Bolton Wanderers 2 Birmingham City 2: Colin Tattum's player and match ratings

Aug 30 2010 By Colin Tattum

BLUES (4-5-1)

FOSTER......................  6
Very little to do, maintained watching brief for the most part and dealt with aerial threat.

CARR..........................  5.
Gamely continues with broken toe, was not quite as effective joining in yet battled away

RIDGEWELL.............. 6
Thumping tackles in first-half, quick in thought and deed

JOHNSON.................... 7
Got first goal for club, dealt with what came his way in no-nonsense fashion, penalty soft

DANN........................... 7.
Rugged in response to balls into and around the box, never wavered or wilted

LARSSON................... 6
Burst forward and broke intelligently, energetic and linked in.

BOWYER................... 7
Excellent early on, made fine runs and passed ball with vision

GARDNER................ 7
Growing in stature, did most things very well and there again to score

* FERGUSON............. 7
Back to smooth best, calm under pressure and moved the play on cleverly

McFADDEN................. 7
Very determined and focused, caused problems with elusive dribbles

JEROME......................... 6
Had the thankless lone role, ran hard and battled physically, great chance at the death, though

Subs:
Derbyshire (for McFadden 67),
Fahey (for Larsson 76).
Not used: O’Connor, Zigic, Murphy, Valles, Taylor.

BOLTON (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Robinson, Cahill, Knight, Lee, Holden (M Davies 78), Muamba, K Davies, Elmander (Blake 67), Petrov (Bogdan 39). Not used: Taylor, Ricketts, Alonso, O’Brien.

SENDING-OFF: Jaaskelainen (37, violent conduct).

BOOKINGS:
Bowyer (21, dissent), Johnson (38, unsporting behaviour), Larsson (72, foul). - Blues.
K Davies (83, foul), Muamba (89, foul) - Bolton.

MANAGER: 6
Made changes with best of intentions.

MATCH RATING: 6
Clash of styles and dramatic late on.

REFEREE: 4.
K FRIEND (Leics) Caused uncertainty with flawed judgement.

CROWD WATCH: 7
Blues contingent in good voice and humour.

Attendance: 18,139.

INJURIES:
Larsson off with knee problem.

WHO’S NEXT UP FOR BLUES?
Liverpool, home, September 12 (4pm).