Megson hails Trotters transformation

02 March 2009 07:11
A goal from substitute Ricardo Gardner sealed a narrow success at the Reebok Stadium to cap a good day for Megson, who revealed he had finally signed a 12-month rolling contract 16 months after arriving.[LNB]He said he only did so because the Premier League had forced the club's hand on the matter.[LNB]Megson explained: "I had been working up until 10 days ago without signing anything although obviously I have been getting paid.[LNB]"It is not such a big thing. It was just a pre-requisite from the league. So I had to do what I was supposed to do.[LNB]"There is no difference to the way I have been working and gone about things. All I have done now is sign a bit of paper."[LNB]Megson feels Bolton are on the right path after he managed to steer the side clear of relegation against the odds last season.[LNB]He said: "I do not want to harp on about it but we were in a mess 16 months ago.[LNB]"I think 22 players have left and maybe 10 or 11 have come in to replace them. We are actually in the black.[LNB]"We have to get it right on the football pitch and financially. I feel we are doing that but we can't afford to make too many mistakes financially. We can't go bananas in one go.[LNB]"We are doing a little bit better than last season and have the opportunity to finish strongly and I certainly hope we do that."[LNB]Gardner broke Newcastle's resistance with a superb strike following a cross from Matt Taylor in the 46th minute.[LNB]That was enough to give Bolton victory and put them in good heart for the trip to Stoke on Wednesday.[LNB]Megson said: "I was quite pleased with our performance in the first half although we did not show enough penetration. But we looked quite solid.[LNB]"They did not cause us too many problems from set-pieces. We obviously got off to a great start in the second half and scored.[LNB]"But after that we didn't pass the ball well enough and did not keep it enough. However we made the point before the game that the result was all-important and it was the right one."[LNB]Newcastle caretaker-boss Chris Hughton felt his side should have had a penalty when Jlloyd Samuel blocked Fabricio Coloccini's effort.[LNB]However, referee Alan Wiley waved play on, leaving the visitors furious.[LNB]Hughton said: "I thought the lad's hands were out and it was one a lot of referees would have given."[LNB]Striker Obafemi Martins was also out of luck with a couple of efforts and looked unhappy when he was replaced by Mark Viduka.[LNB]"Oba has been out of action for some time and perhaps lacked that bit of sharpness," said Hughton. "That's why I made the change."[LNB]Newcastle remain in trouble and skipper Nicky Butt limped off with a knee injury while Damien Duff was sidelined with a calf problem.[LNB]Hughton added: "We gave a spirited performance and had better opportunities than Bolton.[LNB]"We just lacked a bit of guile and composure to break them down. The goal galvanised them a little bit but I felt we should have had something from the game."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk