Bolton Can Pose A Threat To Magpies!

Last updated : 22 August 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
2007/8 NEWCASTLE 0 BOLTON 0

Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Milner,Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Duff (LuaLua 80), Owen, Ameobi.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Edgar, Troisi, Carroll.

Kevin Keegan's homecoming ended in disappointment as battling Bolton denied him a victory on his return to St James' Park.

The visitors might even have headed home with all three points had Shay Given not produced a fine late save to deny substitute Jlloyd Samuel on a frustrating afternoon for the Magpies.

Keegan saw his side struggle to impose themselves before the break and then meet stern resistance when they made a second-half charge.

The 56-year-old had tasted victory in his first game as a Newcastle player and again when he took over as manager in 1992, but he could not complete a hat-trick with a crowd of 52,250 roaring his side on throughout.

But in truth, they rarely threatened to produce the brand of football Keegan is determined to deliver with Jussi Jaaskelainen having to turn away a dangerous James Milner cross and Ricardo Gardner taking the ball off Shola Ameobi's toe when he was handed a rare sight of goal.

2006/7 NEWCASTLE 1 BOLTON 2

Harper, Carr, Moore, Bramble, Ramage,Solano (N'Zogbia 67), Parker, Emre (Rossi 84), Duff, Ameobi,Martins.

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Sibierski, Taylor.

Newcastle once again squandered precious Barclays Premiership home points as Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf plundered a double to complete a second-half comeback.

Shola Ameobi's 19th-minute penalty had given the Magpies a deserved lead at the break with the visitors showing few signs of what was to come.

However, defensive errors once again cost the Magpies dear as Diouf first converted a 55th-minute Nicolas Anelka cross and then headed home from close-range two minutes later to snatch victory.

2005/6 NEWCASTLE 3 BOLTON 1

Given, Ramage, Elliott, Boumsong, Babayaro, Solano,Parker, Emre (Bowyer 82), N'Zogbia, Shearer, Ameobi (Luque 83).

Subs Not Used: Harper, Faye, Clark.

Resurgent Newcastle condemned Bolton to their first Barclays Premiership defeat in eight attempts as Alan Shearer returned from injury to hit the goal trail once again.

Only French aristocrats Marseille had beaten Wanderers in their previous 12 games in all competitions, but Nolberto Solano's exquisite 34th-minute free-kick and Shearer's bullet header 11 minutes later put them firmly on the back foot.

Shola Ameobi made it 3-0 with 21 minutes remaining, but Kevin Davies pulled one back on 71 minutes and the home side had to survive a concerted fightback in which Kevin Nolan had a late effort chalked off for handball.

However, survive it they did to send home the Geordies among a crowd of 52,012 smiling again after singing caretaker boss Glenn Roeder's name in delight at a fifth victory in six games.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has been touted as one of the main candidates for the vacant job at St James' Park, but he left the north-east knowing his current side had left it too late to make their mark on the game.

* Tickets are still on sale from Newcastle United's box office for Saturday's game against Bolton Wanderers. Call 0191 2011571, or log on to
www.nufc.co.uk/tickets.