A massive three points from a 4-2 win against Tottenham at the weekend saw Bolton sitting at 5th place in the table. After Tuesday’s matches, Bolton dropped to 8th but they would hope that the position would be only temporary. If points, goals, and results were to go Bolton’s way, they could make their way as high 5th again.
Full match report after the break!
Unfortunately, history is not on the side of the Whites during this fixture. As Matilda pointed out in her match report, Bolton have failed to score at Goodison Park since 2005. Everton are unbeaten in their last six matches, picking up three wins in that stretch and hungry for another on Wednesday.
The first half of the match was largely uneventful for the Whites. Everton controlled nearly every aspect of the game and the only thing that Bolton could really do was foul. Tim Howard was never really called into action for Everton. The stats at the end of the half reflected the action. Everton had 9 shots with 2 on goal. Bolton, on the other hand, with just 4 shots and the 1 on goal coming from Elmander. It really just goes downhill from there. Everton had 3 fouls to Bolton’s 10, 7 corners to 4, and 68% of the possession.
The second half started better for Bolton who piled the pressure on early but could do nothing with their chances. The bright spot came in the 51st minute as Matty Taylor delivered a cross to the far post that found the head of Stuart Holden. The young American attempted to turn it back in from a very difficult angle but the only thing that he could do was force Tim Howard to make a quick reaction save.
Almost again from Bolton in the 75th minute as the roles reversed. Stuart Holden took a corner and swung it into the box. Matty Taylor got a head on it and looked like he had Tim Howard beat the entire way. The crossbar came to Everton’s rescue and put the ball out for a goal kick.
The breakthrough came shortly after. 79th minute. Stuart Holden challenged for a ball in his defensive half and was on the positive end of it. Carrying the ball to the center of the field, Stu found Matty Taylor on the wing who made the run towards the goal line. Running parallel to him was Ivan Klasnic who made his way into the box. Matty Taylor played a ball in across the face of goal that fell perfectly to the feet of the Croatian who simply had to tap it in. 1-0. Brilliant.
Everton would then come undone. In the 88th minute, Paul Robinson made a tackle on Marouane Fellaini who retaliated instantly by kicking Robinson in the family jewels. Red card to the Belgian. Bolton couldn’t make it count though.
In the 94th minute, the Wanderers failed to clear the ball out of their half, allowing Leighton Baines to get a touch onto it. The ball made its way to Jermaine Beckford who opened his Premier League account in spectacular fashion. From an acute angle, the former Leeds player took a shot that went right over Jaaskelainen and into the top corner of the far post. Gutted.
The way that Bolton played, a draw is the absolute fairest result we could have asked for. If Everton had been on at all today, those numbers would have looked much worse for us. That being said, we came away with a point at Goodison Park from a game that we were on the back foot of nearly the entire time. Back up to 6th place then. I’ll take it.