Great Games
Manchester City 1, Wanderers 2
"FOR 90 minutes, it all came together that was what the side was all about in those days," said Scott Sellars, who picked Wanderers' 2-1 victory at Maine Road to clinch the Championship title as his favourite moment in a white shirt.
The Yorkshire-born midfielder made well over 100 appearances for Wanderers over a four-year spell in the 90s, playing in some of the club's most famous games.
He will forever be associated among the Whites' faithful for the superb left-footed strike which won the game at Manchester City, clinching the title trophy for the club with four games remaining.
It had been a season to remember for Wanderers, who had blitzed the First Division to claim promotion with five games remaining.
But a trip to City was a daunting prospect, even for a side who had won their previous five games.
"City were a good First Division side, and had players like Kinkladze, who were good enough to play in the Premiership. Even though we were already promoted, not many people thought we would win the title at Maine Road."
The gloom-mongers' predictions appeared right when after 24 minutes, Kinkladze scored a wonderful chipped effort over an unprepared Keith Branagan to give the Blues a deserved lead. And even though Mixu Paatelainen nipped in to score an equaliser on the stroke of half time, capitalising on a moment of indecision from Alan Kernaghan, all was not right in the dressing room.
The Wanderers players walked in at half time to a paint-stripping volley from manager Colin Todd which seemed to shake the champions elect from their complacency.
"We got a right rollocking," said Sellars. "We hadn't got started, but when we came out for the second half we just clicked.
"We had some good footballers in that side, and we could all score goals, so it was just a matter of time before we got back into it."
Suddenly, Wanderers shifted gear, and started to produce the champagne football their fans had become accustomed to.
As described in the Bolton Evening News at the time: "The class act in a quality team, Scott Sellars, then produced a 24-carat gold matchwinner to turn an awkward situation into a glorious triumph."
The former Newcastle United man took the ball from Paatelainen before turning Kit Symons one way, then the other, and drilling a low left-footed drive from 25 yards across Tommy Wright into the bottom corner.
"That goal was very special. It was one of the best I ever scored, and it came at such an important time," said Sellars. "We had beaten everyone that year. We were a special side.
"To win the title at a ground like Maine Road was amazing, especially as I scored the winning goal."
Wanderers went on to win the title by an amazing 18 points from Barnsley in second place and take their place in the top flight.
11:53am Friday 30th December 2005
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