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DERBY 1-1 BOLTON
Michael Morgan At Pride Park 30/09/2007
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Michael Morgan At Pride Park 30/09/2007
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Nicolas Anelka's priceless equaliser at Pride Park made sure that Sammy Lee will hold on to his job for at least another week.
Lee is under immense pressure following Bolton's woeful start to a season which sees them already pinned in the relegation places.
Defeat at rivals-in-distress Derby might just have spelled the end of his brief reign as boss at the Reebok.
Lee has had a tough time since taking over the reins following Sam Allardyce's summer defection to Newcastle.
AdvertisementLee is under immense pressure following Bolton's woeful start to a season which sees them already pinned in the relegation places.
Defeat at rivals-in-distress Derby might just have spelled the end of his brief reign as boss at the Reebok.
Lee has had a tough time since taking over the reins following Sam Allardyce's summer defection to Newcastle.
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But while results have not gone Wanderers' way so far this term, there is nothing wrong with the spirit in the camp.
At least, not on the evidence of this performance against an equally-committed Rams.
Then again, it is not graft which is the problem for either of these sides but lack of craft - and that is why both face a season-long struggle to stay up.
Derby boss Billy Davies also finds his job on the line if football's rumour mill is to be believed.
But he insisted: "There is no more pressure on Sammy and me than on any other manager.
"All of us are under pressure because of the great expectation levels in the Premier League.
"Ok, we have taken one or two beatings and have had to learn one or two hard lessons already this season.
"But I am delighted with the spirit and energy we have in the squad.
"We are basically a young side who are still learning all about this division.
"We know there are going to be a few more hard knocks but I also know I have the players who are good enough here to collect points consistently.
"I was delighted with the reaction we showed after losing 5- 0 at Arsenal last week."
The Rams certainly looked full of confidence when Kenny Miller fired them in front after 19 minutes.
The Scotland forward drilled in a low first-time drive from 10 yards after strike partner Steve Howard fed him a tantalisingly inch-perfect cross.
It was Miller's second goal in only three games since his £2million move from Celtic, and he was desperately unlucky not to add to that tally three minutes after the break.
He met Jay McEveley's cross with a vicious first-time effort that brought a superb save from Jussi Jaaskelainen.
That save protected the 32ndminute goal which gave Bolton a point.
Anelka picked up his fifth goal of the season with a low 20-yard drive which took a deflection off Rams defender Dean Leacock and wrong-footed keeper Stephen Bywater.
But Lee will clearly take anything that is going. He said: "Derby are a well-organised side who are also fighting for their lives and I would happily have come here and accepted a point.
"We have now gone four games unbeaten and that has got to be good for our confidence.
"I don't feel we have performed that badly this season but success is not going to happen overnight. Only by working together can we get out of the position we are in.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2001-02 Derby did a Premier League double over Bolton, winning 3-1 at the Reebok and 1-0 at home. But the Wanderers stayed up and Derby were relegated.
STAT ATTACK
STORY OF THE GAME
DERBY BOLTON
51% POSSESSION 49%
3 SHOTS ON TARGET 7
5 SHOTS OFF TARGET 5
7 CORNERS 8
16 FOULS CONCEDED 8
2 OFFSIDES 0
3 YELLOW CARDS 2
0 RED CARDS 0
HOW THEY RATED
DERBY
Bywater 7, Mears 6, Davis 7, Leacock 6, McEveley 6, Oakley 6, Pearson 7, Jones 6 (Barnes 6), Lewis 6 (Teale 6), Miller 7, Howard 6.
Manager Davies 7
BOLTON
Jaaskelainen 6, J O'Brien 6 (Braaten 6), A O'Brien 6, Meite 7, Gardner 7, NOLAN 8, Campo 6, Speed 6 (McCann 6), Diouf 7, Anelka 7, Davies 6 (Wilhelmsson 6).
