Source: SKY_Sports
Baggies held by Trotters
West Brom's chances of survival look to be fading after they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Bolton.[LNB] Saturday's clash at the Hawthorns was billed as a relegation six-pointer with the Baggies desperately needing to get three points on the board.[LNB]The game saw Gary Megson make his first return to his former stomping ground and it looked as though it would be a fruitful one when Matthew Taylor gave the Trotters a second-half lead following some typical route one football.[LNB]But Tony Mowbray's side continued to come at the visitors and they got back on level terms when Robert Koren's 82nd minute drive took a deflection off Bolton substitute Danny Shittu and found the back of the net.[LNB]Both teams had chances to snatch the three points, in between Megson being sent to the stands, but it finished all-square to edge Bolton a little further to safety, while West Brom's survival hopes begin to fade.[LNB]Hawthorns targetWest Brom boss Tony Mowbray had targeted the successive home matches with Bolton and Stoke as possible lifelines in the bid to avoid a quickfire return to the Championship.[LNB]And it was the same old story for Albion as they knocked the ball around in a fluent and confident style, but were could do little damage in the final third.[LNB]Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did not have to make a worthwhile save but was powerless to keep out Shittu.[LNB]In contrast, Taylor was always a threat to the home defence from dead-ball situations and his runs into the box.[LNB]Megson, who twice steered Albion to promotion to the top flight, received a warm reception from the home fans when he took his place in the Bolton dug-out before kick-off.[LNB]The first glimpse of an opportunity fell to Albion striker Jay Simpson after he had controlled a long pass from Jonas Olsson.[LNB]The on-loan Arsenal player cut back inside but, before he could line up a shot, Jlloyd Samuel nipped in to shepherd the ball back to Jaaskelainen.[LNB]Marc-Antoine Fortune then headed a deep cross from Chris Brunt back into the path of James Morrison but his shot flashed across the face of the Bolton goal.[LNB]Brunt chanceBrunt almost broke the deadlock after 16 minutes when he cut into the Bolton box after collecting a pass from Fortune. The Northern Ireland international struck his low shot well enough but it flashed inches wide of the far post.[LNB]For all of Albion's territorial dominance, it was Carson who was called upon to make the first meaningful save of the game after 21 minutes.[LNB]Kevin Davies got to the by-line and cut a low cross back to Taylor whose rising left-footed drive was parried by the England squad player.[LNB]Fortune did have the ball in the net shortly afterwards but had strayed marginally offside.[LNB]Bolton were gradually getting a foothold in the game and Carson tipped another dipping free-kick from Taylor around the post.[LNB]Taylor delivered the resulting corner into the danger area and Carson did well to block a close range header from Davies.[LNB]Carson continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers and had to be alert to push behind a swerving 35 yard free-kick from Taylor.[LNB]Second halfGreening became the first player to be yellow-carded after 50 minutes for a clumsy aerial challenge on Ricardo Gardner inside the Bolton box.[LNB]Bolton midfielder Gavin McCann had a volley deflected wide and there was a more determined look about the visitors after the break.[LNB]Mowbray made his first substitution after 57 minutes with leading scorer Roman Bednar replacing Simpson.[LNB]Megson brought on Shittu a couple of minutes later in place of the injured Sebastien Puygrenier.[LNB]There was a rare moment of excitement when Carson got his body behind a 20 yard drive from Gardner and then dealt with a low shot on the turn from Taylor.[LNB]But Taylor was not to be denied and after 67 minutes he put Bolton in front.[LNB]A long Jaaskelainen clearance was headed clear by Olsson and Taylor was first to react as he volleyed home from just inside the box.[LNB]But eight minutes from time the home side got back on level terms when Koren's drive was deflected by Shittu past his own goalkeeper.[LNB]Carson denied Taylor a second goal when he came off his line to block his shot from close range.[LNB][LNB]West Bromwich Albion[LNB]Team Statistics[LNB]Bolton Wanderers[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Goals[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]1st Half Goals[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]Shots on Target[LNB]8[LNB][LNB][LNB]6[LNB]Shots off Target[LNB]3[LNB][LNB][LNB]4[LNB]Blocked Shots[LNB]3[LNB][LNB][LNB]8[LNB]Corners[LNB]4[LNB][LNB][LNB]11[LNB]Fouls[LNB]12[LNB][LNB][LNB]6[LNB]Offsides[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]2[LNB]Yellow Cards[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]Red Cards[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]77.9[LNB]Passing Success[LNB]69.6[LNB][LNB][LNB]20[LNB]Tackles[LNB]20[LNB][LNB][LNB]75[LNB]Tackles Success[LNB]95[LNB][LNB][LNB]62.8[LNB]Possession[LNB]37.2[LNB][LNB][LNB]49.8[LNB]Territorial Advantage[LNB]50.2[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]
