Source: Daily_Mail
Bolton 1 Stoke 1: Fans turn on Megson, but late penalty gives boss last laugh
HOWLS of abuse aimed at Bolton manager Gary Megson turned to grudging applause as a late point was dredged from a match that rarely rose above the abysmal.[LNB]The fans, many of whom have never taken to Megson, slow-handclapped and then booed as the players left the pitch at the end of a goalless first half. [LNB] Crisp strike: Dave Kitson scores his second of the season to give Stoke the lead[LNB] [LNB]When Dave Kitson slipped Stoke City into an early secondhalf lead, grateful for some juvenile defending, it seemed that a wholly bleak scene was enveloping the Reebok Stadium.[LNB]But then the players he had introduced at half-time, Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Klasnic, altered the face and the pace of the game and, with a minute to go, Megson was reprieved. [LNB] Better late than never: Taylor converts from the penalty spot[LNB] [LNB]A penalty from Matt Taylor saved Megson's face, while Stoke could reflect on a valuable point to go with their commendable start to the season.[LNB]Megson was furious with his defenders over Kitson's 53rdminute goal. 'Woeful defending,' he said.[LNB][LNB] 'One that should never be conceded at any level.'[LNB]Stoke arrived lying eighth in the table, but manager Tony Pulis knows there may be a long, hard winter ahead and was upset at dropping two points.[LNB]'If we had gone away with a 1-0 win, no-one could have complained,' he said.[LNB]'I am told by the television boys that Ricardo [Fuller] could have had a penalty instead of being booked for diving.'[LNB]You have to wonder where Bolton might be without their experienced and immensely talented goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who has repeatedly kept them in games when they were under severe pressure. [LNB] Flying Potter: Rory Delap challenges Bolton's Jlloyd Samuel[LNB] [LNB]A perfect example of his worth came in the 31st minute when he went full length, diving to the foot of his left-hand post to turn away a powerful freekick from Glenn Whelan.[LNB]Megson's substitutes came on to witness Stoke take the lead within eight minutes of the restart. It was a well-taken goal by Kitson, who ran towards a flicked header by Fuller, spun away from Sam Ricketts and beat Jaaskelainen with a neatly placed shot into the bottom corner. The goalkeeper had every right to feel exposed by his defence.[LNB]Those home supporters who were already in the car parks as full-time approached would then have heard the loudest roar of the afternoon.[LNB]Ricketts was bursting into the Stoke penalty area when Danny Collins brought him down, leaving Taylor to blast the spot-kick past Thomas Sorensen.[LNB] Bolton v Stoke: The action as it happenedKnee operation keeps Bolton midfielder Joey O'Brien sidelined until 2010BOLTON WANDERERS FC