Bolton 1-1 Tottenham - FA Cup

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Bolton ___________

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Tottenham _________________

The FA Cup - Fifth Round - 14th Feb 2010 - KO 13:30 - Ground: Reebok Stadium

TV: ITV1 | Live Feed | Make Prediction

[SomersetYiddo]

FA Cup is vital and much needed silverware, it will be a tough game against Bolton and we havnt got the best record there. I think Harry will put out a strong enough team to break them down and get the win. We should hope that Man City, Villa, Chelsea etc either lose or get drawn against each other in the quarter finals so we have more of a chance. Is this live on ITV?

[Chelmsford_yid]

Its on ITV 1 mate.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle admits his squad has "a few bumps and bruises" ahead of Spurs' visit, and loan duo Vladimir Weiss and Jack Wilshere are cup-tied.

Gary Cahill heads the list of Trotters' absentees, but Ivan Klasnic, Sean Davis and Gavin McCann are also out injured.

Michael Dawson faces a late fitness test for Spurs, with manager Harry Redknapp also sweating on the fitness of fellow centre back Ledley King.

Illness means Luka Modric is a doubt but Roman Pavlyuchenko could feature.



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Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Knight, Robinson, Gardner, Cohen, Taylor, M Davies, Muamba, Lee, K Davies, A O'Brien, Al Habsi, Samuel, Basham, Elmander, Ricketts, Holden.

Tottenham (from): Gomes, Alnwick, Corluka, Bale, Dawson, Bassong, King, Dervite, Bentley, Kranjcar, Modric, Rose, Palacios, Jenas, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Crouch, Gudjohnsen

[YidJoe24]

For the love of Jesus F. Christ I just want a win!!!! We can't do a Villa!!!!

[Lowestoft Yid]

I think it's gonna B a tough 2 - 1 win for spurs

[goods7]

Oh.... that penalty kick must have been successful. 
So, will there be second match with Bolton? I guess so.

[Chelmsford_yid]

Tottenham fought back to earn an FA Cup fifth-round replay after an entertaining draw against Bolton.

The hosts were much the better side in the first half and went ahead when Kevin Davies completed an impressive passing move by firing in on the turn.

But Spurs responded and equalised when Jermain Defoe fired home on 61 minutes.

And Tom Huddlestone wasted the chance to send Spurs through as Jussi Jaaskelainen saved his penalty after a Sam Ricketts handball.

The old adage of "a game of two halves" can rarely have been more apt, with Bolton utterly dominant before the break and Spurs by far the better side after.

The sparse Valentine's Day crowd suggests the romance of the FA Cup is not what it was but the Bolton fans who did make it the Reebok Stadium found plenty to appreciate in their side's revitalised style of play, particularly in the first 45 minutes.

The hosts, for so long derided as a long-ball side, were slick on the ball throughout and put Tottenham's more fashionable players to shame for long periods.

Chung-Yong Lee's early driven cross was mis-controlled by Matt Taylor and Johan Elmander's follow-up only just deflected over the bar off Vedran Corluka.

The Swede, who has struggled to convince during his time at the Reebok, was then set free by Ricardo Gardner but could only manage an abysmal left-footed effort that was more akin to a rugby conversion.

Spurs were totally unable to get a foothold in the game in the opening period, as Taylor peppered the visiting defence with a series of free-kicks and corners.

One effort tested goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to the limit, while Davies once again bullied the Tottenham defenders at every opportunity.

Spurs' best chance of the opening half-hour was a long-range drive from the recalled Peter Crouch that ended up closer to the corner flag.

Bolton thoroughly deserved to be in front and their fine football finally reaped its rewards with after a 16-pass move.

Elmander broke free down the right and after a one-two with Lee, crossed with pace for Davies to control and fire home on the turn.

Any hopes of an immediate improvement from the visitors after the break were wiped away when a shot from Davies deflected just past the post and Elmander fired into the side-netting after another sweeping move.

Another fluent move, including a sumptuous pass from Davies, ended with Muamba dragging a horrible shot wide before Spurs finally drove forward and hit the crossbar on two occasions.

Firstly Crouch beat Jaaskelainen to a high ball but saw his header come back off the woodwork before a shot from Wilson Palacios caught Paul Robinson's foot and looped onto the bar.

Redknapp's side suddenly had their appetite back and did not have to wait long for a leveller.

Bale burst forward down the left flank and passed to Defoe who slammed the ball high into the net - although a slight deflection off Ricketts did not help Jaaskelainen.

The defender did more damage shortly after when a flick from Crouch in the box cannoned into his raised arm, prompting referee Phil Dowd to award a penalty.

With Defoe having missed from the spot against Leeds in the previous round, Huddlestone stepped up but saw Jaaskelainen pull off a fine save.

The Finnish keeper then pulled off an even better stop to keep out a fizzing long-range drive from Defoe.

Tottenham ended the game much the stronger and really should have won it when Crouch glanced a header wide after more good work from the terrific Bale.

Ultimately Bolton will be the side most relieved to still be in the competition, but neither manager will be happy at the prospect of a replay with a string of crucial league games in the offing.


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Bolton manager Owen Coyle:
"Harry (Redknapp) said to me at full-time he thought it was a game of two halves but I think it was a game of an hour for us with the last half-hour going to Tottenham.

"There is a lot to be pleased about. For large periods of the game we were in the ascendancy.

"If we had come in at half-time with a bigger lead no-one would have thought it was unjust.

"Probably none of us wanted a replay but we are in the draw for the next round and who is to say we can't go there and win the replay.

"It is easy to look back in slow motion and see Sam's arms were already up because of the nature of Crouch's movement but the referee called it and you have to get on with it."

Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan:
"We lived dangerously in the first half as we didn't play particularly well and the performance was not good enough.

"But in the second half we got ourselves sorted out and we should be going away with the victory, no question of that.

"We certainly didn't play in the first half and in the first 30 minutes Bolton's style of play caused us problems and it could have resulted in a second goal and we couldn't have had any complaints.

"It wasn't until the second half we dominated the game.

"We have not been too lucky with penalties. Normally when you see Tom take them in training he does it with power - today he tried to place it.

"But I think when a penalty is saved you have to give credit to the goalkeeper."

[SomersetYiddo]

Why on earth can nobody hit a damn penalty in our team!? I would have let Krancjar take it, see if Huddlestone had scored that no replay at our place making the fixture list longer and risking injury against a strong physical Bolton side. Very poor first half, second half made up for in entertainment slightly but still poor. At least Chelsea drew Man City (or Stoke) so one of the contenders will be out, Fulham away will be tough, probably tougher than this game, but it isnt tough we just make it difficult for ourselves! Bale again was class, since hes filled the role for BAE he has done a great job.

[CountPuchi]

Bale was world class attacking wise, But defending well.. lets just say we conceded due to his leak on the left. He did well above average but BAE wouldnt have let that goal in. Argh damn it, against a physical side we need a solid back 4 to win!

[dedleysting]

I went to this game for a romantic game with the GF and it never really happened.

First half we were dire!

Second half the lads got a rollocking and it worked, Modric was poor and was replaced, Kranjaer came on and did well. Bale was terrific down the left. His assist was superb after a great surging run forward -  the pass to Defoe was ideal and the finish.... well thats Defoe for you

We did derserved the draw in the end. Bolton earned their part too, they passed the ball well and took their goal well too. 17 passes invlolved which was an amazing fact. Very unlike Bolton if im honest.

Shame about the pen, don't know why Tommy didnt get the laces on it and smash it down the middle. It would have taken Jussi into the goal with him. Ah well we were lucky in the first half to escape only the onne goal down. So a replay at WHL is all good