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WITH just two days to go before Wanderers take on Manchester United in the Premiership, Gordon Sharrock continues this week's series of past memorable matches between the two sides. Today he spotlights Wanderers blood and thunder Reebok draw in 1997.

THERE was a certain symmetry about the first Wanderers-United derby at the Reebok.

A point apiece from a scoreless draw, in which both teams played a man short for the best part of an hour after Nathan Blake and Gary Pallister saw red, suggests local pride was shared.

But this was a moral victory for Colin Todd's men.

Back in the Premiership, where they'd been found desperately wanting two seasons earlier, they weren't quite good enough to win it, but they were good value for a point that restored the self-respect that had been knocked for six at Burnden Park and at least prevented a Manchester United player being the first to score at the new stadium.

Unfortunately, at the final reckoning, Wanderers' season-long failure to convert draws into wins saw them relegated, but supporters at least had the consolation of knowing their two derby displays - Bob Taylor's goal earned them a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford the following February - went a long way to costing United their fifth Premiership title in six seasons.

"We can do something in this league," John McGinlay predicted, summing up the growing optimism after Wanderers showed that this time at least they were up to the Premier League challenge.

"But we've got to show the same character and commitment in every game, not just because we're playing Manchester United."

Nineteen months earlier McGinlay summed up more graphically than anyone the humiliation of being thrashed 6-0 by United on their own turf, so it was with a sense of satisfaction that he claimed the bragging rights on behalf of the Bolton fans.

"We were ashamed to go out," he said, recalling that Burnden embarrassment. "Now the people have gone home happy because they know there's guts and commitment in the team. They know there's fight there and that, the way the boys are playing, there's no way they'll roll over and die. There's passion there and that's what the supporters want to see.

"I'm sure they'll be glad a United player didn't get the first goal at the new stadium. That was a big thing for them. They probably won't care who scores the first goal now, as long as it wasn't one of them."

Todd asked for "controlled aggression" from his players and a handful of flashpoints suggested they gave the manager just what he wanted, although there wasn't quite enough control when Blake squared up with Pallister in the 34th minute.

The United defender reacted badly to a strong challenge and, although referee Paul Durkin decided both players were culpable, Pallister won his subsequent appeal.

Wanderers missed Blake more than United missed Pallister. But, for all their domination, the Reds created very little in the way of scoring chances, largely due to the powerful performance of Gerry Taggart at the heart of an impressive back four.

So while Sir Alex Ferguson moaned, Todd beamed: "I know it's made a lot of people proud because of what happened last time we met them," the Wanderers boss said. "We've overcome a very big hurdle and deserve a lot of credit. There were bookings and the sendings off but this was a derby game played with passion and commitment."

12:18am Thursday 22nd November 2007

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