No TV channels or online streams found for this match.

 

Bolton vs Portsmouth Delayed and Repeat Broadcasts

Country	Date/Time (US/Eastern)	Channel
United States	Sat, Apr 24 16:00pm	Fox Soccer Plus
	Tue, Apr 27 16:00pm	Fox Soccer Plus
	Fri, Apr 30 6:00am	Fox Soccer Plus
Canada	Sat, Apr 24 20:30pm	Sportsnet World
*Don't see your country or favourite channel listed? Let us know and we will include it.

Bolton vs Portsmouth Match Preview

Bolton’s 1-2 victory away at Stoke City last week must have been a sweet one. The Trotters’ Matthew Taylor brought his team back from a 1-0 deficit with two late goals that were entirely unanticipated minutes earlier. And with four consecutive losses behind them, Bolton’s win must have seemed exceptionally sweet.

But were the three points sufficient to guarantee Premier League football next season for manager Owen Coyle and his men?

At seven points above the relegation threshold with three games remaining it would seem unlikely that Bolton would slip far enough back to sacrifice their Premier League status. Nothing is impossible, however, and so Coyle will take nothing for granted against this week’s opponents, Portsmouth.

With Tottenham and Birmingham in their future still the Trotters’ will likely see the Pompey match as their last best chance to pick up points this season.

Portsmouth, already relegated due largely to a nine point deduction for their financial follies this season, have nothing to lose, and could play spoiler for other clubs.

Despite the hurdles the players have faced with wages and other distractions--not least poor results--manager Avram Grant appears to have engendered a good fighting spirit within the squad, and their win over Tottenham in their FA Cup Semi-Final the weekend before last testifies to this fact. They can clearly rise to an occasion.

But can they put a dent in Bolton’s occasion come the weekend? Pompey lost 2-3 to a controversial winner at Fratton Park last time out against the Trotters.

Both Pompey and Bolton come into the match this weekend with a catalog of injuries. Bolton will be missing McCann, Holden, Basham, O’Brien and Davis, while Pompey will be without the services of Belhadj, Webber, Ben Haim and Hreidersson.

Bolton vs Portsmouth Match Statistics

Bolton vs Portsmouth Match Report

Premier League status next season seems assured for Bolton. Nevertheless, manager Owen Coyle was taking no chances as his side squared up against relegation-bound Portsmouth at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday. With Spurs and Birmingham yet to play before the end of the season the Trotters likely saw the Pompey match as their last best chance to pick up points.

Portsmouth, have been struggling all season with financial problems including delayed wages for the players and yet manager Avram Grant has engendered an admirable fighting spirit within the squad.

Being relegated now they have nothing to lose, and could simply play spoiler for other clubs as they look forward now to their FA Cup Final date with Chelsea in May.

Portsmouth keeper David James had an active opening 20 minutes with efforts from Taylor, Cahill and Klasnic.

Bolton’s breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Klasnic headed home off a cross from on-loan youngster Jack Wilshere.

Bolton doubled their lead two minutes later when Vladimir Weiss got hold of the ball on the right near the halfway line and then displayed wonderful skill to get inside the edge of the Portsmouth penalty box from where he slid the ball through to a wide open Kevin Davies in the center.

So the first half ended, and as the second period began Bolton’s lead looked like it might herald a rout with the Trotters pressing the Pompey defense from the outset. But Portsmouth have proven this season that they can rise to an occasion, and they cut the Bolton lead in half in the 55th minute with Dindane chipping the ball into the net off a pass from Piquionne.

The traveling Pompey support witnessed what for them was a delightful turn of events in the 68th minute when Utaka carried the ball deep to the Bolton goal line then knocked it back into the center from where Dindane scored his second of the match.

The 2-2 result seemed a fair reflection of a match that Bolton had in their grasp but Portsmouth refused to relinquish.

Bolton vs Portsmouth Fan Discussion

blog comments powered by Disqus