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Wanderers 1 West Bromwich Albion 1

Sent off - why?!
By Matt Lawton
November 9 2002
Match referee Mike Riley tried his best to spoil the game and make Bolton lose, just as he did against Leicester last season, but Per Frandsen got Bolton out of jail.
Riley once again incensed the Reebok faithful after he sent off Wanderers defender Bruno N'Gotty following a possible elbow by the Frenchman on Baggies striker Jason Roberts although I didn't spot any wrong doing and neither did manager Sam Allardyce he revealed in an interview after the game. It was inexplicable why N'Gotty was sent off as Bolton actually got the free kick for the 'offence'!
To rub salt into the Bolton wounds the visiting Baggies took the lead when a poor Neil Clement free kick hit the wall and seemingly harmlessly bounced into the area only for former Carlisle Scott Dobie to smash the ball home. This proved to be the only real goal threat from the visitors as Bolton had most of the possession but lacked a killer touch.
Bolton dominated the second half in terms of both territory and possession but the Wanderers only equalised in the 89th minute when a cross from substitute Simon Charlton was headed home at the back post by Danish midfielder Per Frandsen.

U.W.O. Man of the Match - BERNARD MENDY
Magical Nigerian midfielder Jay Jay Okocha was a handful all day and dominated proceedings in the midfield, showing flashes of his immense skill on several occasions. However, French defender Bernard Mendy beats Okocha to the award as he defended tirelessly and showed flashes of pace, skill and passing throughout the game and provided to be a good source of attacking play for the Wanderers.

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