Bolton 2 Spurs 0
Goals from Kevin Davies and Ivan Campo brought a smile back to the face of Bolton manager Sam Allardyce.
The duo scored in the space of five first-half minutes to condemn big-spending Tottenham to a 2-0 defeat at the Reebok Stadium.
Allardyce has not had the best of summers after losing out to Steve McClaren for the role of England head coach.
He was then thwarted in his attempts to add a quality striker - although the window remains open - and injuries to his squad disrupted their pre-season programme, which has not gone well.
But it all turned out right on the opening day with the Bolton supporters raising the roof.
In contrast, Tottenham boss Martin Jol will be hoping there are better days ahead after spending over #20million in the close season.
Bolton set the pace from the start and Calum Davenport headed clear after Ricardo Vaz Te had flicked on a corner from Gary Speed.
It was a brief respite as from the resulting corner from Speed, Davies escaped his marker to head home in the ninth minute.
Bolton extended their lead five minutes later when Campo drove in a low shot from distance. While the ball swerved at the last minute, England goalkeeper Paul Robinson appeared to react slowly and should have kept the shot out.
Considering they just missed out on a Champions League slot last season, it was a dreadful start by Tottenham.
But they hit back in the 24th minute when new Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov released Jermain Defoe, only for Jussi Jaaskelainen to parry the ball to safety.
Tottenham were beginning to pick up the pace of the game and Abdoulaye Meite did well to clear in the 29th minute under pressure from Berbatov.
Then Davies got back to head away an in-swinging free-kick from Didier Zokora which had drifted over the head of Jaaskelainen.
Bolton almost made it 3-0 in the 34th minute when they were awarded a free-kick after Edgar Davids had brought down Davies. Veteran midfielder Speed's effort from 20 yards was sweetly struck, but Robinson was equal to it.
Tottenham made a bright start to the second half and Aaron Lennon strode forward in the 49th minute, only for Tal Ben Haim to make a timely block.
But a poor clearance by Michael Dawson from Vaz Te's cross in the 55th minute almost cost the visitors dear. Kevin Nolan latched on to the loose ball, only to see his effort go marginally wide of the post with Robinson beaten.
Tottenham were playing with a lot more purpose now and Dawson got on the end of a cross from Lennon in the 58th minute but headed into the goalkeeper's arms.
Robbie Keane was introduced into the action a minute later when he replaced the tiring Zokora.
Berbatov then broke clear, only for Jaaskelainen to smother the ball at his feet.
Play switched back down the other hand and El-Hadji Diouf went close with his effort from an acute angle.
The Senegal striker was again out of luck in the 64th minute when his close-range header was superbly turned away by Robinson.
Republic of Ireland striker Keane looked full of running after his thigh injury, but he was getting little change out of the Bolton back-line.
The home side looked dangerous going forward and Davies saw his close-range effort blocked and Speed sent the rebound off target - but Bolton were already home and dry.
Allardyce said: 'It was a great start for us after I had brought players in to do set pieces on the pitch this morning. We have not had enough time to do this work this week.
'I am glad to say Kevin Davies has put one in the back of the net for us. Then Campo produced a stunner - a terrific daisy clipper past Robinson before he could dive.
'That has to be goal of the season for us.
'We could have got more as well and don't forget Tottenham are highly fancied to do well.'
Tottenham felt Abdoulaye Meite had impeded a couple of their players before Davies scored.
Jol said: 'The first goal was a big disappointment and there will be a lot of confusion this season.
'The directive is that the attacking players will be protected but we were not allowed to play the ball out of the field.'
The Spurs boss did concede, however, that his side were not able to match Bolton physically.
'You have to compete with them but they were stronger than us,' he added.
'It is very difficult to play against and they kept it tight after going 2-0 ahead.
'It was a terrific strike from Campo, and he has done that before, but we should have blocked the shot.'
Allardyce also paid tribute to the fans who raised the roof at the Reebok Stadium.
He added: 'I thought they were terrific, particularly in the second half.
'Instead of getting impatient they were singing away and encouraging the lads.
'Every little thing helps, especially when you are in our position with just 13 fit professionals.
