Allardyce Defends Tactics

Last updated : 26 February 2005 By Mark Heys
Sam Allardyce has defended the tactics that he used the last time Bolton faced Newcastle United back in October.

Allardyce and his Bolton team where criticised by the Newcastle boss Graeme Souness for their direct and aggressive approach during the clash at the Reebok Stadium last year.

This caused many people from across the nation to jump on the bandwaggon and draw comparisons between Bolton and the old Wimbledon teams of the 1980's.

The two sides face each other for the first time since that game at 1pm tommorow lunchtime and Allardyce says that his side will play to their strengths just to win the game.

"I call it winning football, it's the only sort you can play. Everyone can be sucked into the fact that we use our weapons very well.

"We've got lots of skill and talent but we've other strengths and if Jay-Jay Okocha can send a throw-in 35 yards it's a weapon we'll use. It just so happens that when Newcastle came here we had about 16 long throws in the last third which was an unusually high number."