Bolton Wanderers v Manchester United,
Barclays Premier League,
Saturday 17January, 2009,
The Reebok Stadium, 3pm Kick-Off
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Final Score: Bolton 0 Manchester United 1 (Berbatov 89)
90+2 mins - There's a sickening feeling around the Reebok as the full-time whistle is blown. Bolton have not deserved to lose and everyone knows it. The United fans are cheering and singing in the South Stand, but they know fully well that they have been very very fortunate to leave with the three points.
89 mins - Goal for Manchester United! Heartbreak again late on for the Whites as Berbatov heads in from five yards. Tevez found himself free down the right, clipped a ball into the box and the Bulgarian didn't miss from close range.
89 mins - Ronaldo weaves his way past Steinsson and Muamba, but his poked shot is clutched by Jaaskelainen
86 mins - So close to a late goal for Kevin Davies. Muamba drilled a 25 yard volley into the box and Davies somehow stuck his head on it. Davies directed it a yard or so over the bar, but Van der Sar was certainly beaten.
84 mins - Puygrenier is on to make his debut for Bolton in place of Ricardo Gardner. It looks like it's five in defence for the final stage of the game.
83 mins - Again Jussi Jaaskelainen does well to deny Ronaldo from a long-range free-kick. The big Finn has been in top form this afternoon.
79 mins - Tope Obadeyi does excellently down the left to firstly hold off Jonny Evans before whipping in a delicious low cross. Van der Sar pounces on the ball to keep Matty Taylor at bay.
75 mins - Paul Scholes laces on from the edge of the area after being picked out from Ryan Giggs. It looked goal-bound until it hit a melee of bodies. Bolton are defending resolutely at the moment.
73 mins - John O'Shea is booked for a deliberate foul on Kevin Davies. The left-back can have no complaints as Davies was away down the right.
68 mins - Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are on for United in place of Darren Fletcher and Anderson.
65 mins - Again Ronaldo finds himself unmarked on the left. He cuts the ball across and Samuel hacks clear. United are beginning to assert themselves on the game.
64 mins - Ronaldo is clear on the left having been picked out by Michael Carrick. The winger cuts the ball back for Dimitar Berbatov, but Cahill capitalises on the Bulgarian's hesitation to make a perfectly timed tackle.
63 mins - Tope Obadeyi is primed for action and he replaces new boy Ariza Makukula.
60 mins - Ronaldo's free-kick causes problems forJaaskelainen as it bounces a yard in front of him. Improvising, Jussi repels the ball with a parried save. It was a 'hearts in mouth' moment.
58 mins - Up the other end and Fletcher at the far post can't get a touch on Ronaldo's deep cross.
57 mins - A great free-flowing move by Bolton results in Kevin Davies heading fractionally over the bar. Taylor played in Samuel and the full-back did well to stand a floated cross up to the far post. Davies did well to win his header, but it landed agonisingly on the roof of the net.
55 mins - The ball lands at Matt Taylor's feet, 20 yards from goal. He takes one touch before volleying at goal. It's high and doesn't trouble United's Dutch goalkeeper.
53 mins - Wanderers break with Fabrice Muamba and Ricardo Gardner. The Jamaican looks to play the killer pass through to Makukula, but doesn't put enough weight on it and Evans intercepts
48 mins - 'Ooohhhs' from the Wanderers supporters as Gretar Steinsson whips across an inviting ball. It's just a bit too deep for Matt Taylor and rolls behind for a goal-kick.
46 mins - Ricardo Gardner and Ariza Makakula get the second half up and running.
45+2 mins - That's it. Andre Marriner blows for half-time.
45 mins - Two minutes of added time to be played.
44 mins - Jussi looks like he could be having one of those days. This time he makes an amazing save to thwart Ronaldo. The World Player of the Year lined up a free-kick from 23 yards and in his unique style, he laced the ball goalwards. It looked to be heading into the bottom corner, but Jussi flung himself to his left and made the save of the match so far.
40 mins - Tevez's flick sets O'Shea away and he embarks on a direct run into Bolton's box. The Irishman squares the ball, however Gary Cahill read the danger and boots the ball to safety.
38 mins - Both managers are out in their technical area bellowing instructions at their players.
34 mins - Ronaldo's header from 10 yards out is parried away by Jaaskelaine. Neville played what looked like an overhit pass to Fletcher on the right, but the midfielder did well to keep the ball in play. His chipped cross well directed by Ronaldo, but again Jaaskelainen did the neccessary business.
32 mins - Davies volleys wide from just outside the box. You can see the Bolton players gaining confidence and they have certainly been the better team so far in the first half an hour.