Manager Lee 7
Referee R Styles 6
NEXT 4 PREM FIXTURES
DERBY
READING (A), FULHAM (A) EVERTON (H), A.VILLA (A)
BOLTON
CHELSEA (H), ARSENAL (A), A.VILLA (H), WEST HAM (A)
HEAD TO HEAD
Claude Davis v KEVIN DAVIES
Davis has struggled to find his form since arriving in a £3million summer switch from Sheffield United, but the Jamaican international centre-back won virtually every challenge and barely gave Davies a kick.
Man of the MATCH
KEVIN NOLAN
What a shame for the Bolton skipper that England are blessed with so many tremendous midfield players. Nolan was at the heart of most of the good things his side produced.
At least, not on the evidence of this performance against an equally-committed Rams.
Then again, it is not graft which is the problem for either of these sides but lack of craft - and that is why both face a season-long struggle to stay up.
Derby boss Billy Davies also finds his job on the line if football's rumour mill is to be believed.
But he insisted: "There is no more pressure on Sammy and me than on any other manager.
"All of us are under pressure because of the great expectation levels in the Premier League.
"Ok, we have taken one or two beatings and have had to learn one or two hard lessons already this season.
"But I am delighted with the spirit and energy we have in the squad.
"We are basically a young side who are still learning all about this division.
"We know there are going to be a few more hard knocks but I also know I have the players who are good enough here to collect points consistently.
"I was delighted with the reaction we showed after losing 5- 0 at Arsenal last week."
The Rams certainly looked full of confidence when Kenny Miller fired them in front after 19 minutes.
The Scotland forward drilled in a low first-time drive from 10 yards after strike partner Steve Howard fed him a tantalisingly inch-perfect cross.
It was Miller's second goal in only three games since his £2million move from Celtic, and he was desperately unlucky not to add to that tally three minutes after the break.
He met Jay McEveley's cross with a vicious first-time effort that brought a superb save from Jussi Jaaskelainen.
That save protected the 32ndminute goal which gave Bolton a point.
Anelka picked up his fifth goal of the season with a low 20-yard drive which took a deflection off Rams defender Dean Leacock and wrong-footed keeper Stephen Bywater.
But Lee will clearly take anything that is going. He said: "Derby are a well-organised side who are also fighting for their lives and I would happily have come here and accepted a point.
"We have now gone four games unbeaten and that has got to be good for our confidence.
"I don't feel we have performed that badly this season but success is not going to happen overnight. Only by working together can we get out of the position we are in.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2001-02 Derby did a Premier League double over Bolton, winning 3-1 at the Reebok and 1-0 at home. But the Wanderers stayed up and Derby were relegated.
STAT ATTACK
STORY OF THE GAME
DERBY BOLTON
51% POSSESSION 49%
3 SHOTS ON TARGET 7
5 SHOTS OFF TARGET 5
7 CORNERS 8
16 FOULS CONCEDED 8
2 OFFSIDES 0
3 YELLOW CARDS 2
0 RED CARDS 0
HOW THEY RATED
DERBY
Bywater 7, Mears 6, Davis 7, Leacock 6, McEveley 6, Oakley 6, Pearson 7, Jones 6 (Barnes 6), Lewis 6 (Teale 6), Miller 7, Howard 6.
Manager Davies 7
BOLTON
Jaaskelainen 6, J O'Brien 6 (Braaten 6), A O'Brien 6, Meite 7, Gardner 7, NOLAN 8, Campo 6, Speed 6 (McCann 6), Diouf 7, Anelka 7, Davies 6 (Wilhelmsson 6).
Manager Lee 7
Referee R Styles 6
NEXT 4 PREM FIXTURES
DERBY
READING (A), FULHAM (A) EVERTON (H), A.VILLA (A)
BOLTON
CHELSEA (H), ARSENAL (A), A.VILLA (H), WEST HAM (A)
HEAD TO HEAD
Claude Davis v KEVIN DAVIES
Davis has struggled to find his form since arriving in a £3million summer switch from Sheffield United, but the Jamaican international centre-back won virtually every challenge and barely gave Davies a kick.
Man of the MATCH
KEVIN NOLAN
What a shame for the Bolton skipper that England are blessed with so many tremendous midfield players. Nolan was at the heart of most of the good things his side produced.
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