Bolton Wanderers 1 - 0 Derby County

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Wednesday Jan 02 2008 08:00

Greek star Stelios Giannakopoulos saved Bolton's skin after putting daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with a 90th minute winner at the Reebok Stadium.

The diminutive winger latched onto a long punt forward by goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to catch the Derby defence sleeping.

He flicked the ball over goalkeeper Lewis Price, before heading into the empty net to send a frustrated home crowd into ecstasy.

The rock-bottom Rams had been on the back foot for most of the clash but went close twice in a first-half minute through a Craig Fagan header and a Michael Johnson strike that rattled the upright.Nicolas Anelka did exactly the same midway through the second period when his fizzing 25-yard drive was tipped onto the bar.

The Frenchman admitted before the game that he fancies a move to Chelsea, but he was desperate to give the Wanderers a perfect leaving gift.Kevin Nolan went close on numerous occasions, failing to control the ball in the box twice in the first half.

But it was his second-half sitter that caused him to be booed off by the fans when he was subbed just moments later.

He shanked an Anelka cross over from just three yards when it seemed easier to score than miss.El Hadji Diouf had a goal ruled out for offside, while Swedish winger Christian Wilhelmsson was the best player on the park even though he only came on at half-time for Kevin Davies.

But then it was left for Stelios to steel the show with his late, late winner.

Derby have only claimed one point from 24 under Paul Jewell, while Bolton ended a run of two successive defeats.

Live Commentary

90
Kenny Miller almost snatches a quick equaliser but his low shot is well saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen and it looks like its curtains for Derby now.

90
FULL TIME: BOLTON 1-0 DERBY It is so cruel on Derby as Stelios Giannakopoulos' last-gasp effort seals the points for Bolton. Gary Megson's men had the better of the second half but the Rams defended well and must have thought a point was secured.

90
Benny Feilhaber is booked for a nasty foul on Christian Wilhelmsson.

90
BOLTON 1-0 DERBY: An injury time goal as STELIOS gets on the end of a long kick, knocks it over Lewis Price , who came off his line, and scores.

88
It is still up for grabs here as Derby are still looking for something as much as Bolton as a point is not much use to them.

86
The impressive Craig Fagan is going off with American Benny Feilhaber replacing him for the final couple of minutes.

85
Bolton carve out a chance for Ivan Campo but he cannot get his foot round the ball and it flies well high and wide.

83
El Hadji Diouf whips another low ball in from which Claude Davis heads behind for a corner which Derby get clear.

82
Kevin Nolan, who appears to be jeered by his own fans, goes off to be replaced by Stelios Giannakopoulos.

81
Ivan Campo appeals for a handball off Darren Moore but all Bolton get is a corner.The ball in the area is headed goalwards and Lewis Price gathers under pressure.

79
Back come Bolton as Ivan Campo's big throw in is knocked behind for a corner by Claude Davis. Derby clear at the second attempt. Bolton come back with Nicolas Anelka's cross finding Kevin Nolan a yard out and he somehow puts it over the top.

77
Some great pressure from Derby but it comes to an end on the edge of the Bolton area as Eddie Lewis loses possession.

75
Derby are now showing some signs of revival in the game after surving the torrent of pressure and are coming forward more.

73
Another swirling cross into the Derby area towards Nicolas Anelka but Lewis Price keeps his composure and makes the catch.

71
It is still Bolton on top but Derby seem to have just managed to quell the pressure which was non-stop in the last five minutes or so.

69
After all that pressure a mistake by Bolton's Abdoulaye Meite as he slips and almost lets in Kenny Miller but the danger is quickly cleared.

67
Derby are forced to rely on Lewis Price now as the young keeper tips a fierce drive from Nicolas Anelka on to the crossbar and it drops out for a corner which is then cleared.

66
El Hadji Diouf finally gets the ball in the net for Bolton but the offside flag is correctly up against him, although he is not too happy about the decision.

