Davies hits Pompey where it hurts
Bolton Wanders 1 Portsmouth 0 [ Saturday 17 January 2004 ]
Nigerian striker Jay-Jay Okocha captained Sam Allardyce's men after delaying his departure to the African Nations Cup.
After just six minutes the breakthrough nearly came for the Trotters via Moreno - Youri Djorkaeff clipped the ball back. The Spaniard's effort had more than enough pace, but just scraped wide of the right side post.
The 'deadly-duo' met up again just three minutes later, to see Moreno place a skimming header right across the face of goal.
Portsmouth looked decidedly ragged during the early stages of the game and some of the passing was frustratingly sloppy.
On the strike of the 13th minute Djokaeff neatly placed the ball into the path of Okocha from a free-kick, but his effort ended nearer the corner flag than the goal.
Bolton were having most of the possession but where looking decidedly edgy in front of their home fans.
On the 26th minute Portsmouth defender Arjan De Zeeuw rushed forward in an attempt to get on the end of an Alexei Smertin cross, however due to the weakness of the shot goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was able to gather safely.
Djorkaeff got on the end of a low throw from Okocha but this touch let him down.
Portsmoth goalkeeper Shaka HIslop had to look very altert in the 33rd minute, getting down quickly to parry a shot from Ivan Campo.
Okocha was finding it increasingly difficult to stamp his mark on the game as half-time approached.
Just before the whistle Bolton's Nicky Hunt managed to clear his marker and get clear down the right side, only to see his chance go to waste when he overhit the cross. Both Davies and Moreno were working very herd up front but Bolton were creating few chances.
Bolton started the second half brightly with Djokaeff whipping in a shot after 47 minutes that Hislop did well to parry away.
A minute later, Okocha made space for himself but his effort failed to trouble the Portsmouth goalkeeper.
Then Davies got away from his marker, only to fire wide of the target.
By this time Pompey were looking decidely rattled and were struggling to get the ball out of their own half.
In the 52nd minute Hunt whipped in a superb cross into the Pompey box allowing Davies to get a touch on the ball which feably ran under Hislop's body.
Portsmouth almost drew level in the 57th minute when a shot from Aiyegbeni Yakubu spun off Bolton defender Emerson Thome and hit the post.
Tempers began to rise on both sides following a Patrik Berger challenge on Campo a minute later.
Both Okocha and Teddy Sheringham squared up which saw the Bolton captain also go in the book.
Hislop managed to regain some pride following a superb save from Kjokaeff after a neat chipped shot by Hunt.
It was all hands to the pump for Pompey and they desperately tried to rally in the closing minutes of the game. Smertin powered in a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box after 75 minutes that was superbly parried by Jaaskelainen.
Sheringham and Berger both squandered good chances of getting the equaliser late in the game and Bolton hung on for Victory.
Bolton (4-4-2)
Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Thome, N'Gotty, Baarness, Okocha (Giannakopoulos 90), Campo, Nolan, Djorkaeff (Pedersen 84) Moreno (Ba 62), Davies.
Subs (not used) Charlton, Poole.
Booked Okocha.
Portsmouth (3-5-2)
Hislop, Pasanen, De Zeeuw, Primus (Harper 77), Smertin, Hughes (Taylor 77), Berkovic, Berger, Stefanovic, Sheringham, Yakubu.
Subs (not used) Pulis, Wapenaar.
Booked Hughes, Stefanovic.