MATCHDAY LIVE: Wanderers 2 Sunderland 2
1:41pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in Sport By Marc Iles
This live event has finished
4:52pm
All over - 2-2 and an excellent game. Replay it is!
4:42pm
No idea what just happened there but Chung-Yong has just hooked the ball off the line.
4:42pm
Attendance 12, 204
4:38pm
Eagles on and Ngog off.
4:37pm
Pratley booked for a foul on Wickham.
4:36pm
Eagles getting ready to come on.
4:35pm
Fine finish but get the feeling Wanderers will take a replay now.
4:34pm
Johnson swings a cross in - Pratley clears to the edge of the area where Gardner meets it with a sweet right-footed shot that flies past Lonergan.
4:33pm
GOAL SUNDERLAND
4:30pm
Pinball in the Whites box again as Lonergan turns another shot away.
4:29pm
Fletcher heads Larsson's cross back across an unguarded net but there is no-one there to turn it in.
4:27pm
Ngog feeds Petrov on the right, he cuts in a curls a shot just outside the post. Would have been no less than the Bulgarian deserves today.
4:23pm
Havoc in the Wanderers box as Lonergan pushes away Gardner's shot, McLean's effort is blocked and then Johnson blasts over the top. Wanderers hanging on. Just.
4:22pm
Davies will be auxhilary centre half for now as Wanderers defend a free kick
4:21pm
Kevin Davies on for Marvin Sordell. He's had a decent game and took his goal really well.
4:20pm
Sordell had a chance there for 3-1. Looked offside as he raced in on goal from half way but Bardsley just got back to him to clear.
4:19pm
Knight made a great block but Wanderers couldn't clear their lines and it was Wickham who bundled it home.
4:17pm
GOAL SUNDERLAND
4:17pm
Johnson's cross - header from Fletcher forces Lonergan into another worldie.
4:15pm
That means Sunderland are two up top now.
4:15pm
Connor Wickham coming on for Sunderland. Cuellar off.
4:13pm
Fletcher heads over the top again from Larsson's cross. Can't keep giving him those chances.
4:09pm
Shout for a pen by Sunderland as Fletcher wriggles between Pratley and Andrews. No go.
4:08pm
Sunderland nearly hit straight back – Johnson crosses for Fletcher, who thought his header had beaten Lonergan before he clawed the ball out off the line. Brilliant save.
4:08pm
Petrov's corner headed back into the danger area by Andrews, and then Marvin Sordell generated an impressive amount of power on his header to force the ball over the line.
4:06pm
GOAL WANDERERS
4:05pm
Petrov's free kick nearly picks out Alonso - Bardsley's panicky clearance goes out for a corner.
4:03pm
We're off in the second half. More of the same please!
4:01pm
Half time soup = watercress, I think.
3:47pm
Half time and it's the travelling fans showing thier discontent. Wanderers will be delighted with their efforts, and thanks to Chung-Yong Lee's well taken fifth goal of the season, they lead at the interval.
3:45pm
Two mins added time.
3:45pm
You can't expect Sunderland to defend this shoddily in the second half. It's car crash stuff at times but Wanderers still search for that second goal.
3:43pm
Good break from Wanderers as Petrov searches out Alonso. He had room to shoot but dragged his effort well wide.
3:41pm
Larsson's corner headed over the top by Fletcher, who should have done better. Let off for Wanderers.
3:40pm
Five mins to go and it's the Sunderland fans who are booing. Wanderers have their tails up and are forcing mistakes.
3:40pm
Somebody better introduce Bramble and Mignolet - they don't seem to be talking.
3:36pm
Corner is cocked-up - and all of a sudden I'm hoping Wanderers can stay solid until the break.
3:36pm
Bramble and Mignolet get in a tangle. Corner needlessly given away. And as I say that, Riley limps off, replaced by Mears.
3:34pm
Mistake from Ngog - who hasn't been at the races so far - gifts possession back to Johnson. Thankfully, his cross is over-hit.
3:30pm
Sunderland have certainly come into it more in the last 15 minutes. Still no gilt-edged chances, though.
3:30pm
Johnson's free kick had Lonergan peddaling back to push the ball away.
