Five years ago

FOR the best part of seven years, Kevin Davies had been the ever-willing target man for successive Wanderers managers, Sam Allardyce, Sammy Lee and Gary Megson.

But the man who had built a reputation as one of the most feared centre-forwards in the Premier League – the bane of many a defender’s life – looked like he might be on borrowed time when Owen Coyle pitched up at the Reebok promising a bright new era of attacking football.

There was speculation there would be no place for the striker hewn out of Sheffield steel in Coyle’s brave new world.

But the doubters were soon proved wrong. Davies not only kept his place as Wanderers’ spearhead striker and retained the captaincy, but in the early days showed signs that he could prosper under the new regime.

There was clearly more to Davies’ game than the hustle and bustle his critics suggested was the limit of his capabilities and he wasted no time in showing it – as Tottenham discovered to their cost when they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Reebok in a fifth-round FA Cup tie that could have gone either way.

Critics might have been surprised by the way a Bolton side took Spurs to task in a style that had traditionally been more associated with the north London club.

But Davies slapped down the sceptics by insisting there was more to both him and Wanderers than the style they had both been typecast in for so many years – a claim supported by the 16-pass move that led to him putting Wanderers ahead on 34 minutes.

“I think the manager has come in and realised that the way we play with me as the target man has been successful, but he wants people to be brave, to express themselves,” Davies explained, grateful to his attacking partner Johan Elmander for the final pass that teed him up.

“Today the roles were reversed, Spurs came and played a number of long balls, we played some great stuff, particularly for the goal.

“We can play either way now. If it comes up to me then fine, but Johan is a big, strong lad as well, so it can also go to him.

“We have got players like Mark Davies, Chung-Yong Lee, Jack Wilshere, Vladimir Weiss and Ricardo Gardner who are good footballers and comfortable on the ball, so I don’t know what the fans’ opinion is, but I think they should be enjoying what they are seeing at the moment.”

Despite Wanderers having dominated Harry Redknapp’s side for the first hour of the game, Davies acknowledged that the fact Wanderers had a replay to look forward to was down to some good fortune on their part – and some excellent goalkeeping by Jussi Jaaskelainen who, nine minutes after being beaten by Jermain Defoe for the 61st-minute equaliser, saved Tom Huddleston’s penalty.

“We outplayed them for an hour and we’re a bit disappointed that we’re not already in the next round,” Davies said, still hopeful of a trip to Fulham in the quarter-finals. "But we’ve got Jussi to thank for keeping us in it at the end with the penalty save.”

While Davies was feted, club record signing Elmander was heavily criticised in certain quarters for failing to convert a series of chances that fell his way – criticised enough for Coyle to launch a spirited defence of the Sweden international.

“Johan Elmander was outstanding in his general play,” the manager said. “I don’t know if he is trying too hard but he’s getting the chances because of his hard work.”

Meanwhile, fears that Gary Cahill’s season could be over prematurely after being diagnosed with a blood clot were dispelled when it emerged the centre-back was to see a specialist in the hope of making an early return – promising news for Wanderers and for the 24-year-old defender who was hoping to make the England World Cup squad.

30 years ago

CHARLIE Wright fulfilled a long-held ambition as he began his new job as manager of Bolton Wanderers.

The popular Scot, who left the Burnden Park directors with no other option after reeling off five straight wins as “caretaker” boss, was handed the job on a permanent basis after a three-hour meeting with chairman Neal Riley.

Mr Riley emerged from the talks to confirm: “In view of what Charlie Wright has done in the past four or five weeks for this club we have come to a decision to appoint him as team manager for the rest of this season and all of next season.”

Confirmation of the length of contract ended the only area of speculation remaining after what had effectively become a one-horse race.

Initially, Wright was asked to look after things in the wake of John McGovern’s departure.

The Wanderers directors wanted time to consider their next move, hinting that Wright, who had been chief coach under McGovern, had a month to prove his value before applications were invited for a job that, despite the club’s fall from grace – they were playing in the Third Division – was still much sought after.

But successive wins against Derby, Crewe, Rotherham, Bristol Rovers and Doncaster, plus a draw in a second-leg clash at Crewe that put Wanderers into the second round of the Freight Rover Trophy, was enough to convince the directors they need look no further.

Wright, the former Wanderers goalkeeper, was the board’s unanimous choice and a popular choice among the fans.

Forty-eight hours later the newly appointed manager had a spring in his step as he led his players off the team bus at Plymouth’s Home Park, but he was considerably less happy as he left the ground – his unbeaten run having ended with a 2-0 defeat.

Wright was so furious at seeing Tony Caldwell come off battered and bruised that he called for more protection from referees for his star striker – a claim that was all the more irritating since it was ex-Wanderer Gerry McElhinney who was doing the bruising.

McElhinney, the tough-tackling Northern Ireland international central defender, had left Burnden for Plymouth in a £32,500 transfer on New Year’s Eve and had quickly established himself as captain at the heart of the Argyle defence.

But he was shocked to hear Wright had suggested he had been responsible for challenges on Caldwell he described as “horrific”.

“He doesn’t mean me, does he?” he asked, concerned that he might be cast as the villain against his former club.

45 years ago

THE Burnden Park surface was treacherous, covered in snow, but that didn’t stop World Cup winner Roger Hunt showing his international class as he scored his long-awaited first goal for Bolton Wanderers eight weeks after his £32,000 transfer from Liverpool.

Hunt – one of England’s 1966 heroes – started the move by sending Gordon Taylor on a run then took the winger’s slanted through pass in his stride, controlled the ball instantly then finished off the move with a deadly left-foot finish that gave Middlesbrough goalkeeper Willie Whigham no chance.

The landmark goal came in the 43rd minute of a midweek Second Division clash and sent Wanderers on their way to a much-needed 2-1 victory in front of a crowd of just 9,633.

Centre-half Charlie Hurley, another big-name signing brought in to try to haul Wanderers away from the danger zone and perhaps revive the club’s fading fortunes, scored the second a minute later after Hunt got his head to Taylor’s corner.

And although Joe Laidlaw pulled one back for Boro 10 minutes into the second half, the H-Men – as the headline writer called them – had done enough to seal a victory over the promotion chasers who went into the game on the back of a 17-match unbeaten run.

Wanderers boss Nat Lofthouse, who had done more than anyone to entice Hunt to Burnden from Anfield, had laid it on the line to his players, who started the night sixth from bottom of the table and in dire need of two points.

“That run of theirs started when they beat us at Ayresome Park,” Nat reminded them. “So it’s up to us to get our own back.

“This is a game we need to win.”

Among the interested spectators at Burnden that night was a delegation from Manchester United who had drawn Middlesbrough away in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after beating Northampton Town 8-2 at a muddy County Ground – the irrepressible George Best scoring six of the goals.

“What can you do about a player like that?” asked Northampton manager Dave Bowen. “United are capable of shattering any side in Europe on their day. With Best in that sort of form, make in the world!”