Davies were handed yellow cards for simulation during a dire first-half.

The game sprung into life in the second period, however, as the introduction of Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Klasnic sprung life into Bolton's attack

It was the away side who took the lead however as Kitson received the ball on the edge of the area before beating Tamir Cohen and curling the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal on 53 minutes.

Bolton pressed for an equaliser but looked destined not to find one until a minute from time, when Danny Collins was judged to have tripped Cohen in the area and Taylor stepped up to send Thomas Sorensen the wrong way and snatch a point for the Trotters.

First period

Stoke were the brighter of the two teams in a dull first half and made a break inside the first minute when Fuller got clear down the right flank.

He delivered the ball into the area only for Fabrice Muamba to get there ahead of Matthew Etherington and make the clearance.

Fuller was then incensed after being booked in the seventh minute for going to ground in the penalty area following a challenge from Gavin McCann.

Stoke then found themselves on the back foot in the 15th minute when goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen launched the ball forward.

Kevin Davies won the aerial battle with former team-mate Abdoulaye Faye, leaving him dazed on the floor.

McCann tried his luck from 25 yards in the 20th minute but Sorensen was able to make a comfortable save before Gary Cahill sent a header wide for the home side.

Stoke, however, almost took the lead after 32 minutes when Cohen was punished for a challenge on Fuller.

Glenn Whelan tried to curl the free-kick from 25 yards beyond Jaaskelainen only for the goalkeeper to react swiftly and push his effort to safety.

Stoke kept up the pressure and a long throw from Rory Delap caused Jaaskelainen problems.

He could only parry the ball to Kitson but the striker could not get a decent enough touch and the chance was lost.

Bolton responded and Taylor came close in the 51st minute when he clipped a shot wide of the post after substitute Gardner had carved out the opening.

Breakthrough

A minute later Stoke made the breakthrough with a fine goal from Kitson. He latched on to a ball from Fuller and showed good skill to get away from Sam Ricketts.

Kitson then steadied himself before rattling a shot into the corner.

It was a clinical finish from a player who did not score for the club last season and was loaned back to Reading.

It was just the boost Stoke were looking for after the home defeat by Chelsea last weekend.

Bolton kept pressing forward in search of the equaliser and substitute Ivan Klasnic saw his close-range effort turned over by Sorensen in the 68th minute.

Then Zat Knight cleared the bar with a volley when it seemed easier to score.

Stoke were looking to extend their lead and Fuller made space in the penalty area after 72 minutes but his effort failed to trouble Jaaskelainen.

Bolton kept working away but the visitors were looking well organised at the back.

Stoke were also dangerous on the counter attack and substitute Danny Pugh saw his effort turned away by Jaaskelainen in the 88th minute.

A minute later Bolton grabbed the equaliser through Taylor but Jaaskelainen had to make a brave block from substitute Liam Lawrence in stoppage time to prevent him snatching the winner.

However this is a difficult time for the home side, who have managed just one win in five league games.

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Comments (5)

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Matthew Gold (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

I think that the constant booing needs to stop now, i think that megson and the players have gotten the point that we are all disappointed with the results this season, so instead we need to get behind them with a positive environment! if this booing carries on no one will want to play for us now or in the future, who's going to come to a bad environment?

Posted 15:47 21st September 2009

Brendan Bomford (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

It probably wasn't our best game, but how can you expect them to play well with our own fans booing like crazy. It was a disgrace watching on the TV. Some home ground advantage we are creating! I think Meggo has spent the dollars and is trying to build a strong side and i think the signings are moving us in the right direction. I would like to see more of klasnic he looks classy. Get off the managers back and let them get on with it!!

Posted 06:18 20th September 2009

Garry Taylor (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Yet another stinking display of anti-football! When will Megson realise that we need players in midfield who actually want the ball?? Cohen & McCann go hiding when our defenders have the ball (Muamba's pretty shy too), so the only option we end up with is to punt the ball 60 yards upfield towards Davies. Stoke could soak that up all day!!

Posted 19:44 19th September 2009

Gary Street (Stoke City fan) says...

Stoke were by far the better side today and should have won the game. last season we got beat 3-1 at bolton and this game showed how far we have come. Gary Megson is right when he says stoke are a club on the up. we spent ¿19 million in the january transfer window and it shows. i think we are going to have a really good season.

Posted 18:53 19th September 2009

Paul Murray (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

In response to the question are bolton fans fed up with the style of play? YES, there is no style, that's the problem! and there never will be while the current management is in place!

Posted 18:14 19th September 2009
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