65
Jon Macken comes on in place of Gary Teale for Derby.

64
Joey O'Brien flashes a ball across the area and Kevin Nolan tries an ambitious flick as the ball then drops to Danny Guthrie in the centre who smashes it over when he should have placed it.

63
Another scramble in the Derby area as Christian Wilhelmsson tries to connect with a loose ball but Giles Barnes blasts it up the field to safety for now.

62
Derby are under the cosh at the moment as Bolton pour forward at every opportunity but so far they have managed to hold firm.

60
Bolton come back again and almost go in front when Lewis Price palms a Danny Guthrie cross into the middle of his goalmouth and just three yards out as his defence have to hack it clear from danger.

59
El Hadji Diouf takes another corner and Kevin Nolan gets two bites at the cherry, first with his head, then with a shot as he is off balance and it goes wide of the post.

58
Much better stuff from Bolton as they step up a gear inside the Derby half as Abdoulaye Meite gets the head to a corner but Giles Barnes knocks it back over his own bar before Kevin Nolan can touch it goal wards.

56
Tyrone Mears is the second Derby man booked now for going through the back of Christian Wilhelmsson.

55
Danny Guthrie busts into the Derby area and wins a corner which is played in but cleared by the head of the commanding Darren Moore.

54
A bit of head tennis in the Derby area now but the referee blows for a hand ball against Christian Wilhelmsson.

53
This half has been a lot more even possession wise and the home fans are just starting to grumble in the stands which is great for Derby's players if they can kee this up.

51
Andy O'Brien concedes a corner at the other end as Derby are well in this game but the flag kick is hacked clear by the home side.

50
Joey O'Brien plays a dangerous looking ball in from the right wing but it is too far ahead of El Hadji Diouf and Lewis Price gathers.

48
A clever free kick by the Derby players but Matty Oakley drags his shot from the edge of the area wide of the post.

47
Derby's Craig Fagan says something out of turn to the referee and goes in the book for dissent.

47
Andy O'Brien goes into the book as he fouls Kenny Miller on the edge of the Bolton area - a harsh booking it has to be said.

46
Just one change here during the interval and a surprise move by Gary Megson as he opts to replace Kevin Davies with Christian Wilhelmsson.

46
We are up and running again here at a freezing cold Reebok Stadium with both sides probbly thinking they can go on and win this after Bolton enjoyed some good amounts of the play in the first half, while Derby had some great chances to score.

45
HALF TIME BOLTON 0-0 DERBY: The half time whistle blows and, while Bolton have had the better possession, Derby will feel they should be in front with Michael Johnson hitting the woodwork and Craig Fagan twice going close.

44
A first shot on target for Bolton of the night right on half time with El Hadji Diouf's low shot inside the area parried away by Lewis Price and cleared by Derby.

43
Kevin Davies picks up his sixth booking of the season for a foul on Claude Davis.

42
Andy O'Brien concedes another corner as Derby are ending the half the better team but this time Bolton clear the danger.

40
Derby continue to press and another cross int the middle is headed just wide of the near post by Craig Fagan.

39
Derby go very close here as Abdoulaye Meite can only clear a Kenny Miller shot to the edge of the area and Michael Johnson's curling shot comes back of the angle of bar and post.

38
Ivan Campo slips to let in Craig Fagan who plays in Giles Barnes but Abdoulaye Meite gets across to concede a corner. The ball is played in and Craig Fagan is unmarked in the middle but Jussi Jaaskelainen tips his header over the bar.

36
A nice move down the right by Derby but Kevin Nolan is on hand to prevent Tyrone Mears' low cross from picking out a team-mate in the Bolton box.

34
Kevin Davies is inches away from reaching a great cross into the Derby area at the back post but it drops out for a goal kick.

33
The best football of the night as Bolton break and it sees Kevin Nolan volley a great cross from Nicolas Anelka over the top of the bar from the edge of the area.

31
Danny Guthrie tries to thread the ball through the middle for the run of Nicolas Anelka but it has too much on it and Lewis Price easily gathers.

