Match Report 050402 vs Bolton Wanderers: Igor may have saved his Anfield career

1-0 and it was never a pretty win. The match may have been lost for 15 minutes but somehow we resisted and gradually regained momentum. Certainly with Nando not starting and Gerrard forced to move up front our forward and midfield were not in good shape, and for Finnan's superb off the line saves (1 each half) we managed to keep a clean sheet before Igor scored that wonderful header. He was humble in saying that he was just at the right spot and everybody can score it, but that sense of alert to be at the right spot is really highly appreciated. We are now within 1 point of Everton and they are in greater pressure now. Keep on the pressure and we will finish 4th place.

Player Rating:
Carson: 7 Surprisingly called up and was shaky at first, especially when Bolton have that 5 consecutive corners and Carra's back pass header, but at times go by he becomes stronger and stronger and at the end had a superb save of Okocha's shot. A fully deserved home debut clean sheet.
Finnan: 7.5 2 saves off the line when Carson is beaten. If it's not him Biscan's goal may have no use.
Carragher: 6.5 For his high standard this is not a good game, especially the back header that almost resulted in an own goal.
Pellegrino: 6.5 The fact that Hyypia is not missed certainly tells how good he has been playing.
Traore: 7 Back from injury and he had a very nice assist before exchanging passes with Gerrard.
Nunez: 6.5 With no target man available his crosses are of no use. He did had a shot on target but that was not strong enough.
Biscan: 7.5 The goal that probably saved his Anfield career. Remember Smicer had a similar run a few years ago? Expect more to come from Igor.
Welsh: 6.5 A good debut home league start. Have a shot from 40 yards but was a bit too high.
Riise: 6 Not a good game and were also injuried.
Gerrard: 7 Did not play well at forward but as he moved back to midfield, his influence become easy to seen again.
Garcia: 6.5 Did not play well as the lone striker but when Le Tallec and Smicer were bought up he played better.

Substitutions:
Le Tallec: 6.5 He played a good game and with him on, we played better.
Smicer: 6.5 He seems to still have the hunger to play for us. This is good.
Morientes: Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 6.5 With Baros and Nando out we struggled up front. But Rafa did make some good changes and so we won. Not a pretty game, but we need to win this kind of ugly game more.

Bolton: 7 They gave us a lot of pressures but at the end luck is on our side. They should qualify for UEFA Cup.

Men of the match: Biscan/Finnan. Biscan for scoring that important goal and Finnan for the 2 off the line saves.