Bolton Wanderers Football Club News

• Nickname:Wanderers
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Owen Coyle

• Ground:Reebok Stadium
• Capacity:28,000

Megson support for keeper

03 Mar 2008 - 07:54:07

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Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson refused to blame Jussi Jaaskelainen for Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool despite the keeper gifting the Reds a bizarre opener.

The experienced Finland international, who is out of contract at the Reebok Stadium at the end of the season, managed to divert a Steven Gerrard shot that was heading wide into the back of the net off his own head.

Tamir Cohen gave them Reebok fans something to cheer about with a 79th minute effort, but by then the Trotters had already conceded two more in a sixth home defeat of an increasingly disappointing season.

"Jussi is a fantastic goalkeeper. He made two great saves after that," said Megson.

"He has held his hands up but these balls moved quite a bit in the air and it came back and hit him in the face.

"The first goal can be vital and it took the wind out of our sails. We got picked off rather too easily.

"Liverpool have taken the lead 15 times this season and won 10 and drawn five, so they don't tend to lose after going in front."

Meanwhile, Megson has admitted that Bolton's survival hopes are rapidly diminishing with his side level now on points with Reading in the final relegation place.

"It's going to be close from now until the end of the season," he continued.

"After the start we had we needed to average one-and-a half-points per game, but we haven't done that, we've taken just less than a point per game.

"We have 10 tough games coming up now, as have the rest of the teams down there."

Bolton could also be without Kevin Nolan for Thursday's UEFA Cup last 16 first leg meeting with Sporting Lisbon after the captain was substituted at half-time with a back problem.