Bolton hold on to beat Birmingham 2-1
Posted Monday, May 10, 2010 by
By WALTER SIMON STATS European Football Writer=
LONDON (SE) - Bolton boss Owen Coyle promised to strengthen in the summer as his side signed off a mixed Premier League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Birmingham.
The Trotters have struggled to get out of the bottom half of the table all season and needed these three points to avoid recording their lowest ever haul in the Premier League.
Kevin Davies headed them into the lead before Ivan Klasnic added a second and while a James McFadden goal made the final ten minutes interesting it proved Bolton’s afternoon.
Coyle said: “It is always nice to end your season with a win and on a high.
“We made some terrific and inventive attacking play but then we are a good side and I know that.
“We will do our best to bring in some fresh talent in the summer and add to what we have already got.”
Birmingham’s season had long since died away and the Blues have been seemingly marooned in mid-table for an age.
That takes nothing away from the remarkable achievement of Alex McLeish in guiding them to safety with relative ease on their return to the top flight.
Lee Bowyer had the first chance of the game after Cameron Jerome burst down the left and pulled the ball back but the midfielder, who has enjoyed a renaissance season this term, fired wide when well placed.
Bolton are a team in flux under Coyle and continue to develop but showed signs of what they are capable of by taking the lead when Matt Taylor’s vicious free-kick was whipped in past Joe Hart and Davies was there to power in the header.
McFadden had a equaliser ruled out as he skipped past the offside trap to go clear and after his first attempt was saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen as the ball rebounded to him it appeared to clip his arm en-route to the goal.
Birmingham were then the beneficiaries of a refereeing decision when Bolton had a decent penalty appeal turned down as Jack Wilshere’s goal-bound shot struck Liam Ridgewell’s raised arm but no spot-kick was awarded.
Roger Johnson drew a fine save from Jaaskelainen as he turned sharply on the edge of the penalty area for the Finnish international to leap low to his left.
Bolton then doubled there lead thanks to Manchester City loanee Vladimir Weiss whose quick feet forced the Birmingham defence to stand off and the Slovakian switched to his left and passed into the path of Klasnic.
Birmingham appeared energised by the introduction of Chucho Benitez who was making probably his last appearance for the club as they look unlikely to exercise a clause making his loan move permanent.
In a five-minute passage of play the Ecuadorian was denied by Jaaskelainen and then won a penalty for his side under the attentions of Paul Robinson.
Benitez elected to take the spot-kick himself only for it to be saved by Jaaskelainen and amid the melee McFadden stabbed home from close-range.
McLeish said: “To finish ninth is a great achievement. I thought this was a good game between two teams trying to win.
“Obviously we want to improve on what we have done this season and there are players in mind.
“We will no doubt be competing with many teams for the same players but we will do our utmost to strengthen.”
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