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Bolton's desperate search for a goal continues as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Manchester City. Wanderers hit the post in the first half, before having two efforts cleared off the line after the break, but City held out to earn a point. The hosts began the game on a bright note and El-Hadji Diouf forced Joe Hart into a smart save with just 30 seconds on the clock. City responded well but Bolton had Gretar Steinsson to thank after a last ditch tackle denied Benjani a clear shot on goal. Steinsson was also causing problems at the other end of the field, but his header from Diouf's corner came back off the angle of post and crossbar with Hart beaten. The visitors had a great chance to break the deadlock midway through the first half. Martin Petrov's corner was only half cleared and Stephen Ireland's volley seemed destined for the net, only for Ricardo Gardner to clear off the line. Diouf forced Hart into another routine save after being played in by Danny Guthrie, before injury struck once again for Gary Megson's side. Gardner was involved in a collision with Darius Vassell and although play continued, the Jamaican international received treatment on the field before being taken to hospital for a scan on a rib injury. Wanderers opted to play the final minute of the first half with only ten men, with Joey O'Brien coming on for Gardner after the break. Matt Taylor had a good chance to score his first goal for the club soon after, but he put his header over Hart's goal. With an hour on the clock, Ali Al-Habsi was forced into his first testing save of the afternoon, diving low to his right to keep out an effort from City substitute Elano. After hitting the post earlier in the game, Steinsson tried his luck again, but his left footed effort was deflected behind for a corner. Taylor was again wasteful in front of goal after good approach play from Davies and Kevin Nolan, but it was the visitors had the best chances of the game, all coming inside the final 15 minutes. Davies then had a header cleared off the line, with strong appeals for handball, but referee Andre Marriner waved play on. Joey O'Brien was in the right place at the right time as he cleared Filipe Caceido's close range effort off the line, before a teasing cross, just needing a touch, evaded everybody in the box. Moments later, Vedran Corluka's cross was well met by Benjani, but the January signing put his header over the bar from 10-yards. Then, in injury time, Davies once again rose highest from Diouf's corner but his effort was cleared off the line by Petrov as the game finished goalless. With results going against them, Bolton must now get points on board as quickly as possible, with their next game against title contenders Arsenal. |
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