Today, because of the way they worked and the positive manner in which they approached the game, they gave themselves a chance to win – and they grew in confidence.”
Not so long ago – well it was last week, to be precise – Hughes’ Blackburn were supposed to be so far from the angels they were a scar on the face of the Premiership. First and foremost it is about players’ application and allowing themselves an opportunity to have an impact on the game. Said Hughes: “People read too much into formations and the structure of your team Really, it’s all in the mix. Some said Mark Hughes’ triumphant homecoming was the last word in audacity, a timely rebuke to the creeping paralysis of safety-first football But they did not include the man himself. Instead, Hughes offered some thoughts that deserved to be broadcast into every jargon-filled corner of the game. Substitutes not used: Westerveld (gk), Skopelitis.Referee: M Clattenburg (Tyne and Wear).Booked: Bolton Wanderers Ben Haim, Nolan; Portsmouth Stefanovic, Priske.Man of the match: Nakata.Attendance: 23,134.. Substitutes not used: Walker (gk), Borgetti.Portsmouth (4-4-1-1): Ashdown; Priske, O’Brien, Stefanovic, Vignal; O’Neil (Songo’o, 72), Diao, Hughes, Taylor (Karadas, 65); Robert; Silva (Todorov, 85).
“We all lose our cool sometimes when you get a decision that you feel is blatantly against you.”I think he got a little desperate. You cannot control yourself all the time, but he hasn’t hurt anyone and it’s not the end of the world so I hope his punishment isn’t too severe.”Goal: Nolan (25) 1-0.Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen; Hunt (Diouf, 90), Ben Haim, N’Gotty, Pedersen; Nolan, Nakata, Speed (O’Brien, 10), Okocha (Stelios, 73), Gardner; Davies. “We didn’t quite manage it but if we get as close this year then I would be delighted as the manager of a smaller club like ours.”At the opposite end of the table, Alain Perrin’s grip on his job as manager of Portsmouth appears tenuous.Milan Mandaric has already seen six managers come and go in his six years as the South Coast club’s chairman and Perrin’s impersonation of Wayne Rooney in sarcastically applauding Mark Clattenburg, the referee, only served to betray a troubled mind.Out of the Carling Cup and with only one League win to their name, Portsmouth were often accomplished in possession on Saturday but simply failed to defend as a team – witness the ease with which Bolton scored the decisive goal.”I’ve every sympathy for him [Perrin],” said Allardyce. And Manchester City losing three games in a week shows just how quickly things can change,” he said.That may be true, but with a fourth clean sheet in their last six games, during which time they have claimed 13 Premiership points from a possible 15, Bolton have a head start on the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle United in the race to finish in the top four.Kevin Nolan’s overhead kick ensured the latest victory on Saturday in a match that had a predictable air to it from the moment Bolton went ahead.”If ever there was a chance to get into the Champions’ League it was last year with a few games to go and Everton due here [at the Reebok Stadium] on the last day of the season,” said Allardyce.
“It’s too early to say Arsenal or United won’t go on a run and win from way back.”It appears Chelsea won’t throw it away, but the rest of us are able to beat each other and we seem to be able to compete with the likes of United and Arsenal at the moment.”When you’ve got West Ham and Wigan doing what we did a few years ago it shows the excitement of the Premiership. While the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal continue to labour in pursuit of Chelsea, Bolton Wanderers have once again made their way into the higher reaches of the Premiership. It should hardly come as a surprise any more, and as the new season takes shape it already looks clear that the Lancashire club will be more concerned with the top of the table than the bottom.
Sam Allardyce, the Bolton manager, is still advising caution, naturally, but the mere fact that he is discussing the burgeoning title race gives a more accurate indication of where his team’s ambitions really lie.”We’re only in September and haven’t even played 10 games yet,” he said. Subs not used: Taylor (gk), Cahill.Referee: B Knight (Kent)Booked: Chelsea Robben; Aston Villa Angel.Man of the match: Lampard.Attendance: 42,146.. “Chelsea have that something special and bang! They have that bit of magic They have a bit of everything. They can score goals with their head, in open play, they’re aggressive and good at dead balls. You can’t keep scoring the perfect goal, you’ve got to have that mixture.”It is a mixture that will be tested this week against Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions’ League, followed by a League game there.Come through the next seven days unscathed and they can expect more records to tumble.Goals: Moore (44) 0-1; Lampard (45) 1-1; Lampard pen (74) 2-1.Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho (Wright-Phillips, 57), Terry, Gallas; Makelele; Duff, Essien, Lampard, Robben (Gudjohnsen, 62); Crespo (Drogba, 57) Subs not used: Cudicini (gk), JohnsonAston Villa (4-4-2): Sorensen; Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Bouma (Djemba-Djemba, 73); Milner, Davis, Barry (Hendrie, 85), Berger (Samuel, 67); Angel, Moore.
“When you’ve gone and got the lead you don’t give it away with a cheap goal like that at half-time,” he said.To his credit, O’Leary did not set up Villa to suffocate the game but the eight goals they scored last week against Wycombe Wanderers in the Carling Cup were never going to be repeated here. His side lacked creativity in midfield and they missed the speed of the injured Milan Baros in attack, despite Moore’s efforts.At 1-1 the best they could then hope for was a point but as O’Leary pointed out, Chelsea are never far away from scoring.”It’s that fine dividing line,” he said. The Villa manager has a good record of pushing Chelsea in League games but when Lampard’s first went in they were as good as done for. “I’m more concerned – I’m sure the whole club is more concerned – with winning the title back to back,” Lampard said “If that record comes, then it will be fantastic.
