26th October, 1997

[Sluffy]

Chelsea next then. 

They've played seven away games this season and won the lot.  Probably smarting from yesterday's home loss as well.

Sluffys Dates give you the last time we beat Chelsea at home (and the one where Deano got his first goal for us and we got our first ever win at the Reebok - we won't mention the non-goal against Everton grrrrr!) -

Premiership - Bolton 1-0 Chelsea - 26th October, 1997

WANDERERS LIVE ON THE EDGE!

REEBOK fans will need strong hearts and nerves of steel if Colin Todd gets his way.

The Wanderers boss was as relieved as every nail-biting supporter to hear Peter Jones' final whistle proclaim that Dean Holdsworth's goal had won yesterday's close call.



But he's prepared to take all the tension and the pressure the Premiership can throw at him. And if that means a succession of nerve-janglers, then so be it.

"I'll take 1-0 wins from now until the end of the season," Todd joked after seeing Wanderers show the instincts of true survivors to turn the tables on Chelsea.

http://archive.theboltonnews.co.uk/1997/10/27/815604.html

Now we can start to build, says striker

DEAN Holdsworth spoke today about the relief of repaying the first instalment of his massive £3.5 million fee.

"It's like an anvil being lifted off my shoulders," the East End striker admitted after clinching yesterday's historic victory for Wanderers.

http://archive.theboltonnews.co.uk/1997/10/27/815605.html

[Manny]

Ed De Goey, what a good looking guy. I bet he got hit in the face quite a few times as goalkeeper.



I like reading these old dates, it's in and around the times that I was starting to take notice of Bolton, but I don't recall much.

Two weeks after that game, we signed Jussi. Not bad cover for Branagan and Ward!

[Sluffy]

I like reading these old dates....

Seems like only yesterday to me!  

As for Jussi, believe it or not he wasn't that good in the beginning - I remember some of his early games - he had such a bad time that he lost confidence and was dropped - he was very much the third choice keeper back then.  But someone at the club could see he was a good 'un and what a signing he turned out to be.

I've got to say Branagan was a very good keeper back then, I was surprised no bigger team ever tried to sign him - he was a lot better than the likes of Ed De Goey, etc.

[Manny]

I do remember Branagan, but I remember him picking up an injury against Derby in that same season and struggling to get his place back after that.

The first game I can recall Jussi playing in was against Crewe in 1999, we lost 3-1 and for some reason I can remember a terrible goalkeeping error from the Finn.

http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=256360

[Sluffy]

From memory it wasn't that he made any terrible errors but that we were playing badly and letting in a number of goals which in turn was sapping his confidence (according to what Allardyce said at the time anyway) - I seem to recall that this happened more than once.

As for Branny, he did get injured but he did return to take his place from Jussi - he was the number one (with Banks usually preferred to Jussi on the bench) from the start of the 1999/2000 season - until his transfer to Ipswich.

http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=916


Banks was even first choice for a couple of league games in January 2000 - with Jussi on the bench -

http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=381


Now I didn't rate Banks what so ever.  I was even at his debut for Bolton away at Oxford – he kept dropping crosses and I thought it’s going to be a long season if we are going to have this clown in the nets!

http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=257518


Anyway long time ago – Jussi clearly he has no problems with confidence these days.

[Sluffy]

Just read that 365 rate Jussi the best Premiership keeper (see link below) but someone else remembers that he did have his problems early in his career!

"Jussi has stayed at Bolton because of loyalty, and the fact that he has topped the list proves he made the right decision does it not?. In his first few seasons he was a fine shot stopper, but nervous at crosses, a terrible kicker and prone to pull a Gomes at least once a week. He has slowly improved into the keeper he is today, in no small part thanks to Gudni Bergsson headbutting some confidence in to his own keeper a few seasons back - it may be a coincidence but ever since he's been immense."

http://www.football365.com/YS_Detail/0,19085,8750_s_4580447_1,00.html

[Manny]

People do have a go at Jussi when he makes his mistakes, but they are in a minority and this season he has been superb, hitting back at all those who said Al-Habsi should have been first choice, including myself.

Two things that stick out in Jussi's 11 years is THAT double save at Old Trafford from Scholes and Cole, and the two penalty saves at Blackburn, amazing.