Burnden Aces

Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Portsmouth

• April 24, 2010 | By Chris Mann
• Short URL: http://b-ac.es/ac43c

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• Ivan Klasnic, Kevin Davies, Match Reports, Portsmouth, Premier League
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Bolton were booed off the pitch after they threw away a 2-0 half-time lead to draw 2-2 with bottom club Portsmouth.

Two goals in as many minutes from Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies had Wanderers cruising after just 28 minutes, but a second half brace from Aruna Dindane meant Avram Grant's side took a point back from their travels.

The hosts almost had the lead inside five minutes at the Reebok Stadium when a Matt Taylor free-kick was too hot for David James to handle and Gary Cahill hit the post with the rebound, only to look up and see himself being flagged for offside.

Taylor, playing against his former club, was denied again moments later when his flick header brought a superb low save out of James.

Klasnic was next to try his luck. After being picked out by Vladimir Weiss, the Croatia international's turn and shot was matched by another impressive stop from the England goalkeeper.

Portsmouth then hit Bolton on the counter attack and were unlucky not to break the deadlock themselves with Jussi Jaaskelainen alert to deny John Utake's low drive.

The deadlock finally was broken on 26 minutes when Jack Wilshere's cross found the head of Klasnic, who sent the ball past James and into the back of the net.

Just a minute later, a turn of pace from Weiss allowed him to sprint down the right flank before squaring the ball for Davies to roll over the line and double Bolton's lead.

Fabrice Muamba had a chance to add a third just before the break but he found the stands, prompting ironic cheers from the home fans.

Five minutes after the break, Muamba picked out the run of Taylor but Aaron Mokoena made a timely block just as the former Pompey man looked set to score.

That block proved to be vital as the visitors got a goal back on 55 minutes. After poor defending from Bolton, substitute Frederic Piquionne pulled the ball back for Dindane to score from close-range.

Portsmouth were now growing in confidence and Jaaskelainen had to keep out a header from Piquionne, but they were almost made to pay for pressing forward.

First, Klasnic came close following good work by Wilshere, then Tommy Smith was alert to the danger as he cleared a header from Davies off the line.

Portsmouth did hit back though and were level on 68 minutes when Utaka pounced on a mistake from Gary Cahill before crossing for Dindane to score his second of the game.

Neither side looked like winning the game as the clock ticked down, until Davies saw a header come back off the post in stoppage time.

The result leaves Bolton nine points clear of Burnley in 19th place, safe in the knowledge that a Liverpool win at Turf Moor on Sunday will guarantee the Trotters a tenth successive season in the Premier League.

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Weiss (Chung-Yong 70), Muamba, Wilshere (M Davies 81), Taylor, Klasnic (Elmander 75), K Davies
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Samuel, Ricketts, Cohen
Booked: Muamba
Goals: Klasnic 26, K Davies 28

Portsmouth: James, Vanden Borre, Mokoena, Rocha, Sowah, Yebda (Piquionne 46), Utaka, Brown, Hughes, Smith, Dindane
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Mullins, Bouba Diop, Wilson, Ward, Ritchie
Booked: Hughes
Goals: Dindane 54,68

Attendance: Howard Webb
Referee: 20,526

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