Sunday May 9, 2010 Day 38 Finished Reebok Stadium

Bolton Wanderers 2 - 1 Birmingham City

  • Davies 33’
  • Klasnic 60’
  • McFadden 78’

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  1. Bolton end season on high

    Bolton end season on high

    A header from Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic strike guided Bolton to a 2-1 victory against Birmingham at the Reebok Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Bolton Wanderers
    • Birmingham City
    • 90+4' All done here! Birmingham had their chances, but Bolton made their ones count. Bolton secure 14th with that win, and now thoughts can turn to the summer and next year. Hope you enjoyed this season, Trotters and Blues - and we'll see you again for more Premier League games in August. Small matter of the World Cup before then, of course...
    • 90+3' Space for Muamba at the other end and after Gardner's cross there is a huge chance for Klasnic! Just six yards out and he might easily have teased that it for the third and decisive goal.
    • 90+2' Johnson goes forward for Birmingham - and though they are in a dangerous area the Blues' attack falls down when Johnson is offside.
    • 90+1' Bolton play it backwards looking for safety first - and they nearly leave it open when Vignal notices Jaaskelainen slipping. Three more minutes to go.
    • 90' 8-0 at Chelsea. Manchester United's game is over and they trudge off disconsolately despite their win.
    • 90' Gardner coming on for Wilshere, who leaves to an ovation from the home fans.
    • 89' A chance for Birmingham as the Blues win a free kick from Lee's handball. It's driven low into the wall, and it's a chance wasted.
    • 88' Classy build-up from Wilshere as he teases another ball into the box - so nearly there for his strikers to finish.
    • 86' Headed out by Robinson but the Blues come forward again, looking for a leveller. Carr's ball forward is a poor one and Bolton break.
    • 85' McFadden wins a free kick from Robinson here. It's a poor ball and Knight opts to put it out for a corner.
    • 84' It's a pretty horrible effort, soaring five or six times the height of the crossbar. Not Wilshere's finest moment.
    • 82' Wilshere makes a strong run to the edge of the box, and is swatted down by Ferguson. Johnson has a word with the referee, which is not advisable given that he already has a booking. Free kick for the home side on the edge of the area.
    • 80' And there's a pause as a 'streaker' hits the field - he stands in front of Joe Hart dressed up as Pamela Anderson, and gives him a kiss! And now his wig slips off! It holds up the play as the stewards encourage him to leave the field.
    • 78' Bolton on the move with a throw on the right side. But Klasnic and Steinsson combine to foul Ridgewell as he wins the ball for the Blues. Klasnic a little lucky to escape the referee's attention there.
    • 76' Well, there's a chance for the Blues to get something out of this now after a it looked beyond them. It's Bolton on the attack though, and Wilshere tries to trick his way into space before running the ball out of touch for a goal kick.
    • 75' Benitez shapes to take this himself. He composes himself, and it's beyond dreadful! Jaaskelainen saves comfortably. The rebound is blocked, but McFadden gets there, and don't ask me how, but Birmingham have their goal!
    • 74' Birmingham win a penalty! Foul on Benitez for well, not very much. Robinson nudges him as he challenges for the ball.
    • 72' Birmingham go close! Cameron Jerome does well to send the cross in, and Benitez connects with a diving header which goes wide of the post.
    • 70' Tough challenge from Holden there and he gives away a free kick. No Larsson to take this and it's not a great ball in from Michel.
    • 69' Holden almost announces his return from injury with a scorching strike from 25 yards which swerves narrowly wide of the right hand post.
    • 68' 6-0 at Stamford Bridge. The comeback is unlikely for Wigan.
    • 67' Birmingham struggling for a way through Bolton now, though that's not Jerome's fault - he's harried all afternoon, looking for ways to link with Benitez.
    • 65' And Bolton make changes too - they can introduce Holden and Lee for Taylor and Weiss. Just a gentle return to action for Holden at this stage.
    • 65' Looks like it is Larsson for Benitez.
