Playing near the entire second half down a man, Newcastle nearly took all three points at St. James' Park on Saturday. Nile Ranger seemingly headed the Magpies to a win in stoppage time only to see the linesman's flag raised. Replays showed Ranger was clearly offside, both Jose Enrique and David Wheater executing the trap perfectly. Thus, the match was left 1-1, enough to see Bolton take seventh place from Sunderland.
Newcastle Vs. Bolton: 10-Man Magpies Drawn By Trotters, 1-1
Owen Coyle may have, however, wanted more. After a relatively even first half that saw Kevin Nolan and Daniel Sturridge trade goals, Newcastle saw a man sent off early in the second, Ryan Taylor seeing straight red after a two-footed lunge at Johan Elmander. With the Trotters given near a full half while up a man, they should have expected a goal.
To the credit of Alan Pardew and his team, Bolton was never particularly close. In fact, Newcastle had the closest calls of the half. Not only did Ranger come close in stoppage time, but Bolton fullback Paul Robinson nearly put home an own goal late.
Newcastle, for their part, patiently waited for Bolton to make their move, refusing to give the Trotters any opportunities. And without those opportunities, Stephen Harper was asked fewer chances in the second half than he heard in the first.
And for that reason alone, Coyle should be disappointed. Given an opportunity to take all three from a club who will be competing with them for the last Europa League spot, Bolton seemed to lack the drive to get a win. At the beginning of the day, the Trotters may have been content with a one out of St. James’. Given the circumstances of the match, the result has to disappoint.
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