29
The corner is played in but Bolton head the ball clear in a crowded goal mouth and they look to break up field.

28
Kevin Davies fouls Eddie Lewis out on the left and the free kick is played in by Giles Barnes and Andy O'Brien concedes a corner.

27
Derby just enjoying a decent spell of play in the Bolton area but do not really get close enough to threaten Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal.

25
The conditions are not helping matters either with a swirling wind around the Reebok disrupting both sides' ability to play football.

23
Derby try and break at Bolton but Kenny Miller is harshly flagged offside when he looked level with Abdoulaye Meite.

22
A decent move by Bolton sees Derby again thwart the attack but you get the feeling if the hosts keep this pressure up tey will get something.

21
An enforced change here as veteran Michael Johnson is coming on for Derby with Jay McEveley unable to recover from that crunching tackle from Kevin Davies a moment ago.

19
Kevin Davies concedes a free kick after a foul on Jay McEveley out on the left inside the Bolton half but Bolton get Giles Barnes' kick clear from danger.

17
Possession has been all Bolton according to the stats but Derby will not worry too much if they can keep it tight and pinch something on the break.

15
Kevin Nolan crosses in from the right El Hadji Diouf goes down under a challenge from Darren Moore while the ball goes behind Nicolas Anelka but no penalty says the referee.

14
A free kick is lofted high into the Derby area by Ivan Campo, it is flicked on by Kevin Davies but Lewis Price comes out to gather.

13
Another attempted break on goal comes to an end for Bolton as El Hadji Diouf is marginally offside.

12
The ball is being bombarded into the Derby area but so far the likes of Darren Moore and Jay McEveley have got their heads to most crosses.

10
It is all Bolton here but a promising move comes to an end when Kevin Davies clearly handles as he tries to bring down a cross on the edge of the Derby area.

8
Derby cannot clear a corner and it comes back with Danny Guthrie playing in Nicolas Anelka but the cross is knocked behind for another corner. This time the ball comes in but Abdoulaye Meite heads just wide of the upright from six yards.

6
Nicolas Anelka gets the beating of Darren Moore down the left side of the Derby area but then trips himself over and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

5
Another attack by Bolton but it ends with Darren Moore chesting a ball into the area by Kevin Davies back to his keeper Lewis Price.

4
It's been all Bolton but Derby get a break away through Craig Fagan who holds off Abdoulaye Meite but his shot is straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen on an angle and the win a corner which comes to nothing.

2
El Hadji Diouf swings a free kick into the Derby area from the left flank but the Rams defence hack the ball clear of danger.

1
Bolton look like they mean business as they have come flying out of the blocks in the very early exchanges. They will probably feel this is a must-win game given Derby's dire situation at the foot of the table..

0
We are up and running at the Reebok with both sides needing points to try and ease their relegation fears. Derby already look a lost cause as they are 10 points adrift of safety, while a win for Bolton could take them four points clear of trouble.

0
Derby starting XI: Price, Mears, Moore, Davis, McEveley, Teale, Fagan, Oakley, Barnes, Lewis, Miller.

0
Derby boss Paul Jewell makes three changes to the side as they go in search of only second league victory. Darren Moore, Gary Teale and Craig Fagan all return following the defeat by Blackburn.

0
Bolton starting XI: Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Davies, Nolan, Campo, Guthrie, Diouf, Anelka.

0
Megson also makes two changes to the side that lost to Sunderland with Ivan Campo and Danny Guthrie replacing Jlloyd Samuel and Gavin McCann as Bolton look for a fourth straight home win.

0
Bolton boss Gary Megson starts with Nicolas Anelka in attack for the visit of bottom club Derby to the Reebok Stadium, despite his admission that he fancies a move to pastures new during this month?s transfer window.

Statistics

Bolton Wanderers

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	7
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	8
Offsides	4
Corners	11

Derby County

Shots on target	3
Shots off target	5
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	10
Offsides	1
Corners	7

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