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FEB 7 BOLTON (PREM) - AWAY STEVE HORTON
Liverpool: Jerzy Dudek; Steve Finnan, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher; Anthony Le Tallec, Steven Gerrard, Didi Hamann, Harry Kewell, Bruno Cheyrou (Florent Sinama-Pongolle), Michael Owen
SCORER(S) SAMI HYYPIA, STEVEN GERRARD
HALF TIME 0-1
VENUE THE REEBOK STADIUM
DATE SAT 7 FEB 2004
STAR MAN STEVEN GERRARD
The Reds twice came from behind at the Reebok to grab another valuable point in the quest for a Champions League place. Although not the greatest of performances, there were some signs that we may be able to drag ourselves out of the poor run of results we've had lately.
After taking a month off from away games to repair the damage that Christmas caused to my credit card, a trip to the Reebok was a nice way to break back into things. Just half an hour up the M62 or East Lancs Road, I left the house later than I would normally do to go to a game at Anfield.
It's my fourth trip to the stadium and although it's not a faceless bowl like so many others and looks quite interesting, it still has its annoying habits; loud music, drums and over zealous stewards.
As has happened in so many games lately we began rather sluggishly. Early attacks were slow and lacked real penetration, with only Michael Owen going anywhere near the penalty box. Then on nine minutes Bolton took the lead with their first meaningful attack. We failed to properly clear a ball into the box and Nicky Hunt drilled a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net, with Jerzy Dudek remaining static on the line.
This was the cue for ridiculous celebrations from the home fans, ignited by "I feel good" being played over the PA system and two guys running up the touchline with huge flags.
We responded immediately and Jamie Carragher had a shot that was only just wide of the post. He had another later in the half and I make that four shots at goal since his comeback, an impressive return considering getting forward was his weaker point.
If he carries on like this he may get his first goal in something like five years and thoughts of using Carra at left back for aways and Riise for homes can be dismissed. Bolton remained buoyed by their goal and Dudek had to make a good save from Hunt and Pedersen volleyed over from close range, which was quite a let off for us.
Our best chance came when Harry Kewell broke clear but took too long rounding the keeper and the home defence scrambled the ball clear for a corner. Towards the end of the half we upped the tempo and had two good chances to level in the closing minutes. First Owen had a shot deflected wide then just before the whistle Anthony Le Tallec, sporting a horrendous dreadlock hairstyle, drilled a half volley over the bar.
A half time downpour gave the pitch some extra zip which suited our passing game as we began the second half. Our early pressure was rewarded on 51 minutes when Steven Gerrard took a free kick on the right and Sami Hyypia thumped a header into the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Unfortunately we failed to build on this and paid for sitting back and absorbing the pressure. Firstly Djorkaeff fired a free kick over the bar and then in the 57th minute the Frenchman volleyed in from just outside the six yard box.
At this point I really thought we could well go on to lose by another couple of goals. A few weeks ago Gerard Houllier said he thought it was funny that Allardyce had been linked with the Liverpool job and I wondered how he felt then, given that Bolton would have gone above us if they'd won. But Houllier didn't panic and made a substitution soon afterwards, sending on Florent Sinama Pongolle for Bruno Cheyrou, who had been less effective than of late.
Pongolle immediately got in amongst the action, harrying the Bolton defenders and Gerrard took the game by the scruff of the neck, driving forward from midfield. In the 69th minute Le Tallec floated a cross over and the captain volleyed into the bottom right hand corner from a tight angle. It was his first goal from open play this season and the celebrations right in front of the away fans showed just what it meant to him.
We dominated the rest of the game, with Owen failing to connect to a Kewell cross and the Australian blazing over when he'd have been better setting up Owen. We had a great chance with four minutes remaining when a free kick was advanced to just outside the area but Didi Hamman blasted it straight into the wall. Then our habit of conceding last minute goals almost continued when N'Gotty was given a free header only for it to go wide.
At the end of the day the fact Bolton were cheered off the pitch shows which side were happy to draw. We were the better team on the second half showing although too often we failed to get enough men forward. Gerrard excepted, the midfield seemed reluctant to go into the final third of the pitch and Kewell had a disappointing game.
The fact is we have gained just three points from our last four games, yet have somehow stayed just two points off fourth place. With Pongolle fit again, Milan Baros almost ready and Heskey still on the treatment table we should be able to start turning draws into wins again imminently. Fourth place is there for the taking as long as we continue to attack and not sit on leads.
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