    • 63' Wilshere and Muamba do their best to combine and play cross into the Birmingham penalty area, but eventually the ball sits happily in Joe Hart's arms.
    • 62' Another great break from Birmingham, but there's nobody in the box to latch on the great cross from Jerome and Bowyer's scuffed attempt.
    • 61' Low drive from Weiss into the box cannot reach a white shirt. Birmingham are considering a substitution now.
    • 59' It's 2-0! Klasnic socres! Weiss is through at first, and though it looks like the chance is over, he manages to tease it through to Klasnic, who strikes it right-footed past Hart.
    • 57' Bowyer scrabbling a free kick, and eventually wins it. Larsson aims it straight at Jaaskelainen, and the Bolton goalkeeper clears it long.
    • 55' Good passing from Birmingham but little movement, and Ferguson and McFadden cannot penetrate the Bolton defence. Meanwhile it's 4-0 at Stamford Bridge, and I don't think anyone will object if I call the title race over.
    • 53' Some respite for the Trotters as Weiss moves forward, but Ferguson goes down as Bolton threaten and the play is held up.
    • 52' Cahill concedes a throw in after a surging run from Jerome. Lots of pressure from the visiting Birmingham side here after the interval.
    • 51' And again so close! Birmingham's corner lifts straight to Ridgewell, whose flicked header misses the far post by very little.
    • 50' Terrific save from Jaaskelainen! Johnsonlatches on to the ball in the box and through the bodies drills a low shot. Jussi tips it around.
    • 49' Decent ball in from Larsson after Michel's work on the left, but Cahill makes strong enough contact to clear the danger.
    • 48' 22863 is today's attendance. Birmingham look like they're responsible for about 4000 of them. Wilshere is down with an injury here.
    • 47' Davies is the one to get a head on this, but he's knocked it well over the bar and Birmingham come back.
    • 46' We're back in action. Vignal has to give away a corner early in the second half.
    • - Looks like no changes have been made as we await the start of the second half.
    • - Half-time: All square here. The hosts have the lead, though Birmingham have often played the better football. Six yellow cards shown in a first half of fits and starts. Hope you'll join us for the second half in a few minutes.
    • 45+2' Bolton are scrapping for a second. Muamba take the run forward. Wilshere has a shot in huge amounts of space and it looks an awful lot like handball which blocks that shot. The chance isn't over, and only good fortune saves the visitors from being two down as Klasnic nearly latches on to the second chance.
    • 45+1' Jaaskelainen lifts a goal kick high and forwardd. After a couple of headers Weiss gets it on the touchline, but it goes no further. Vignal shepherds it out, and Davies bundles into him in search of the ball. That's a foul, and Davies goes one closer to his season's record of fouls.
    • 45' Bolton emerge unscathed, and the fizz of this game seems to have been replaced by poor discipline as the half peters out.
    • 44' Nearing stoppage time as Birmingham line up a long throw towards the Bolton box.
    • 43' Paul Robinson guides the Trotters out of their half but without great pace. As they move forward Klasnic loses patience trying to beat Vignal and it's a horrible challenge. Yellow card for him as well, Bolton's first.
    • 41' Birmingham having to do some sterling defensive work here, and they do. They clear their lines through Vignal and McFadden, then Jerome wins a throw in the Birmingham half.
    • 40' Bolton's corner keeps going backwards. They come back forward and Kevin Davies has just a hint of a chance to move the ball into the middle of the box.
    • 39' Chaos here - lots of yellows. McFadden and Larsson get bookings. And moments later it's another one for Roger Johnson. Five yellows for the Blues already - they'll do well to finish this game with a full eleven.
    • 38' Birmingham have a goal disallowed! Huge drama! Larsson and McFadden combine to bundle the ball over the line. Jaaskelainen blocks the first shot but it goes in with his hand on the rebound. The goal looks like it will stand until the assistant interveens - and the replays seem to bear it out.
    • 37' Yellow for Ridgewell after he checks Wilshere as he moves forward for Bolton. Birmingham are pointing out that moments before Vignal probably should have had a free kick for the Blues, which went unnoticed.
