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Gutless Bolton Surrender at Portsmouth

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Earlier in the season, Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside complained about the lack of coverage that his club was getting on TV. After seeing Bolton`s miserable display at Portsmouth on Saturday, even he should be able to understand why the broadcasters find the Whites so unattractive. Skill, creativity and even just basic competence were entirely absent.

Not that the home side were any better initially, with the main tactic being to hoof the ball to Peter Crouch, but once they sussed that the visitor`s midfield wouldn`t be making an effort to compete, they kept the ball on the floor and Glen Johnson spurned a hat-trick of chances that could have them home and dry before the half-time whistle.

That Portsmouth`s winner came from a mixture of rotten defending and poor refereeing seemed appropriate. It shouldn`t have stood, but Bolton can have no complaints. They were second best all afternoon.

‘The performance was not good enough, not coming up to the standard that we’ve set for most of the time this season,` said Gary Megson after the game. What standard he`s referring to isn`t clear. Liverpool away? Everton away? Fulham home and away? The standard that`s led to Bolton losing twenty of the 35 matches played this season?

Only a handful of Bolton fans made the journey to the South coast. If their side continue to play like a Sunday league team, who`ve spent Saturday in the pub, then like the broadcasters, they will find something more constructive to do with their time.

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