'It was a terrific performance from the team after such a disruptive pre-season. We could not have asked for any more.'
The duo scored in the space of five first-half minutes to condemn big-spending Tottenham to a 2-0 defeat at the Reebok Stadium.
Allardyce has not had the best of summers after losing out to Steve McClaren for the role of England head coach.
He was then thwarted in his attempts to add a quality striker - although the window remains open - and injuries to his squad disrupted their pre-season programme, which has not gone well.
But it all turned out right on the opening day with the Bolton supporters raising the roof.
In contrast, Tottenham boss Martin Jol will be hoping there are better days ahead after spending over #20million in the close season.
Bolton set the pace from the start and Calum Davenport headed clear after Ricardo Vaz Te had flicked on a corner from Gary Speed.
It was a brief respite as from the resulting corner from Speed, Davies escaped his marker to head home in the ninth minute.
Bolton extended their lead five minutes later when Campo drove in a low shot from distance. While the ball swerved at the last minute, England goalkeeper Paul Robinson appeared to react slowly and should have kept the shot out.
Considering they just missed out on a Champions League slot last season, it was a dreadful start by Tottenham.
But they hit back in the 24th minute when new Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov released Jermain Defoe, only for Jussi Jaaskelainen to parry the ball to safety.
Tottenham were beginning to pick up the pace of the game and Abdoulaye Meite did well to clear in the 29th minute under pressure from Berbatov.
Then Davies got back to head away an in-swinging free-kick from Didier Zokora which had drifted over the head of Jaaskelainen.
Bolton almost made it 3-0 in the 34th minute when they were awarded a free-kick after Edgar Davids had brought down Davies. Veteran midfielder Speed's effort from 20 yards was sweetly struck, but Robinson was equal to it.
Tottenham made a bright start to the second half and Aaron Lennon strode forward in the 49th minute, only for Tal Ben Haim to make a timely block.
But a poor clearance by Michael Dawson from Vaz Te's cross in the 55th minute almost cost the visitors dear. Kevin Nolan latched on to the loose ball, only to see his effort go marginally wide of the post with Robinson beaten.
Tottenham were playing with a lot more purpose now and Dawson got on the end of a cross from Lennon in the 58th minute but headed into the goalkeeper's arms.
Robbie Keane was introduced into the action a minute later when he replaced the tiring Zokora.
Berbatov then broke clear, only for Jaaskelainen to smother the ball at his feet.
Play switched back down the other hand and El-Hadji Diouf went close with his effort from an acute angle.
The Senegal striker was again out of luck in the 64th minute when his close-range header was superbly turned away by Robinson.
Republic of Ireland striker Keane looked full of running after his thigh injury, but he was getting little change out of the Bolton back-line.
The home side looked dangerous going forward and Davies saw his close-range effort blocked and Speed sent the rebound off target - but Bolton were already home and dry.
Allardyce said: 'It was a great start for us after I had brought players in to do set pieces on the pitch this morning. We have not had enough time to do this work this week.
'I am glad to say Kevin Davies has put one in the back of the net for us. Then Campo produced a stunner - a terrific daisy clipper past Robinson before he could dive.
'That has to be goal of the season for us.
'We could have got more as well and don't forget Tottenham are highly fancied to do well.'
Tottenham felt Abdoulaye Meite had impeded a couple of their players before Davies scored.
Jol said: 'The first goal was a big disappointment and there will be a lot of confusion this season.
'The directive is that the attacking players will be protected but we were not allowed to play the ball out of the field.'
The Spurs boss did concede, however, that his side were not able to match Bolton physically.
'You have to compete with them but they were stronger than us,' he added.
'It is very difficult to play against and they kept it tight after going 2-0 ahead.
'It was a terrific strike from Campo, and he has done that before, but we should have blocked the shot.'
Allardyce also paid tribute to the fans who raised the roof at the Reebok Stadium.
He added: 'I thought they were terrific, particularly in the second half.
'Instead of getting impatient they were singing away and encouraging the lads.
'Every little thing helps, especially when you are in our position with just 13 fit professionals.
'It was a terrific performance from the team after such a disruptive pre-season. We could not have asked for any more.'
posted by dgarden at 10:38 am
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