Bolton 2 Birmingham 1: Owen Coyle's Wanderers show mix of new flair and old guts to see off City

09 May 2010 22:43
Owen Coyle's evolving Bolton produced a potent mixture of old and new to complete an impressive double over Birmingham. [LNB]Coyle is changing the culture at the Reebok Stadium, but Bolton's usual belligerence was needed to ensure victory over a team whose highest finish since 1959 was already assured. [LNB]Bolton are one of only two sides to win at St Andrew's this season and deserved this affirmation of their convincing escape from relegation. [LNB] Final push: Fabrice Muamba (left) and James McFadden gave little impression that it was the last game of the season with little to play for[LNB]Referee Kevin Friend made some contentious decisions, failing togive Bolton a penalty when Liam Ridgewell handled and awarding adubious spot-kick to Birmingham. [LNB]At least he correctly disallowed a McFadden effort for handball. Atrademark Bolton free kick broke the deadlock, as Kevin Davies buried aclassic header from Paul Robinson's delivery. [LNB] [LNB] Awayday Blues: Birmingham James McFadden (right) bundled the ball home, but was outshone by Ivan Klasnic[LNB]MATCH FACTS BOLTON WANDERERS (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen 7; Steinsson 7, Cahill 8, Knight 7, Robinson 7; Weiss 6 (Lee 66min, 6), Wilshere 7 (Gardner 90), Muamba 7, Taylor 5 (Holden 66, 6); Davies 8, Klasnic 7. [LNB]Booked: Steinsson, Klasnic.[LNB]BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): Hart 7; Carr 6, Johnson 7, Ridgewell 6, Vignal 6;  Larsson 6 (Benitez 66, 6), Ferguson 7,Bowyer 6, McFadden 7; Jerome 6, Michel 5 (Fahey 74, 6). [LNB]Booked: Ridgewell, Larsson, McFadden, Johnson, Bowyer. [LNB]Man of the match: Gary Cahill.[LNB]Referee: Kevin Friend. [LNB]In the second half, Vladimir Weiss crossed for Ivan Klasnic tostylishly side-foot his eighth of goal of the campaign.  Friend thenpunished Jussi Jaaskelainen for a legal-looking punched clearance.[LNB]The keeper blocked Benitez's kick and parried Lee Bowyer's point-blank follow-up but McFadden bundled in. [LNB]'We came in knowing it would be a tough ask, but we have galvanisedthe players to show their qualities,' said Coyle, who entered a WorldCup plea for Gary Cahill. [LNB] Birmingham boss Alex McLeish said: 'We're still pinching ourselvesto be one of the low spenders and finish ninth. Now we've got to proveourselves again next season.'[LNB]  For all the final day Premier League news For all the up-to-date Premier League scores and stats BOLTON WANDERERS

Source: Daily_Mail