EPL: Bolton vs Spurs (22.09.07)

[bandini]

Bolton manager Sammy Lee believes Joey O'Brien deserves great credit for the way he has battled back from a long-term knee injury.

The Republic of Ireland full-back returned to the first team on Thursday when he stepped off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Rabotnicki in the UEFA Cup.

It was his first game for Lee's side following the setback in pre-season last year.

O'Brien could now come into contention for a place in the team to face fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham at the Reebok Stadium.

Lee said: 'Everyone was pleased to see Joey back after such a lengthy injury. He was excellent when he came on.

'The mere fact he played shows how close he is to full fitness and the great strides he has made in his recovery.

'He has shown a lot of mental strength over the past year following the injury.'

Lee is determined to eradicate the defensive errors that have caused Bolton to stumble alarmingly.

He said: 'It would be wrong to name individuals. It is a team game and we all have to defend when we do not have the ball.

'It is a question of taking responsibility and we are working hard to try to remedy this situation.

'I feel the players have the passion and commitment needed to turn things around and improve our situation.'

Defender Andy O'Brien could return to the starting line-up against Tottenham and replace Gerald Cid. Midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson might also come into contention after a thigh strain.

Martin Jol believes bringing new faces into his team has contributed to Tottenham's poor start to the Barclays Premier League season - but Bolton cannot use the same excuse.

Both sides are looking for their second league win of the season when they meet at the Reebok Stadium but while Sammy Lee's men scraped a draw against Rabotnicki in the UEFA Cup, Spurs thrashed Anorthosis Famagusta.

It was a welcome victory for boss Jol, whose position has been under scrutiny during a dismal start to the campaign in which his team have struggled to gel.

The Dutchman has blamed bad luck and a tricky fixture schedule as well as the difficulties of new players adapting, and the demands of the club mean he faces different expectations to those at Bolton.

'They probably were unfortunate like we were against Manchester United, Arsenal and Fulham,' said Jol.

'With the talented players we have we are responsible to do better. They have a different sort of group - experienced, older.

'They play with the same players like last year so that will be difficult, and we have three or four different players.

'That is why I needed time, I don't know why they need more time.'

Jol hopes the win against Famagusta can spark a run of results to ease the pressure.

'Momentum is about the quality of the opponents,' he said. 'If you play against Arsenal or Manchester United after a win that is totally different.

'The only big disappointment was the first two games of the season because after that we always knew we had a very tough schedule.

'I felt we had momentum enough, we had chances against Manchester United and we should have won there.'

source: ESPNsoccernet - England - Bolton v Tottenham Preview

After Spurs' 6-1 win in the cup last week, they should at least have some confidence back. Let's try and get an away win here.

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Bolton manager Sammy Lee saw his side move off the foot of the table on goal difference by securing a 1-1 draw against Tottenham at the Reebok Stadium.

But despite moving ahead of fellow strugglers Derby, Lee will know they are not out of the woods yet with victories still hard to come by.

It is a similar story for Tottenham boss Martin Jol, although expectations are much higher at White Hart Lane.

Wanderers boss Lee brought back Ivan Campo for his first appearance of the season and it proved to be a shrewd move.

The Spaniard not only grabbed the equaliser but also helped galvanise a struggling side.

He was given a rousing reception by the supporters, who cheered his name from all corners of the ground.

Campo soon got into his stride and delivered a marvellous angled ball to Kevin Davies in the fifth minute.

The Bolton striker squared it into the area only for Michael Dawson to make a hurried clearance.

Tottenham nearly took the lead, however, in the 26th minute when Robbie Keane picked out Dimitar Berbatov at the back post.

He rattled in a shot from an acute angle which goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to parry.

Tottenham took the lead in the 33rd minute through Keane's first league goal of the season.

It was poor defending by Bolton after Jaaskelainen got a hand to Jermaine Jenas' close-range effort.

The ball broke to Campo but he only succeeded in setting up Keane, who took advantage from close range.

Campo made amends five minutes later by grabbing the equaliser with a thumping header into the corner following a free-kick from El-Hadji Diouf.

Joey O'Brien, however, almost handed Tottenham the lead on the stroke of half-time when he sent Teemu Tainio's cross narrowly past his own post.

Bolton's struggles in the early part of the season were reflected in the attendance with a crowd of only 20,308 present.

Tainio then came close to restoring Tottenham's lead with a rasping 20-yard drive.

However Jaaskelainen was equal to it and turned the midfielder's effort around the post.

Bolton won a free-kick in the 58th minute when Dawson barged into Davies. However Anelka sent his effort straight into Robinson's arms.

Tottenham looked dangerous on the break and Malbranque narrowly cleared the bar three minutes later after a weak punch by Jaaskelainen.

However there was a moment of danger for the visitors in the 63rd minute when Davies flicked on a throw in from Campo but Anelka just failed to get a vital touch.

Bolton were working tirelessly to get only their second win of the season and that must have pleased Lee.

Davies again got clear of his marker in the 70th minute when Campo floated in a free-kick but his header failed to test Robinson.

Tottenham boss Jol decided to switch things around and brought on Darren Bent and Aaron Lennon in the space of six minutes for Berbatov and Tainio.

Keane came close to restoring their lead in the 86th minute but Jaaskelainen made a marvellous block.

Jaaskelainen then had a heated disagreement in stoppage time with Abdoulaye Meite as Tottenham pushed forward.

Fingers were pointed and words exchanged but Bolton secured a point and their display was a marked improvement on the one against Rabotnicki Kometal in the UEFA Cup on Thursday when they salvaged a draw after a poor performance.

source: ESPNsoccernet - England - Bolton v Tottenham Report

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Spurs was the sharpest team but they couldn't get the important second goal which would have given them all 3 points. Jaaskelainen was good for Bolton.