Burnley 1 Bolton 1: Little goodwill as Megson's men cling on to point

26 December 2009 23:42
[LNB]When your team are down among the nearly dead men and the fans are bawling 'you don't know what you're doing,' anything festive belongs to another world. [LNB]Gary Megson was the manager whose ears were assaulted even though his Bolton side dug in to claim a point from the passion of a sold-out Turf Moor. [LNB]The Bolton fans did not like his substitutions -Mark Davies coming on for Ivan Klasnic and Ricardo Gardner for Chung-Yong Lee - but they could have aimed their barbs at those defenders who went missing when David Nugent equalised Matt Taylor's first-half free-kick. [LNB] Pleased as punch: Taylor celebrates his free kick[LNB]'First-class execution, the free-kick,' said Burnley manager OwenCoyle, who spent two-and-a-half years as a Bolton player and has a deepaffection for the club. [LNB]He was also proud of his side's second-half effort that took them to20 points and was almost purring as he said: 'Our passing and movementwas incisive, cultured.' [LNB]He wants to turn Nugent's loan from Portsmouth into somethingpermanent, although Burnley's budget is probably the smallest in thePremier League. [LNB]There is always heightened tension when Lancastrians meet in a derbyand the mood was as intense as ever, especially in the stands, withappeal and counter-appeal. [LNB]Burnley had a big shout for a penalty early on when Nugent went downas Gary Cahill moved in. Referee Chris Foy ruled, rightly, that Nugentwent to ground too easily. [LNB]Burnley found a Bolton side playing with a spirit in the first halfthat belied their bottom-three status and, after Burnley keeper BrianJensen had made four competent saves, he was beaten by Taylor's 20-yardfree-kick. [LNB]Andre Bikey's foul on Kevin Davies gave Taylor his chance, and hedelivered perfectly, finding the net just inside Jensen's left-handpost. Taylor's habit of scoring such goals must have people wonderingwhy Portsmouth ever let him go. [LNB] Centre of attention: Nugent is grabbed by team-mate Tyrone Mears and boss Owen Coyle[LNB]Kevin McDonald clattered the Bolton bar and Taylor shaved a post asboth teams emerged after the interval with a noticeable injection ofpace. [LNB]But it was the most fluent move of the match that brought Burnleytheir 56th-minute equaliser. Chris Eagles swept a pass from left toright to Tyrone Mears, who pushed the ball forward to Wade Elliott. [LNB]His measured cross gave Nugent the chance to make scoring look easy.Megson called it 'sloppy defending' and added: 'He shouldn't have beenallowed to score.' [LNB]The goal gave Burnley impetus. Eagles is something of a strolling player who suddenly produces a burst of speed.[LNB] His touch is immaculate. Sure, he can be frustrating but this was one of his days. [LNB]When Burnley were rampaging during the second half JussiJaaskelainen demonstrated why he remains one of the League's topgoalkeepers. [LNB]January may give Megson the chance to strengthen a back four where, at times, Zat Knight and Cahill looked like strangers. [LNB]Burnley hope to have their regular centre-back pairing of SteveCaldwell and Clarke Carlisle back for tomorrow's short trip to Everton.[LNB] Bolton's £18m man Cahill pays tribute to Burnley ahead of crunch clashTRANSFER WINDOW GUIDE: The lowdown on every club this JanuaryBURNLEY FC

Source: Daily_Mail