Bolton Wanderers 1 Newcastle United 0

Last updated : 29 March 2004 By Mark Heys
Bolton Wanderers finally netted a Premiership win at the seventh time of asking after a freak goal by Henrik Pedersen just four minutes into the game sealed victory against Champions League chasing Newcastle United.

Not since the 2-1 away day victory against Charlton Athletic in January had the Wanderers claimed three points so to gain the advantage over the Magpies would have been a huge boost for all concerned at the club after alarm bells had started to ring in recent weeks following the club's dismal spell.

The game itself started at a fairly high tempo but no one in the stadium could have predicted what was to happen next when Henrik Pedersen gave chase to a long ball upfield. The Danish striker outmuscled debutant Steven Taylor on the left hand side before hoofing a high ball into the penalty area which deceived everyone including Newcastle keeper Shay Given as it bounced into the roof of the net from an almost impossible angle.

On 12 minutes Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy broke clear down the right hand side on a counter attack and his cross found it's way to Alan Shearer who tried an acrobatic effort which was comfortably saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.

Nicky Hunt and Jay-Jay Okocha both had long range efforts for the Trotters which where unable to trouble Given sufficiently into making a save but from a neutral point of view the game, like in the two previous meetings between the two sides at the Reebok Stadium, was an exciting encounter to watch.

Bellamy then missed a perfect opportunity to equalise for the North East side when he fired wide after finding himself in a one-on-one situation with Jaaskelainen after former Sunderland defender Emerson Thome had underhit a backpass.

On the half hour mark Newcastle defender Titus Bramble blazed over the crossbar from five yards out after Jaaskelainen had saved an initial shot from England defender Jonathan Woodgate much to the frustration of Sir Bobby Robson who was furious on the touchline with some of the decisions against his side.

Stelios Giannakopoulos once again justified his recall to the Bolton team after yet another fine performance. The Greek international had a couple of opportunities before the half time interval to test Given but unfortunately he was unable to add to his goal tally and Bolton's lead.

Bolton were forced into a change at half time with former Newcastle defender Steve Howey replacing Bruno N'Gotty who appeared to take a knock in the closing minutes of the first half. Howey found himself immediately in a foot race with former team mate Alan Shearer but the attentions of the defender could not put the former England man off but his effort went wide of the goal mouth.

On 55 minutes Ivan Campo could have doubled Bolton's lead when he turned smartly in the area, however the Spaniard could not keep his shot down and the ball was fired high into the Family Stand. A few minutes later goalscorer Pedersen found himself on a mazy run which ended when he was fouled by the Newcastle defence in what some sections of the crowd claimed was a penalty but referee Mike Dean awarded a free kick as he felt the Wanderers striker was impeded outside the box. Jay-Jay Okocha wasted the resulting free kick as it cannoned back off the Newcastle wall.

Giannakopoulos then forced the save of the match from Shay Given in the Newcastle goal when his goalbound overhead kick was tipped away by the Republic of Ireland international following a long throw from Okocha, the acrobatic effort by the Greek appeared to be sailing into Given's bottom right hand corner but a fantastic diving save prevented Stelios from making it 2-0.

Nicky Hunt then was replaced by Per Frandsen in what appeared to be a shoulder injury but the youngster was able enough to resume his place back on the bench for the closing stages of the game. Ivan Campo reverted to right back with Thome, Howey and Charlton being the other three defenders. Newcastle themselves made a triple change as Darren Ambrose, Hugo Viana and Shola Ameobi came on for Lee Bowyer, Laurent Robert and Jermaine Jenas.

Jaaskelainen is then forced into a fine save tipping an effort from Woodgate over the bar in the closing stages whilst young full back Taylor saw his tame shot sail wide of the goal in a match that although blessed with some fortune saw a good game of football with Wanderers this time earning the points for a good performance.