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Scabby Bolton Edge to Safety

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Bolton edged toward almost certain Premier League survival with an unexpected and ill-deserved victory over Stoke City, thanks to the acting ability of Vladimir Weiss and a brace from Matthew Taylor.

Such a scoreline looked unlikely in the first half as Owen Coyle`s players looked as if they`d stopped off at a beer garden on the way to the Britannia Stadium. Fortunately the home side were in generous mood in front of goal

Stoke were ahead on thirteen minutes as Dave Kitson latched onto to Tuncay`s through ball and rounded Jussi Jaakelainen before prodding the ball into an empty net. The lead should have been extended but Robert Huth headed against a post and Liam Lawrence and Danny Higginbotham missed easy chances.

Bolton were better in the second half, as Owen Coyle realised that his side were playing Stoke and not Barcelona. He altered what had been a hopelessly defensive line up swapping Sam Ricketts for Ivan Klasnic. The Croat made an immediate difference putting a left foot shot just wide.

However, Stoke should still have sewn things up but Dave Kitson put the ball over when it was easy to score after Tuncay had hit the post.

With five minutes to go, substitute Vladimir Weiss cut in from the right and was tripped just outside the penalty area. There was only slight contact, but Weiss went down like a clubbed seal, persuading referee Stuart Atwell to award a free kick, when at first he seemed to be willing to allow play to continue.

Taylor hit the ball low and the players in the wall helpfully jumped over it, leaving Thomas Sorensen helpless to prevent the equaliser. Three minutes later and Bolton were in front with Weiss once again the instigator.

The on loan Manchester City winger, crossed from the right and Taylor turned the ball past Sorensen. The Bolton man`s face said it all. He couldn`t believe it either.

Stoke had a gilt-edged chance to equalise late on, but agent Abdoulaye Faye, late of the Reebok Stadium spooned the ball over from five yards.

This result lifts the Wanderers up to the heady heights of 14th. They aren`t yet mathematically safe, but the chances of Hull or Burnley reaping enough points to overtake them are about the same as Gordon Brown becoming charismatic, so a tenth straight year in top flight football awaits.

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