Trotters trounced! Bolton Wanderers 0 – 2 Newcastle United – match report

Posted on December 26th, 2011 | 14 Comments |

Hatem Ben Arfa scores for Newcastle.
Well done Benny!
Bolton Wanderers 0 – 2 Newcastle United (Hatem Ben Arfa (69), Demba Ba (71)

Newcastle United were in their all black strip for this game, and enjoyed the backing of 4,000 travelling Geordies who pretty much took over the ground – at least in terms of noise!  As a result of the Toon Army being in town, Bolton registered their biggest crowd of the season – 26,080, beating even the crowd for the visit of Man Utd from just down the road.

With games against Liverpool and Man Utd next, Newcastle fans could be forgiven for hoping we would bank 3 points here against the second bottom team. Santon’s knee injury saw the return of Ryan Taylor, and Mike Williamson made a welcome return after long-term injury, back at the expense of Perch and Cabaye, who also returned after his one game suspension.

Bolton looked nervous and edgy as United started the game in familiar fashion – controlling things and pressing the ball early. They continued to dominate as the game progressed, with loud backing from the Toon Army, and almost went ahead in the 16th minute, Ryan Taylor with a free kick over the wall forcing Jaaskelainen to fling himself to his left to palm away. At this stage, Bolton were only making the odd fruitless sortie forward on the break.

Cheick Tiote was having a private feud with Nigel Reo-Coker and after 20 minutes, Tiote was spoken to for a second bad tackle. It was clear Tiote really needed to watch himself as there was still a long way to go in the match and if the feud continued you could see the inevitable yellow card being brandished.

After 28 mins we nearly saw an own goal as Robinson headed back to Jaaskelainen and almost beat the keeper who had to dive to his left to stop the ball entering the net.The game was beginning to shape up like the Swansea one with United well on top but unable to press home their advantage and turn it into goals.

After 33 minutes the totally ineffective Klasnic crashed into Tiote from behind right in front of the referee and earned himself a yellow card. On the basis of what we saw of Klasnic it was difficult to understand how he is keeping Kevin Davies out of the team.

In the 35th minute, the predicted and inevitable yellow arrived for Tiote after a tackle on Rio-Coker under the nose of the referee. I suppose these things will always happen with the way Tiote plays, but we have to wonder what we would lose if he was asked to play any differently. Personally, I like him just the way he is!

With 7 minutes to go to half-time Bolton had their first real chance as Cabaye gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. Petrov beats the wall, only to see a great save by Krul diving to his left.

Just before half time, Newcastle had their best chance of the game so far, a free header for Leon Best from a left wing cross, but he  glanced it wide from 3 yards out when all he had to do was get it on target. The best chance of the half and also the biggest miss. If only it had been Ba (or dare I say it – even Shola! There, I said it!).

Bolton finished the half strongly with a couple of corners, although it has to be said Tim Krul gave the first one away, totally mis-kicking whilst not under any great pressure. Bolton fans began to wake up on the back of this little surge.

Half time arrived, and to be honest, apart from those late corners, United’s defence had rarely been troubled in the first 45 minutes.

Second half

The second half started with Newcastle kicking towards the end housing the United faithful. After five minutes there was a bit of a scare when Klasnic clattered into Krul, who fell awkwardly. Newcastle fans chewed their nails as Krul stayed down and needed a bit of treatment on his left knee.

If the first half belonged to Newcastle, the second half was looking more even with Bolton enjoying greater possession and passing the ball around much better.

The 61st minute saw Alan Pardew respond to the Toon Army’s chants for Hatem Ben Arfa, with Leon Best making way. Best didn’t look amused about having to go off. He could, of course, always try scoring from some of the chances he gets and maybe it wouldn’t happen!

Bolton continued to press and were beginning to look the more likely side. A good shot by Petrov was just wide of Krul’s left post.

In the 68th minute that all changed. Gutierrez fed Ryan Taylor who slid the ball into the middle of the Bolton area, where Ben Arfa didn’t hesitate. His left foot shot bulleted into the net giving Jaaskelainen no chance. It was his second goal for the club and good to see him hit it first time which was in stark contrast to how Best messes about and always needs an extra touch. Bolton 0 – 1 Newcastle United.

That goal clearly broke whatever little confidence Bolton had left, and two minutes later it got even better. The much-maligned Obertan put in a great cross from the right and Demba Ba was there to knock it into the roof of the net in spite of close attention from a defender. Bolton 0 – 2 Newcastle United.

73rd minute – Cahill steamrollered Ba from behind then whilst he was on the ground appeared to kick him in the head. Ba jumped up and squared up to him as the other players and the ref moved in to break it up. Good luck with this Cahill lad Chelsea, looks like you’ve got the new John Terry there!

