BOLTON WANDERERS made a winning start to their first-ever European campaign as Mexican striker Jared Borgetti netted his first goal for the club in stoppage time, and in turn giving the Whites a crucial advantage for the return leg in two weeks’ time.
The game was well and truly dominated by the home side with no fewer than eleven attempts at goal, and Bolton showed their attacking intent almost from the kickoff. But with almost half an hour gone the party atmosphere turned sour as a classic counter-attack from Lokomotiv resulted in Boban Jancevski giving the Bulgarians a shock 1-0 lead, leaving the home crowd stunned.
The players appeared just as shocked as the fans were, and became very nervous and edgy as the interval loomed. Passes were goig astray, and angry words were being exchanged between the Bolton players.
So half-time, and in a half where Bolton dominated, they managed to somehow find themselves in the dressing room a goal down. An inspiring team-talk would be needed from Sam Allardyce at the break, and it would appear that certainly happened.
After the interval Wanderers looked refreshed, and determined to get back into the game. And although Jay-Jay Okocha’a shot soon after half-time was blazed over the bar, you could tell that Bolton were going to keep plugging away for the equalizer.
By now however, Plovdiv were beginning to defend their single-goal advantage doggedly, and proceeded to waste time at any opportunity, any foul resulting in a visiting player writhing around in agony for a matter of minutes. But this was to be to their peril as after a Lokomotiv counter-attack broke down, one of their players stayed down in a heap, but the referee played on and ignored the complaints.
And Bolton immediately went on the offensive. Nicky Hunt played in a superb right-wing cross towards El-Hadji Diouf, and a diving header from the Senegalese star brought Bolton level. The home crowd was lifted, and the whole atmosphere of the game changed.
Bolton pushed up, and the introduction of new signing Fabrice Fernandes appeared to give them that extra edge that was lacking. Fernandes went close with two long-range efforts within minutes of coming on, and the home fans sensed victory was near.
They were right, and sure enough in the first minute of stoppage time, a great lay-off from Fernandes put through fellow substitute Jared Borgetti, who cooly slotted into the bottom corner and the Reebok was rocking.
It was the Mexican’s first goal since joining the club, and the stoppage-time strike proved to be enough to give Bolton a decent advantage to take to Bulgaria in a fortnight.
So Bolton’s UEFA Cup campaign is well and truly underway, and the 1,900 Wanderers fans that will make the trip to the Balkans will feel confident of making the group stages.
Final score in the UEFA Cup tonight, Bolton 2 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1