13/01/07: Bolton 0 City 0Updated: October 3rd, 2007
So we out-Boltoned Bolton.
With 10 points from 12, even the lipstick-on-a-pig ugliness of our football has taken on its own beauty. The question now is whether we can build something lasting on these defensive foundations.
It’s certainly been done before. Howard Kendall built from defence at City, and at Everton before that. But then he was able to bring in top quality strikers - Andy Gray to Everton and Niall Quinn to City.
Pearce’s financial resources appear unable to stretch to a player of that calibre. But with two weeks left in the transfer window, we live in hope.
~ Post-match interview with Barton
~ Getty Images photos
~ Latest Premiership table.
Match stats
That fact that none of Bolton’s 18 crosses found a white shirt is probably the best indication of the quality of City’s defending.
The stats (below) are compiled from the live commentary and differ slightly from Sky’s stats:
Match reports
Bolton 0 City 0 (MEN)
Joey Barton wasted a glorious chance to secure Manchester City’s fourth straight win as a dismal Lancashire derby ended in stalemate.
Allardyce shelves Beckham Plan B after City’s young things come good (Guardian)
Saturday’s game proved a shocking advert for England’s much-hyped elite league. With the ball spending far too much time in the air it produced only one clear-cut scoring chance - a far-post sitter spurned by City’s inrushing Joey Barton - and made a mockery of the £36 admission prices which restricted a derby attendance to a disappointing 22,334.
Onuoha emerges from Richards’ shadow to blunt Bolton attack (Independent)
The lack of impact from Anelka and his fellow forwards was evidence of how much City have improved since they were beaten 2-0 by Bolton at the City of Manchester Stadium three weeks ago.
City academy paying its way (Times)
Micah Richards has already become the youngest defender to play for England but, should he depart for Chelsea, he will leave behind a team-mate who, in City’s eyes, possesses similar style and promise. Nedum Onuoha, who spent most of 2006 injured, played his part in restricting Bolton Wanderers to a handful of long-range efforts.
Dunne excels in defence (Telegraph)
The neutral’s afternoon was not helped by Pearce’s perhaps understandable decision to play Bolton at their own dogged game and not risk indulging in any unwise attempts to get the ball down and try to out pass them. That, after all, is what Liverpool and Newcastle tried to do in recent visits here only to depart well beaten.
Player ratings
Ratings come from (in order): The Times, MEN, Sky and Sky Your Rating.
Weaver: 5, 7, 6, 6.9 (av: 6.2)
Only one serious save to make from Nicolas Anelka as he was well protected. Handling was confident in wind. (MEN)
Richards: 6, 7, 6, 7.5 (av: 6.6)
Not the sparkling attacking vim City fans have come to expect but defensively very sound. (MEN)
Dunne: 7, 8, 8, 7.6 (av: 7.7)
Hardly put a foot wrong in the whole ninety minutes. Strong and committed and leading from the front. (MEN)
Onuoha: 5, 8, 6, 7.7 (av: 6.7)
Best game of the season and no wonder Pearce keeps faith with him. Brave, strong and read the game well. (MEN)
Sinclair: 7, 6, 7, 6.7 (av: 6.7)
Another step in the right direction on the comeback trail - busy and strong in tackle with decent crosses too. (MEN)
Barton: 5, 7, 7, 7.5 (av: 6.6)
Missed an absolute sitter that might have won the game but he does make a big difference to midfield drive. (MEN)
Dabo: 5, 6, 5, 6.5 (av: 5.6)
Not always at the centre of things but did what he had to do without any fuss. Good team performance. (MEN)
Ireland: 5, 7, 5, 7.4 (av: 6.1)
Back in the engine room after injury lay off and his silky skills are a vital to City’s creativity.
Distin: 5, 7, 7, 7.2 (av: 6.6)
Has not always enjoyed life away from middle but continues to put his heart and soul into job. (MEN)
Corradi (Samaras 72): 4, 6, 5, 5.8 (av: 5.2)
Held the ball up much more effectively than of late but still managed to miss two easy chances. (MEN)
Vassell (Miller 90): 4, 6, 6, 6.5 (av: 5.6)
Not in the game as much as Pearce would have liked but still created the best chance of the match. (MEN)
Subs:
Samaras (Corradi 72): - , 6, 5, 6.0 (av: 5.7)
Took over from where Corradi left off. (MEN)
Miller (Vassell 90):
Too late to mark
Subs not used:
Isaksson, Beasley, and M Mills