3:26pm
Mix up there between Pratley and Lonergan, who had come to punch away Colback's corner. Thankfully, the danger has now been cleared.
3:22pm
Stinger from Vaughan, hitting a left footed shot from 20 yards that forces Lonergan to parry. Riley mopped up the rebound.
3:21pm
It's Colback on for Rose - a makeshift full-back for now.
3:19pm
Gardner has another effort at goal - forcing Lonergan into his first save low to his left.
3:19pm
Danny Rose limps off with what looks like a hamstring - goes straight down the tunnel. Meanwhile, Ricketts makes a good block on Gardner's effort.
3:15pm
The goal came out of the blue really - but Wanderers can be happy with the tempo they have set early on. The pressure put on Mignolet/Cuellar by Petrov forced the mistake.
3:13pm
An absolute howler from Carlos Cuellar. He committed the cardinal sin of playing a pass across his own penalty box after being put under pressure by his own keeper - and Chung-Yong Lee nipped in to sidefoot past Mignolet.
3:11pm
GOAL WANDERERS
3:03pm
@MarcIles no desire to be there today after xmas shambles. Sunderland clearly want to win this-wish I didnt have #bwfc in my longlist
— @Aidan_Ideas 05 January 2013
3:02pm
Great cross from Petrov. Pratley jumped well but missed connecting with his header by milimetres.
3:00pm
Martin Petrov has started out on the right wing.
2:59pm
Sunderland fans very noisy...
2:56pm
Players coming out on to the pitch now.
2:54pm
Would agree this is a big, big chance for him. Whether it is make or break, I'm not so sure. Might depend on whether the Cardiff rumour has legs!
2:54pm
@MarcIles Can't help but feel Sordell has to take his opportunity today for the sake of his bwfc future. Would you agree?
— @njcoleman79 05 January 2013
2:51pm
But with so many away followers coming from Sunderland, I have a feeling this might sound a bit like an away game if we're not careful.
2:51pm
It is in keeping with previous seasons. Against York City in 2010 there was a shade over 13,000. It was just under 12,000 when we played Lincoln the season before...
2:48pm
Crowd not exactly swelling at the Reebok. Reckons we're in for low teens in total today.
2:43pm
@MarcIles In your opinion, what would be better win the FA cup or gain promotion?
— @BeejMcGillashaw 05 January 2013
2:42pm
2:38pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Rememberscarborough says
This might be the defence that can actually keep a clean sheet....
2:39pm
Loads of Sunderland fans here today, and the word is they have sold out an allocation of just under 5,000.
2:37pm
Remember, if you've got a question before the game (or even during it), you can tweet me @MarcIles and I'll try to get it on our timeline.
2:30pm
Strongest available Sunderland side named by Martin O'Neill. He's really going for it - but from a Wanderers perspective, there are a few with a point to prove.
2:26pm
@MarcIles Do we know if olsson is starting today, Marc? #bwfc
— @JElsden1 05 January 2013
2:24pm
Also great to see Salford lad Chris Lester on the bench.
2:20pm
So... that's a second start of the season for both Joe Riley and Andy Lonergan, who both featured against Crawley in the League Cup earlier this season.
And it's a return to the team for Marvin Sordell - linked with a move to Cardiff in one of the nationals this morning. Will be asking about that one later.
2:18pm
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Rose, Larsson, Gardner, Vaughan, Bramble, Johnson, McClean, Cuellar, Fletcher
Sunderland Subs: Westwood, Campbell, Wickham, McFadden, Kilgallon, Colback
2:17pm
BWFC subs: Bogdan, Mears, Ream, K Davies, Eagles, Spearing, Lester
2:10pm
Today's team: Lonergan, Riley, Ricketts, Knight, Alonso, Andrews, Petrov, Chungy, Pratley, Sordell, Ngog.
1:55pm
@MarcIles any team news yet sir?
— @NewnewsnewsBird 05 January 2013
1:54pm
Stephen Warnock is definitely not an option now, though, with Freedman admitting his wage demands are too high for the club right now.
1:52pm
I was expecting Craig Dawson in on loan from West Brom - but Freedman announced yesterday that he has three or four other options, including the England Under 21 man.
