Bolton`s Dog is Dead

The image will live long in the memory of Bolton fans. As Steven Gerrard`s harmless shot drifted wide, Jussi Jaaskelainen for some inexplicable reason, chose to handle it and managed to turn the ball into his own net. From then on, Liverpool had the upper hand and cruised to a 3-1 win. The Reds were able to break easily through Bolton`s pedestrian midfield, and it took two saves from Jaaskelainen and a last-gasp block by Gary Cahill to prevent them extending their lead.

Yet, Bolton also had their chances. El Hadji Diouf hit the woodwork with a free kick, Cahill and Joey O`Brien had free headers and Pepe Reina saved well from a Kevin Davies header. Liverpool undoubtedly had more quality, but they were vulnerable from crosses and set pieces. Which makes what happened in the second half even more unforgivable.

One can only speculate about Gary Megson`s half-time team talk, but judging from his team`s performance it must have contained the phrase, “take the rest of the afternoon off.” It wouldn`t have been possible to witness a more gutless, spineless display. Some might point to the exit of Kevin Nolan as a major factor, but the way that Bolton descended into a disorganised, shambolic, mess who couldn`t string even one pass together, can`t possibly just be down to the absence of one player.

The second half was like a training game for Liverpool and the home side couldn`t have complained if they`d been on the end of a five or six goal mauling. There are a number of poor sides at the foot of the Premier League with little to choose between them in terms of skill. The ones who survive will do so because of desire. That desire is lacking in the Reebok side.

As Mark Twain said, ‘It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.’ Bolton`s dog appears to have been taken to the vets and put out of its misery.