EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB - News Archive

Everton 0-0 Bolton

Everton recorded a third consecutive Premiership draw after being held to a goalless draw by struggling Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park. The Toffees could and should have taken all three points from the game and Wayne Rooney in particular should have been on the score sheet

Rooney terrified the Bolton defence every time he got the ball and with a bit of fortune, he could have grabbed himself a hat-trick.

Recalled to the starting line-up, Rooney, full of confidence first tried his luck on the half hour from all of 35 yards, but his effort ended up near the top of the park-end.

The Bolton side, the Bolton fans... everyone associated with the club were terrified of Rooney... away fans started to chant "YOU FAT B@STARD...YOU FAT B@STARD!, aimed towards young Rooney, however Rooney aimed to shove them chants down their throats, His next effort was far better. He danced into the Bolton penalty area but Jaaskelainen saved and then on the stroke of half-time he was denied by the keeper again after bursting through.

Bolton worked hard enough but they created very few opportunities of their own, although Kevin Nolan should have hit the target from 12 yards when he fired wide six minutes into the second period.

On the 58th minute, a rare foray forward by Joseph Yobo ended with a well-struck shot that just flashed wide and within 60 seconds Rooney had again had an effort scrambled away.

The closest Rooney came to a goal was in the 61st minute when he crashed a close range shot against the bar, Rooney will be disappointed he never scored.

Tomasz Radzinski replaced the injured Kevin Campbell and he raced away on the right and drilled a low shot into the side netting.

Bolton showed that they weren’t as bad as they looked, when Jay-Jay Okocha curled a 20-yard free-kick over the Everton wall and back off the crossbar.

Ultimately, it was stalemate again and although Everton stay 4th in the Premiership, Everton fans... including me, will consider this to be two points lost rather than one gained.

Team Points

1. Arsenal 42

2. Chelsea 38

3. Man Utd 38

4. Everton 35

5. Liverpool 33