Southampton held on to a vital relegation point at Bolton today, despite
seeing defender Francis Benali dismissed for the 11th time in his career in the
31st minute.
Saint Benali became a sinner when he aimed a punch at Jamie Pollock after an
altercation with the Wanderers midfielder.
Draw specialists Bolton will see this goalless match only as a further two
points dropped as they continue to fail to penetrate opposing defences.
Manager Colin Todd brought Bob Taylor in on loan from First Division West
Bromwich Albion, but the striker could not hit the back of the net despite
constantly finding space in the first half.
That, though, was a result of the hard work of the Southampton defence,
particularly from Dutchman Ken Monkou and a brilliant display from goalkeeper
Paul Jones.
The Saints' ever present goalkeeper had been rated as doubtful for the game
with a groin strain, but save after save denying Wanderers showed just why
manager Dave Jones was prepared to take a chance on his fitness.
Todd brought in Taylor for his first game in place of Icelander Arnar
Gunnlaugsson, and his side were further strengthened by the return of goalkeeper
Keith Branagan.
Full-backs Neil Cox and Jimmy Phillips also returned to the first team.
Southampton boss Jones dropped the enigmatic Matt Le Tissier and reinstated
Norwegian striker Egil Ostenstad. Defender Richard Dryden was also welcomed
back.
Just seconds into the game Taylor failed to connect with Pollock's cross, and
the chance drifted harmlessly wide.
Carlton Palmer became the first Saints player to enter the referee's notebook
when he attempted to prevent Pollock from taking a free-kick quickly.
Dryden joined the former England international in the 28th minute for his
clumsy challenge on Taylor. Three minutes later Benali did his best impression
of Prince Naseem and the Saints back room staff turned the hot taps on in the
dressing-room.
Young striker Kevin Davies then joined the ever lengthening list of badly
behaved Saints with a late challenge on Scott Sellars.
The first half had been an entertaining affair, Bolton having several chances
to carve out an early lead.
In the final minute of the first period Taylor could have given Wanderers a
vital one-goal cushion, but his shot from Alan Thompson's low cross was
deflected on to the bar by the legs of the hugely impressive Jones.
Earlier, Per Frandsen could only watch in disbelief as Jones produced another
excellent save to deny him in the 26th minute, after Blake had split the Saints
defence with an excellent through ball.
After half-time Southampton boss Jones swapped the ineffective David Hirst for
Australian Robbie Slater.
Four minutes after the break Davies produced some encouragement for the
Saints' travelling fans when his trickery took him between Sellars and Cox. But
his shot from the edge of the area was pushed away by Branagan.
In the 54th minute Taylor won a corner off the legs of Monkou, but Phillips
failed to judge Sellars' set-piece correctly and fired well over Jones' goal.
Wanderers pressed the forward again as they tried to take advantage of Saints'
one-man deficit, and in the 62nd minute they nearly opened the scoring.
Andy Todd rose above the Southampton defence and aimed goalwards with a
powerful header. For the first time Jones was left stranded, but Jason Dodd's
goalline clearance saved the day.
By now the home support was becoming restless.
In the 66th minute Sellars attempted to allay those frustrations with a low
cross to Taylor in the area, but the striker was thwarted by the swift
intervention of Monkou.
Todd then substituted Pollock and Sellars for Gunnlaugsson and Franz Carr in
the 72nd minute. Just a minute later Jones again had to be alert to clear
Richard Dryden's header off his own line from Frandsen's lobbed cross.
Southampton sent on Andy Williams for Ostenstad in the 78th minute as they
attempted to hold on to the valuable point.
In the 88th minute Thompson found a little space in the area from Carr's
jinking run. The young Geordie tried to curl the ball beyond Jones but found
only the outside of the left-hand post.
In the final minute Jones again had to be at his very best to tip over a
powerful volley from Cox.
Teams:
Bolton: Branagan, Cox, Frandsen, Pollock (Carr 72),
Sellars (Gunnlaugsson 72), Blake, Thompson, Bergsson, Todd,
Phillips, Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Beardsley, Fish, Ward.
Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Monkou, Dryden, Benali, Oakley,
Richardson, Palmer, Davies, Hirst (Slater 46),
Ostenstad (Williams 77).
Subs Not Used: Moss, Le Tissier, Spedding.
Sent Off: Benali (31).
Booked: Palmer, Dryden, Davies.
Att: 23,333
Ref: G S Willard (Worthing).
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