Two up and United were cruising with little resistance from Bolton.  In the 83rd minute Obertan was replaced by Shola Ameobi and in 87th Cabaye went off to be replaced by Perch.

A good result for the Toon, which should help confidence as we go into the games against Liverpool and Man United. Positives were the goals as well as another clean sheet and seeing Mike Williamson get a full game under his belt.  Only 10 more points to be gained to reach the traditional 40 point safety mark!

Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Jussi Jaaskelainen (G), Dedryck Boyata, Zat Knight, Gary Cahill, Paul Robinson; Mark Davies, Fabrice Muamba (Chris Eagles 67), Nigel Reo-Coker, Martin Petrov; Ivan Klasnic (Tuncay 76), David Ngog (Kevin Davies 76).

Subs: Adam Bogdan (G), Sam Ricketts, David Wheater, Darren Pratley, Chris Eagles, Tuncay, Kevin Davies

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul (G), Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Ryan Taylor, Gabriel Obertan (Shola Ameobi 84), Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye (James perch 88), Jonas Gutierrez, Demba Ba, Leon Best (Hatem Ben Arfa 63).

Subs: Rob Elliot (G), Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi, Hatem Ben Arfa, James Perch, Haris Vuckic.

Yellow cards: Ivan klasnic (31), Cheick Tiote (35).

Red cards: None.

Match highlights, post match interviews, stats etc.

NUFCBlog Author: UTD111 UTD111 has written 59 articles on this blog.

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14 Responses

  1. Very Dull up until second half-Best was plop and Obertan.
    Excellent 3 points and some decent stuff second half.
    Job Done.

  2. I’ve just seen that workyticket says: I’ve just noticed this is my 500th blog on here.
    well done mate! I’ve only been on the blog for a few months but I’m now a devoted fan – keep it up & all the best for future posts!

    I’ll get on with reading “newboy” UTD111’s welcom match report now – always look forward to top notch reports & banter here – especialy after a win!

    HWTL

  3. HBA comes on and scores whereas Best does nothing. Ba and HBA behind to start the Liverpool game!

  4. Much needed win maybe Pardew will stick Ben Arfa in against Liverpool he was the difference today.Blackburn took a point today so who knows well done lads.

  5. I don’t think we were that good to be honest – we were completely reliant on the long boot down the park. When HBA came on for Best we started to play a bit, passing the ball and generally looking like the side we were early in the season – sadly that lasted only a few minutes and disappeared completely once Strolla and Perch came on. Not sure why we’ve changed our tactics so much from what we were successful with early in the season. Got the 3 points though, and that’s what matters!

  6. Highlights, interviews and stuff like that is up now.

    I fell asleep in the second half before the subs came on because I had absolutely no sleep last night, but the bit I saw looked like a Mike Bassett team playing Bobby Gould’s Wimbledon, but that wasn’t Leon Best’s fault.

    Yohan Cabaye said he joined the team because Pardew promised him that he would make Newcastle United play entertaining, passing football where he would get at least 100 touches a game. I’ve read the stats for one game and he got seventy odd.

  7. Give Best a break!

    The new Bete Noir?

    Great win, about time we won over xmas & particularly away to bolton.

    worky,
    well done on breaking the 500 barrier mate, great work man.

    Howay the Lads!

  8. CLiNT FLiCK says:

    December 27, 2011 at 12:45 am

    “worky,
    well done on breaking the 500 barrier mate, great work man.”

    Cheers Clint. When are you going to break the 35 barrier? ;-)

  9. worky,

    i’ve had a mental few weeks mate, i’m hoping for a bit more time in the new year.
    I will be back though.
    Soz like, just not enough hours in the day.

    ;)

  10. CLiNT FLiCK says:
    December 27, 2011 at 10:57 am

    “i’ve had a mental few weeks mate, i’m hoping for a bit more time in the new year.
    I will be back though.
    Soz like, just not enough hours in the day.”

    Clint I was joking. I’m hardly holding my breath waiting. :-)

  11. In reply to Canadatoonand and others the reason that we are playing long ball is that we have been found out. AP plays the same tactics every time – two up front and two wingbacks in front of the fullbacks. Even If the personnel change – Shola for Best say – the system stays the same. Added to which we dont threaten down the wings much.
    This must make us one off the easiest teams to prepare to play against. Flood the midfield and outnumber whichever combination of Cabay /Tiote / Guthrie are in the middle. Don’t let them pass it forward, make them hoof it and we will win it back as they don’t have anyone working off the two forwards and neither Ba nor Best are good at hold up play.
    We have done well because of the defence holding fast, the opposition getting tired and our finally getting forward on the ground – as yesterday.
    This won’t change until we are prepared to try something different, such as 4 5 1 with quick midfielders breaking through, such as HBA. Or something else, but not more of the same please. We need more against better teams than the doomed Bolton.