    • 36' Johnson and Larsson look they're aruging about that corner - Larsson was perhaps expecting Johnson to be on the end of that one.
    • 36' Corner for the Blues - Larsson bends it in with good shape, but just over everyone, and it goes out for a goal kick.
    • 35' United are in front against Stoke through Darren Fletcher - but Chelsea have a second against Wigan - and that surely means the title race is a formality. Here, Bowyer strokes it back to the defence to allow Birmingham to regroup. They lost their heads for a moment there, but they've been a match for Bolton otherwise.
    • 33' Goal for Bolton! Paul Robinson whips in a cross, and sure enough there's Kevin Davies finding himself a little space and steering in a header back past the keeper!
    • 33' Carr and Larsson are getting a talking to here after the Blues have given a string of niggly fouls away.
    • 32' Weiss wins a free kick on the edge of the box. That goes nowhere, but very soon afterwards Michel concedes another, and Bolton try again.
    • 31' Klasnic doesn't connect very well with a long range shot, and it goes low and straight into Hart's hands.
    • 30' There's a little pauses here as Cahill leaves the pitch but he'll surely be able to continue. Bolton carry on from the throw.
    • 29' Johnson climbs all over Davies and concedes a free kick. It's floated in by Robinson, but comfortably dealt with. Cahill is down, caught apparently by Vignal.
    • 28' Bowyer gets on the end of this corner, but his header flashes comfortably wide of Jaaskelainen's post.
    • 27' Vignal gets another go. Same result - Knight gets a head to it, but this time he concedes a corner.
    • 26' Vignal and Jerome combine to force Cahill into conceding a throw in a dangerous spot. Vignal will launch this one in, but Zat Knight heads it straight back out.
    • 25' McFadden surrenders possession looking for Bowyer after a good spell from Birmingham. Bolton surge upfield, but without great direction.
    • 24' Jerome heads it over the bar from three yards out! But it was a beautiful set piece - set late to Johnson on the right of the box, and his header in gives Jerome an awkward chance which he cannot quite get on target.
    • 22' Cahill concedes a free kick after a tough challenge on Jerome. Quite deep out, as Birmingham prepare for an attack.
    • 21' In between these clear chances we've seen some excpetionally scrappy midfield play. Birmingham now attempt to play a few passes and string together some possession.
    • 20' Good ball on the left from Vignal, but no Birmingham man can get there for the header. Birmingham scramble to get the ball back into the box. Larsson opens it up for Jerome, who flashes high and wide. Again, another good chance for the visitors.
    • 19' Zat Knight hits the post! And it's a belting effort! Knight strokes it first time after a Taylor lay-off, and it brushes the outside of the post. Fabulous strike and Bolton have started to boss this game.
    • 18' That's gone straight into the wall. Wasted chance for Bolton.
    • 17' Bowyer picks up a yellow, and Bolton have a useful free kick from the right.
    • 16' What a save from Joe Hart! Wilshere finds a way through the Birmingham defence and plays a ball to Taylor in yards and yards of space. One on one with Hart, the Birmingham keeper closes him down so fast, and prevents a certain goal. Taylor should still have done better.
    • 15' Vignal and McFadden scramble forward looking for a way into the box. Vignal goes down and looks for a penalty, but nobody is interested.
    • 14' A tame cross from Taylor - or was it? It had some nice shape, but there was no Bolton striker anywhere near it despite it looking inviting.
    • 11' Lee Bowyer has a friendly exchange of views with the referee. Bolton have a free kick just inside the Birmingham half. It's heaved forward, but to no avail.
    • 10' A nice spell of possession from Birmingham is completely blown when Larsson tries a huge crossfield ball to Michel, who despite his best efforts cannot keep the ball in play.
    • 8' Michel puts in a crunching tackle and comes off the worse for it. Time being taken here to treat him and eventually to take him to the touchline. Sure enough, though, he;s coming abck on.