28 mins - A fabulous effort by Muamba. The athletic midfielder carried the ball 20 yards, shrugged off a tackle from Anderson and blazed one at goal with his left foot. It took a good save by Van der Sar to deny Muamba as he got his fingers to the ball and tipped it over the bar.
24 mins - Play is held up whilst we have an intruder on the pitch. He is dealt with by an army of stewards and play continues.
23 mins - Tevez finds Jaaskelainen equal to his long range effort. It was a comfortable save by the Finn diving to his right.
22 mins - Makukula is the first name in the referee's notebook for a barge on Nemanja Vidic.
20 mins - A great run from Ricardo Gardner down the left. Having carried the ball 20 yards, he shoots wide from just inside the area.
19 mins - Bolton have a throw deep in Manchester United territory. Steinsson launches it into the box and it is cleared out to Muamba. The midfielder shoots, but he scuffs it and Davies can't convert with an ambitious bicycle kick.
15 mins - Berbatov and Tevez combine well on the edge of Wanderers' box. The Bulgarian has a snap shot which flies high and wide over Jaaskelainen's crossbar.
13 mins - No real clear cut chances in the opening stages. Both teams are just feeling their way into the game.
10 mins - Steinsson gallops forward and picks the ball out on the right touchline. He whips in a dangerous looking cross, however Van der Sar is alert and makes a routine grasp.
7 mins - Gretar Steinsson makes an excellently timed tackle on Darren Fletcher. From the resulting corner, Jussi makes a commanding catch.
6 mins - Michael Carrick overhits a slid-rule pass to Gary Neville. It runs behind for a goal-kick and is greeted with ironic cheers from the Bolton supporters.
4 mins - Basham trips Ronaldo in the centre of the field. United take the free-kick quickly but the possession is only brief as Carlos Tevez shoots wide from 25 yards.
2 mins - Early free-kick to the Whites just inside the United half. Andy O'Brien floats it in and there's a bit of a scramble before it deflects out for a goal-kick.
15.00 - Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov get the game underway.
14.57 - Out come the players to a huge cheer. We have all the pre-match formalities before the minute of applause as a tribute to the late Ian Greaves.
14.53 - Carnival atmosphere at the Reebok! Drums, flags, break dancers, cheerleaders, it's all happening here today. Just under five minutes to go until kick-off and there really is a buzz about the place.
14.38 - Tony Kelly has just given us his prediction for this afternoon. He reckons it will be a repeat of last year with Bolton winning 1-0. I'm sure all Wanderers fans will take that scoreline!
14.37 - Just to remind local supporters that the Goldline Trophy first semi-final between Stoneclough and Euxton Villa will take place at Chorley Football Club this Monday with a 7.30pm kick-off.
14.36 - There should be great scenes around the stadium throughout today's game. The club have handed out 20,000 flags to supporters passing through the turnstiles which should help create a rapturous atmosphere throughout the course of the afternoon.
14.35 - Don't forget that there's live uninterrupted commentary on Wanderers World. The broadcast has just started, so get logged on now!
14.34 - Let's give a quick mention to Peter Farrell's youth side, who made it through to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup in midweek. The U18s were comfortable winners over Hull City and a 4-0 scoreline certainly didn't flatter. Nottingham Forest lie in wait in the next round.
14.33 - Before kick-off we will be honouring the life of former Wanderers manager Ian Greaves, who passed away earlier this month. Both sets of supporters will come together for a minute of applause.
14.32 - Just under half an hour until kick-off and the teams have been announced. Makukula starts for Bolton and Pugrenier is amongst the subsitutes. Shittu drops down to the bench as Cahill returns to partner O'Brien in defence. Basham is named in the starting line-up and is more than likely to play in midfield with Steinsson returning from suspension at right-back.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Andy O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Taylor, Basham, Gardner, Muamba, Davies (c), Makukula (Subs: Bogdan, Riga, Smolarek, Shittu, Pugrenier, Obadeyi Sinclair)
Manchester United: Van der Sar, Neville (c), Ronaldo, Anderson, Berbatov, Vidic, Carrick, O'Shea, Evans, Fletcher, Tevez (Subs: Park, Giggs, Nani, Scholes, Welbeck, Kuszczak, Chester)
14.30 - Hello and welcome to the Reebok Stadium. It's the big one and the game that supporters look forward to every season as Manchester United are in town. An enormous crowd is expected this afternoon with near enough 27,000 spectators anticipated to be inside the stadium come 3pm. The excitement is certainly building.
