WE delved into the archives to find out what was happening at Bolton Wanderers on this day in history.

The Bolton News:

FROM The Bolton News – April 8, 2009

GARY Megson reckoned Wanderers were not getting the credit they deserved after dismantling Middlesbrough.

The Whites had run riot at the Reebok with goals from Kevin Davies, Ricardo Gardner, Matt Taylor and Gary Cahill – future Wanderer Gary O’Neil grabbing a consolation.

But after listening to pundits picking the game apart, Megson was unhappy that Boro’s faults had been analysed rather than Wanderers’ strengths.

“I was up early on Sunday morning and did something I don’t normally do, watch Match of the Day,” he explained.

“I was a bit peeved when I saw the two goals from set pieces highlighted as the reason Middlesbrough lost.

“There was nothing about Ricardo Gardner beating two players and putting in the cross of the game or the fact our fourth goal was probably as good as you’ll see in the Premier League all weekend long.

“Even the second, that did come from a set piece – there are not many centre forwards like Johan Elmander who can get the ball out of his feet to pick someone out in the six-yard box like he did for Gary Cahill.

“I don’t know whether it has always been a problem at this club but the players don’t seem to be given the credit I’d expect.”

FROM The Bolton News – April 8, 2004

SAM Allardyce made a personal trip to watch Monaco striker Dado Prso as his side dumped Real Madrid out of the Champions League.

The Croatian target man was high on his shopping list but the Bolton boss came away from Monte Carlo thoroughly impressed with a team which had overhauled a 5-2 deficit to knock out the Spanish giants.

“I watched them lose in Madrid but they were the better side for an hour,” he said. “It was only Real's top quality when they got their chances that made the difference that night.

"You cannot under-estimate their character. Monaco is not an easy place to play; it's a small stadium a difficult pitch and not a lot of atmosphere.”

Chelsea would face Monaco in the semi-finals – and would ultimately lost 5-3 on aggregate – and Allardyce was also taken with the Blues’ Italian boss, who would of course go on to win the title just over a decade later.

"His dignity is unquestionable," he said. "The more adversity he's been under, the more humility he's shown and the more the human being and the man, rather than the coach, has come through -- to the point where it's galvanised him and the team.

"The players want to do the best for him and now, out of all the adversity, Chelsea are playing even better than they thought they could when they brought all the new players in at the start of the season."

FROM The Bolton News – April 8, 1995

WANDERERS were unhappy that Graham Barber’s over-zealous refereeing in their 1-0 win at Swindon had cost them a £10,000 bonus.

Bruce Rioch’s side had been riding high in the FA’s Fair Play table but dropped two places after the Surrey ref issued five bookings and a red card to striker Mixu Paatelainen.

Prior the game, Bolton had picked up just 46 cautions, but were now behind Wolves and Luton in the reckoning.

FROM The Bolton News – April 8, 1991

TONY Philliskirk scored his 24th goal of the season in a 3-1 win at Birmingham City and then predicted Bolton would need four more wins to end their eight-year absence in the Second Division.

With Southend United losing at Bradford and leaders Grimsby beating Cambridge it was a heartening weekend for the Whites.

And though Bolton’s form had wavered during March, where they had failed to win four of their seven games, Philliskirk felt the team was rising at just the right time.

“Recently we haven’t been able to take advantage when other teams have faltered but this time we have,” he said. “We still have six hard games to go but I think if we win four of them it could be enough.”

It would be a 1-0 defeat at Southend United and a 2-2 draw at Rotherham which would eventually prove Bolton’s undoing – having finished level on points with Grimsby but forced to compete in the play-offs, they eventually lost out to Tranmere in the final.