    • 7' Hart with the ball, slows thisngs down before an almighty kick forward. Elsewhere, Chelsea have taken the lead and if it stays that way, the title is heading to Stamford Bridge.
    • 5' Marauding run forward from Wilshere is ended as he goes into the box - the Trotters ask for a penalty, but the referee does not oblige them.
    • 4' Jaaskelainen has to make a save there as Birmingham move forward with Michel. He holds it comfortably though.
    • 2' Well, well! A huge chance for Lee Bowyer goes begging. Great work from Birmingham on the right Cameron Jerome cuts back for Bowyer. He aims for the right hand corner from about 10 yards, and scuffs it well wide. The visitors could easily have been in front, and probably should have.
    • 1' Away we go. Bolton begin brightly, attacking down the right until they surrender the ball and allow Joe Hart his first goal kick of the game.
    • - Referee today is Lee Friend, who's just preparing everything before we get under way. Bolton are going to kick off this one.
    • - Coyle and McLeish share an embrace before the game starts. The atmosphere certainly has an end-of-term feel.
    • - The players are being cheered out here on a pleasant day in Bolton. The sun's shining, and it should be a good occasion.
    • - News from elsewhere - Fulham have rested 8 players ahead of a rather important game. I can't remember a Premiership final day where so few matches had so little riding on them. Portsmouth will be tuning up for the FA Cup Final, Spurs and Manchester City sorted out their battle in midweek, and the relegation spots have been decided.
    • - About a quarter of an hour away from the start of this game, and the stage is set. Players have been warming up but thy're all coming off the field now. They're even dragging in that enormous Premier League logo which adorns the centre circle.
    • - Back when these two sides met in September, Bolton took the points at St Andrews. A late strike from Lee was enough to cancel Kevin Phillips' equaliser. Hard to imagine that back then there were real doubts as to whether McLeish could keep Birmingham in the division. Match report - Birmingham 1-2 Bolton
    • - Bolton went down to a single goal at Spurs last weekend, but Owen Coyle names the same line-up and keeps the faith.
    • - So Holden only makes the bench for Bolton, but the two sides look relatively strong. Birmingham welcome back Carr, and Michel comes in for Benitez - those are the only two changes from the side who faced Burnley last weekend.
    • - And no sooner do I say it than the team news arrives!
    • - Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Weiss, Muamba, Wilshere, Taylor, Klasnic, Kevin Davies Subs: Al Habsi, Samuel, Gardner, Mark Davies, Ricketts, Holden, Lee
    • - Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Ridgewell, Johnson, Vignal, Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, McFadden, Michel, Jerome Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Benitez, Fahey, Parnaby, Carsley, Mutch
    • - Team news as soon as we get it. Things to look out for - Stuart Holden might get a run out for Bolton, Stephen Carr returns frmo suspension for Birmingham, while Ridgewell looks set to continue in the back four in the absence of Scott Dann.
    • - Just because it's the last game of the season doesn't mean there can't be some drama - presumably that's what Owl in the comments section is thinking when he calls a 0-6 victory for Birmingham. My guess? That won't happen. Dan and Freddie both call it 2-1 - Dan to the Blues, Freddie to Bolton - that seems a little more likely.
    • - If you're stat-spotting today, here's a pearler for you - Kevin Davies has conceded 115 fouls this season - that's more than any other Premier League player, and leaving him on track to be the 'top fouler' for the 7th time in 8 seasons. And if he concedes three more today, that will be, ahem, a personal best. More preview information here.
    • - As for Birmingham, it's fair to say that the season surpassed all expectations. The Blues sit 9th going into this game, and short of a defeat and a Stoke victory at Manchester United (you never know, but still...) that's where they'll finish.
    • - Bolton have had an uninspiring season but survived the transition to Owen Coyle with some comfort and can look forward to better times next year. They sit 14th - a win keeps them there, anything less than a win and they might end up as low as 17th.
