• Date: Sat 11 August 2007
  • Venue: Reebok Stadium
  • Ref: Foy, C
  • Attendance: 25,414
1 - 3
Newcastle United

Newcastle United

N'Zogbia (11)

Martins (21)

Martins (27)

Bolton Wanderers vs Newcastle United

Team Lineups

Bolton Wanderers

Jussi Jaaskelainen
Jlloyd Samuel
Gerald Cid
Nicky Hunt
Gavin McCann
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye
Gary Speed (Mikel Alonso, 74)
Kevin Nolan
Kevin Davies, K (Heidar Helguson, 58)
Nicolas Anelka
Ricardo Vaz Te (El Hadji Diouf, 46)

Newcastle United

Steve Harper
Stephen Carr
Steven Taylor, S
David Rozehnal
Njitap Geremi
Nicky Butt
Charles N'Zogbia
James Milner (Peter Ramage, 86)
Obafemi Martins (Nolberto Solano, 69)
Mark Viduka (Shola Ameobi, 72)
Alan Smith


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

FULL TIME - BOLTON 1 - 3 NEWCASTLE:There goes the final whistle and Big Sam has got off to the perfect start as Newcastle boss as his new side cruise past his old club to record their first win on the first day of the new season.

90

Bolton appear to have given the game up now and Newcastle are just coasting through these final few minutes.

90
Yellow Card
 

Geremi has picked up a silly late booking for throwing the ball in the general direction of the linesman as a decision goes against him.

90

Four minutes of injury time to be played.

89

Bolton hurl a free-kick into the box from the halfway line and Newcastle fail to clear at the first attempt but Ramage is there to smash it clear.

86
Substitution
 

A final substitution for Newcastle as James Milner trots off to be replaced by Peter Ramage to sure up the defence.

83

A good run from Jlloyd Samuel as he breaks into the box around the outside of Carr but unfortunately for the signing from Aston Villa he could only run it out for a goal kick.

80

Newastle have a free-kick and Geremi has claimed seniority on this occasion as he drives it goalwards but straight down the throat of Jaaskelainen.

78

It appears that Newcastle have weathered the storm as Bolton are once again struggling to create any meaningful openings in the Magpies defence.

74
Substitution
 

Mikel Alonso, brother of Xabi, is now on in place of Gary Speed to provide some invention in the midfield for Bolton.

72

A good move down the right hand side from Bolton and the ball is eventually laid into the path of Nolan who strikes it well but Rozenhal puts his body on the line and blocks well on the edge of the box.

70
Substitution
 

Another substitution for Newcastle as Mark Viduka, who has been treading water for the last ten minutes or so, is replaced by Shola Ameobi.

68
Substitution
 

Two-goal hero Obafemi Martins is coming off to be replaced by Nolberto Solano, which will presumably mean Alan Smith will move up front alongside Viduka.

66
Yellow Card
 

And substitute Heidar Helguson receives the first booking of the game as he rakes his studs down the back of David Rozenhal's ankle.

65

Newcastle have just about regained an element of control over this game but Bolton are certainly playing far better than the did in the opening period.

63

Alan Smith never ducks out of a challenge and his latest sliding effort on Diouf is well-timed and Sam Allardyce will be hoping that can jump start his team into action.

60

Jaaskelainen is usually as calm and safe between teh sticks as anyone but today he looks shaky and he misjudges a Milner free-kick but luckily for the Finn it also evades Martins at the back post.

58
Substitution
 

Heidar Helguson is on in place of Kevin Davies for his debut after joining from Fulham and can he become an instant hero at the Reebok?

57

Nolan forces Smith into a quick pass which he misplaces and Anelka is millimetres away from latching onto it and being through one-on-one but N'Zogbia nips in just in the nick of time for Newcastle.

55

Newcastle's passing is nothing like as crisp as it was before the break and Bolton could yet muster something from this game.

52

El Hadji-Diouf is providing infectious enthusiasm and Bolton are suddenly looking like the side everyone knows they are and Newcastle are rocking.

50
Goal
 

BOLTON 1 - 3 NEWCASTLE (ANELKA): Bolton break from a Newcastle corner and Anelka easily out runs Carr and finishes brilliantly passed Harper to get Bolton back in the game.

47

Bolton have started much better in fact and Nolan, Davies and Anelka combine well to give Gary Speed a chance and Harper is forced into a fine save.

