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Bolton 1 Charlton 2

Disappointing game
By Matt Lawton
August 24 2002
A lacklustre Bolton Wanderers performance meant that the Super Whites opened their Reebok Stadium account for this season with a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Charlton Athletic.
Former Wanderers midfielder Claus Jensen ran the show for the visitors as the Addicks came away from the Reebok with a 2-1 victory which was never really under threat after Jason Euell scored the winning goal in the 71st minute.
Bolton dominated the first twenty minutes of the game and took the lead after only two minutes when a rasping twenty yard strike from Paul Warhurst could only be parried by former Bury goalkeeper Dean Kiely and Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff followed up to slide the ball into the net. Charlton were lucky not to be reduced to ten men when Gary Rowett blatantly hauled back Michael Ricketts only for Rowett to get injured and the ball run through to Kiely without a Bolton free kick. Charlton then equalised through a penalty which was disputed by a lot of the crowd but not particularly by any of the players which was put away by Chris Bart Williams.
Bolton then could've had a penalty of their own when Henrik Pedersen was taken down in the area but referee Matt Messias further incensed the home support when he turned down the appeals.
Bolton then gradually slipped out of the game with sloppy play from Paul Warhurst and Michael Ricketts becoming a regular feature and Djorkaeff creating chances but the players not quite being on the same level as the French genius.
Charlton won it in the 71st minute when an unmarked Euell poked home from six yards out at the back post.
Bolton rallied towards the end but to no avail.

U.W.O. Man of the Match - Claus Jensen. Completely ran the show as Charlton picked up their first points of the season.

Wanderers man of the match - Ricardo Garner. The only Wanderers player who tried to create on a consistent basis and the only one prepared to run at the Charlton defence. Gardner was substituted by Allardyce which led to a chorus of jeers ringing around the Reebok at the withdrawl of the arguably the best player on the pitch in a white shirt. Tje only other players worthy of a mention were Pedersen for his tireless effort, Bruno N'Gotty for saving Bolton's bacon countless times and Mike Whitlow for his grit at the heart of the defence.

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