could Albion find fortune against former boss Gary Megson at the Reebok Stadium?

West Brom very nearly suffered a sixth minute set back when James Morrison allowed his man, Gavin McCann to break away from him.  Joey O'Brien's free kick found him perfectly, although the best McCann could do was find the side netting on this occasion.

Eager to make up for his early mistake Morrison made an immediate response, bursting through Bolton's midfield and breezing past Danny Shittu to square to Miller 12 yards from goal.  A last ditch clearance from Samuel however thwarted Miller's goal bound effort.

In the 14th minute Gary Megson was forced to make a change, Riga the man coming on for the injured Joey O'Brien.  Riga was straight in on the action, providing an almost instantaneous cross for Nolan.  But his poor first touch allowed Carson to gather the danger.

James Morrison forced Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen into a magnificent save as he launched a curling shot from the edge of the box, which was certain to be goal bound but for the fingertips of the quick footed keeper.  But just a minute later Albion were nearly left high and dry when Leon Barnett gave away possession in a dangerous area.  Ricardo Gardner was on call in the box to pick up the ball, forcing Carson into a save at his near post with a tight angled effort.

In the 33rd minute the Baggies gave their Premiership hosts a taster of why they were crowned Championship champions last season, with some excellent one touch passing which left the Bolton lads chasing shadows.  The ball finally reached the feet of Valero in the box, but the £4.7 million signing opted to shoot, when he might have done better to pick out the unmarked Robert Koren in the centre.

Bolton might have been reduced to ten men just before the break, when in the 42nd minute McCann unleashed a nasty, two footed challenge on Leon Barnett.  They were indeed fortunate to finish the half with 11 men, as referee Keith Stroud produced a yellow rather than a red card.

Albion did finish the half with ten men however, Abdoulaye Meite making a quick reappearance at the Reebok after his summer transfer from Wanderers to Albion, was forced off though injury.  Mowbray made his substitution at the start of the second half.

Half Time: Bolton Wanderers 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

Hoefkens was the man to replace Meite at the start of the second half, and it wasn't long before the whole of Albion's defence was called int it's first action of the half.  Gardner's left wing cross was headed away by Paul Robinson, but only as far as Fabrice Muamba, who shot well wide from 20 yards.

Gianni Zuiverloon was just inches off grabbing a goal in the 49th minute when Jonathan Greening whipped in a free kick which had been won by Hoefken's on the right flank.  But the game was now pacing from end to end, and just moments later Gardner came agonisingly close to giving Bolton the lead with a 25 yard effort.

Riga tried his luck from 15 yards next, with Leon Barnett the quickest to react and blocking the shot in good time.  But Bolton were beginning to build up a bit of pressure, the first proper spell they had created since kick off. 

In the 58th minute Mowbray made a second substitution, Marek Cech coming on in place of Valero.  Three minutes later Ishmael Miller was gifted a chance with a sublime overhead ball from Paul Robinson, but he blasted well over the target from just 10 yards.

Bolton were appealing for a penalty in the 62nd minute after Paul Robinson was adjudged to have fouled Riga.  But replays showed that the referee had got his decision to wave away claims absolutely spot on, with the last ditch challenge taking place on the edge of the box, not in it.  He did however chose to award Bolton a free kick, despite Robbo clearly having got the ball and not the player.  Robinson was shown a yellow.

The resulting free kick was a cracking strike from Riga, but Carson was ore than equal to it and pulled off a stunning save.  Bolton might have done better in the 77th minute, when a mis-controlled ball by Nolan went begging after Samuel had laid on a perfect throughball to goal.

A minute later Kim came nothing but blades of grass short of scoring his first Premiership goal as his left footed 30 yard strike seemed to bounce exactly where the goal line lay, with Jaaskelainen well beaten.  Miller might have netted the rebound, but the chance was wasted as the Bolton keeper snatched away the danger ball.

In the 80th minute Bolton hands went flying up into the air in a second appeal to referee Stroud to award them a penalty kick.  This time it was shouts of hand ball as a shot from Nolan appeared to have made contact with part of Jonathan Greening's arm.  The ref however waved away the claims, in what would have been an extremely harsh decision against Albion.

As the half came to a close Morrison did well to find Miller in the centre, but the big forward scuppered his chance from 12 yards.  Three minutes from time Bolton fans thought they had claimed the points.  Carson pulled off a world class save from a 15 yard Nolan strike.  The loose ball fell to Davies, who netted the ball only to be adjudged, quite correctly as offside.

The last chance of the game fell to Baggies sub Sherjill MacDonald, who saw his shot blocked by Andy O'Brien.

Full Time: Bolton Wanderers 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

Attendance: 20,387

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