Second half
 

The second half is underway and Bolton have to play much better in this second period than they did in the first, otherwise they could be on the end of a huge scoreline on the opening day.

45
Substitution
 

El Hadji-Diouf is on in place of the disappointing Ricardo Vaz Te to try and spark something into this Bolton performace after the break.

Half time
 

HALF TIME - BOLTON 0 - 3 NEWCASTLE: Chris Foy blows for half-time and the home fans are not happy but the travelling support is delighted as Newcastle have played superbly in the first period.

44

Another very comfortable stop for Steve Harper, this time from Kevin Nolan, but he probably could not have imagined enjoying such an easy afternoon to date.

42

The game is drifting towards the break but El-Hadji Diouf is warming up which, as ever, causes a stir as he enjoys some verbals with the travelling support.

39

Newcastle are beginning to take their foot of the gas and Bolton are beginning to get on the ball a bit more but they don't look like creating anything and Anelka's apparent disinterest will not help matters.

35

And here come Newcastle again, in particular Martins who strides past two and then lets it fly again and it fizzes just wide of the post.

34

The frustration is clear on the faces of the Bolton players as they seem unable to get into the game in any form and they look like conceding every time Newcastle attack.

31

Newcastle's players are passing the ball around very easily at the moment and, unlike their usual style, Bolton seem unable to get in their faces and force mistakes.

28

The Newcastle fans are in disbelief - as are the Bolton fans for that matter - at the way this game is going.

26
Goal
 

BOLTON 0 - 3 NEWCASTLE (MARTINS): Martins strikes it from long range and it deflects of Faye and Jussi Jasskelainen makes a total hash of it as it trickles past his feet and into the net.

24

Newcastle's luck is in as Speed fires a shot in and Alan Smith dives to his left and clearly handles in the box but the referee has totally mised it and Carr clears and Bolton's players are justifiably upset.

23

Bolton are in a bit of trouble here because they cannot get hold of Newcastle who have started brilliantly and if tehy don't start to get going soon it could get embarassing.

21
Goal
 

BOLTON 0 - 2 NEWCASTLE (MARTINS): Great combination play from Smith and Milner and the latter puts a ball into the box that Martins half controls and then finds the back of the ent with a spectacular overhead kick.

17

Steven Taylor and David Rozenhal have made an impressive start as a pairing for Newcastle, managing to keep Anelka and Davies quiet so far.

14

What a start for Big Sam Allardyce at Newcastle and Bolton look frustrated at the moment and need to get hold of the ball and impose themselves on the game.

11
Goal
 

BOLTON 0 - 1 NEWCASTLE (N'ZOGBIA): Charles N'Zogbia whips in a free-kick that everyone misses and curls into the corner of Jaaskelainen's net.

9

Bolton manage to get some sort of possession going and Speed finds Vaz Te who takes a run at Steven Carr but the Irishman defends well and the Portuguese forward is forced to bring him down in frustration.

7

Bolton are struggling to get going and Newcastle are passing the ball about well and already the huge number of experienced 'talkers' in this Newcastle side is evident.

4

Milner bends a cross in from the right hand side, causing all sorts of problems in the Bolton defence and Viduka's header is deflected over by Faye.

2

A tentative start from both sides but Newcastle have enjoyed a lot of the ball without finding any gaps in the defence.

Kickoff
 

The new season is underway at the Reebok as referee Chris Foy blows his whistle and what could be a very interesting afternoon begins.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Newcastle: Harper, Carr, Taylor, Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Butt, Geremi, Smith, Martins, Viduka, Milner

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Cid, Faye, Samuel, Nolan, Speed, McCann, Vaz Te, Davies, Anelka

Awaiting Kickoff
 

For the visitors meanwhile four new signings are in from the start with David Rozenhal partnering Steven Taylor in defence, Alan Smith begins his Toon career in midfield as does Geremi, and Mark Viduka joins Obafemi Martins up front.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

For Bolton, three new signings make their competitive debuts as Gerald Cid, Gavin McCann and Jlloyd Samuel go straight into the team as Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka and Ricardo Vaz Te - who enjoyed a great pre-season - start up front.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Big Sam returns to the Reebok with his Newcastle side to take on Little Sam and Bolton Wanderers in his first game in charge of his new club.