    • - I don't think either Bolton or Birmingham fans will be forever offended if I suggest that this isn't the main event today. The relegation places are already confirmed, there's the small matter of a league title at stake. But football fans are a fiercely loyal bunch, so if you're a Trotter or a Blue, I hope you'll stay with us as we follow the action live from the Reebok Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 75' Benitez shapes to take this himself. He composes himself, and it's beyond dreadful! Jaaskelainen saves comfortably. The rebound is blocked, but McFadden gets there, and don't ask me how, but Birmingham have their goal!
    • 74' Birmingham win a penalty! Foul on Benitez for well, not very much. Robinson nudges him as he challenges for the ball.
    • 59' It's 2-0! Klasnic socres! Weiss is through at first, and though it looks like the chance is over, he manages to tease it through to Klasnic, who strikes it right-footed past Hart.
    • 51' And again so close! Birmingham's corner lifts straight to Ridgewell, whose flicked header misses the far post by very little.
    • 50' Terrific save from Jaaskelainen! Johnsonlatches on to the ball in the box and through the bodies drills a low shot. Jussi tips it around.
    • 45+2' Bolton are scrapping for a second. Muamba take the run forward. Wilshere has a shot in huge amounts of space and it looks an awful lot like handball which blocks that shot. The chance isn't over, and only good fortune saves the visitors from being two down as Klasnic nearly latches on to the second chance.
    • 33' Goal for Bolton! Paul Robinson whips in a cross, and sure enough there's Kevin Davies finding himself a little space and steering in a header back past the keeper!
    • 24' Jerome heads it over the bar from three yards out! But it was a beautiful set piece - set late to Johnson on the right of the box, and his header in gives Jerome an awkward chance which he cannot quite get on target.
    • 19' Zat Knight hits the post! And it's a belting effort! Knight strokes it first time after a Taylor lay-off, and it brushes the outside of the post. Fabulous strike and Bolton have started to boss this game.
    • 16' What a save from Joe Hart! Wilshere finds a way through the Birmingham defence and plays a ball to Taylor in yards and yards of space. One on one with Hart, the Birmingham keeper closes him down so fast, and prevents a certain goal. Taylor should still have done better.
    • 2' Well, well! A huge chance for Lee Bowyer goes begging. Great work from Birmingham on the right Cameron Jerome cuts back for Bowyer. He aims for the right hand corner from about 10 yards, and scuffs it well wide. The visitors could easily have been in front, and probably should have.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • J. Jääskeläinen
      • G. Steinsson Yellow Card
      • G. Cahill
      • Z. Knight
      • P. Robinson
      • F. Muamba
      • J. Wilshere Substitution Out (90′)
      • V. Weiss Substitution Out (65′)
      • M. Taylor Substitution Out (65′)
      • I. Klasnic Goal Yellow Card
      • K. Davies Goal

      Subs

      • J. Samuel
      • R. Gardner Substitution In90′
      • A. Al Habsi
      • S. Holden Substitution In65′
      • C. Lee Substitution In65′
      • S. Ricketts
      • M. Davies

    • Starting line-up

      • J. Hart
      • S. Carr
      • L. Ridgewell Yellow Card
      • R. Johnson Yellow Card
      • G. Vignal
      • L. Bowyer Yellow Card
      • B. Ferguson
      • S. Larsson Yellow Card Substitution Out (65′)
      • Míchel Substitution Out (74′)
      • J. McFadden Goal Yellow Card
      • C. Jerome

      Subs

      • L. Carsley
      • M. Taylor
      • D. Murphy
      • S. Parnaby
      • C. Benítez Substitution In65′
      • J. Mutch
      • K. Fahey Substitution In74′

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      Substitution Out90′ - -
      Substitution Out65′ - -
      Substitution Out65′ - -
      Strikers
      Goal Yellow Card - -
      Goal - -
      Subs
      Substitution In90′ - -
      Substitution In65′ - -
      Substitution In65′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out65′ - -
      Substitution Out74′ - -
      Strikers
      Goal Yellow Card - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In65′ - -
      Substitution In74′ - -

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