Hull v Bolton Report
By Tiger Tim
November 9 2008
Hull went into the game on the back of successive league defeats for the first time this season following 5-0 and 4-3 losses to Chelsea and Manchester United, while Gary Megson's side had ended a run of three games without a win last weekend as they saw off Manchester City 2-0.
The hosts started the brighter of the two
teams in what was a largely uneventful first half, with Geovanni lively
in the opening exchanges and firing in a low, left-footed effort that
required the full attention of Jaaskelainen. Marlon King's back-heeled flick towards goal
after 18 minutes rebounded back off the crossbar, the closest either
side came to breaking the deadlock prior to the interval, though it was
Bolton that took the lead minutes after half-time. Gavin McCann whipped in a corner and the
ball eventually fell to Taylor, with the Bolton midfielder firing in an
innocuous looking effort that found its way into the back of the net.Hull
toiled as they went in search of an equaliser, but they could find no
way past Jaaskelainen as the Finnish shot-stopper made incredible saves
to deny Geovanni and King among others. Daniel Cousin was also a whisker away in
the 31st minute when he attacked a left-wing ball with his head, this
time from George Boateng, only for it to drop inches wide of the
left-hand post.It was then sod's law that after doing nothing in the first half, Bolton managed to take the lead five minutes into the second.McCann
delivered a corner into the near post that was met by a looping header
from captain Ian Ashbee that came off the back of Gretar Steinsson.The
ball then sat up for Taylor to strike a half-volley from the edge of
the area that crept inside Myhill's right-hand post, much to his fury
and frustration.The reason Hull then failed to equalise was down to Jaaskelainen as he stole the spotlight. Bolton then came close themselves through Taylor and substitute Ebi Smolarek prior to Jaaskelainen again turning on the style.Again Geovanni was thwarted in the 85th minute as a low, right-footed angleddrive spun off the Finn's body.Three
minutes later and King was the one frustrated as Jaaskelainen pushed
away an edge-of-the-area shot before punching clear the loose ball that
Geovanni was poised to nod home.When Ashbee whistled a 22-yard
half-volley inches over the crossbar it summed up Hull's afternoon - a
case of so near, yet so far.
A foul from Fabrice Muamba on Dean Marney
gave Geovanni the perfect opportunity from 22 yards, but despite
looping a right-foot shot over the wall, a full-stretch Jaaskelainen
clawed the ball away.Then in the 70th minute, after Ricardo
Gardner was cautioned, Marney whipped in a fierce delivery too quick
for Bolton's belated offside trap.An all-alone Geovanni seemed
certain to score as he rose from the edge of the six-yard box to nod
the ball down into the turf, only for Jaaskelainen to somehow scrape
the header off his line.
Full Time Hull 0-1 Bolton (Taylor 50)
Report taken from http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3003760,00.html
Hull manager Phil Brown on Jussi Jaaskelainen's impressive performance:
"He's had a blinder. He pulled off a couple of great saves, with the one from the Geovanni header the turning point.
"But he had one of those days, although he is a world-class 'keeper anyway, and I've nothing but admiration for him.
"He is certainly one of the best in the Premier League, and that's the standard we have to attain."
Bolton boss Gary Megson on Jaaskelainen:
"He will get the headlines, and rightly so because his performance was unbelievable, as good as you are ever going to see.
"Some of his saves, like the one from the free kick - which was bad defending from ourselves - at point-blank range was good enough. But to then spring onto his feet and palm it away from the other forward coming in was top-class goalkeeping.
"There are some good goalkeepers throughout the world, and we certainly wouldn't swap him for anybody.
"He is not just a terrific goalkeeper, but a good lad, a good
pro, and everything that comes his way he deserves because he works his
socks off in training."
Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson (Ricketts 64), Boateng (Folan 73), Ashbee, Marney, Geovanni, King, Cousin (Mendy 54).
Subs Not Used: Duke, Barmby, Garcia, Halmosi.
Booked: Dawson.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Muamba, Gardner, McCann, Taylor, Elmander (Smolarek 77), Davies.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Helguson, Shittu, Basham, Sissons, Obadeyi.
Booked: Muamba, Gardner.
Goals: Taylor 50.
Att: 24,903
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Taken from the bbc http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7697414.stm
| hull City | Bolton | |
| Goals scored | 0 | 1 |
| 1st half Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 2 |
| Shots off Target | 8 | 3 |
| Blocked Shots | 6 | 8 |
| Corners | 6 | 7 |
| fouls | 16 | 12 |
| Offsides | 4 | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 2 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
| Possession | 52% | 48% |