1:51pm
Then we have the centre-back situation, which is not a foregone conclusion either.
1:50pm
It seems striker Craig Davies is all done bar the shouting, while youngsters Jan Gregus and Jonatan Tollas are due in for talks this weekend, I understand.
1:48pm
But what about the transfer news? It is January after all.
1:48pm
Benik Afobe (hamstring), Keith Andrews (Achilles) and David Ngog (ankle) are all big, big doubts today...
1:47pm
So have you got cup fever? Dougie Freedman was talking today's game up yesterday but had hinted earlier in the week that he was ready to make changes. Teams should be interesting and are due out in about 15 mins.
1:44pm
I'm sure the thermometer in the car read 13degC... can't remember the last time that happened!
1:44pm
Good afternoon all - and what a nice day for it!
Comments(5)
steveG
says...
2:40pm Sat 5 Jan 13
boltonnut
says...
2:53pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Reebok Al
says...
6:56pm Sat 5 Jan 13
Freedman needs time to sort out his playing staff, and I hope from now on he concentrates his attention on the back five.
Beyond News Forum
says...
11:12pm Sat 5 Jan 13
26 games in and you are whining like spoiled children...
I believe the saying goes: 'it's not over til the fat lady sings.'
DF can't do right for wrong with some fans at BWFC. What did you expect?
DF to have all the answers within 10 games at the helm?
A sudden change in fortunes because of a different face?
The team is only as good as the board... That is where your problems lie, not with DF. He has acquired several dead donkeys and a couple of good players.
When Holden went down with injury and CYL was out for over a year, we didn't keep hold Klasnic because he didn't get the game, was hoodwinked by the Scandinavian and have been let down by players who are simply not fit to wear the white shirt... How rude of you to blame DF.
We had a great manager in Coyle, but the fact remains he couldn't get those dross players to play football for whatever reason and so it continues... Big Sam, Alex Ferguson, The Special One could not get some of them players out of bed and onto the pitch, so what makes you think DF is going to do any different?
Now we see the classic board move for a player that has cost them 300k... WTF? Is Gartside for real?
To me Gartside might have a great business background, he might be a millionaire, he might have a good investor in toe, but the man certainly cannot speculate to accumulate. It makes me wonder if his millions have been handed to him on a plate sometimes.
Bolton Wanderers may have to get into serious debt before making a push back into the EPL, and even if we do get into the EPL we have too many teams there that can and will spend big. How on Earth can we compete with them?
Take a look at the teams that have had huge investment, even in the last year... they are the ones in the TOP half of the EPL.
In business you reap what you sow, if you do not invest you get no returns.
Bolton Wanderers need an investor who is willing to take a punt and bring us out of the dark and make us a fashionable club, take us to the next level. It will take about 100-million in hard GBP before BWFC even can think about wining trophies or grabbing those European slots again.
BWFC are simply NOT going to get the Big Sam days back without that investment. You have to look at the value of the squad, the pride in that white shirt... it is not there at all except for Chris Eagles, Mark Davis, Petrov, and could be Joe Riley if given more of a chance prior to limping off today. Stuart Holden? Well time will tell if he comes back the same player. other than those we have a huge problem.
Big Sam had a knack of convincing big players at the back end of their careers to come to the Reebok. He turned those careers around, and it was not just his personality that did that. So today we acquire a player for 300k, Big Sam brought in many players that changed the shape of BWFC if only for 5 years or so... those players a few years before Sam brought them in would have been worth around 100 million or more.
This philosophy of bringing in Championship experienced players is not going to work... they are playing in the Championship years at a time for a reason. They are simply not good enough for the Premier League. No we need players that have EPL experience, brought in on contracts and are HUNGRY to get their own back on the teams that let them go, and so gain promotion to the premier league... And Mr. Gartside knows I have heard those words spoken at the Reebok Stadium during Big Sam's tenure.
So what is up?
Perhaps we could have a statement from the board as to the future investment program so we can speculate whether or not support West Ham Wanderers from now on... because if there is not going to be a pot of gold any time soon... you will be choosing a team to support in the EPL for years to come and BWFC will be consigned to League One within 2 years.
Rememberscarborough says...
2:38pm Sat 5 Jan 13