Pompey slam Bolton to rise top of the Premiership!
Porsmouth 4 Bolton 0 [ Tuesday 26 August 2003 ]
Teddy Sheringham's sublime talent rocketed Pompey to the top of the Premiership as Bolton were overwhelmed at Fratton Park tonight. Without doubt the performance witnessed at Pompey this evening must surely make every Tottenham fan rueful of the decision that removed the sublime genious that is Teddy Sheringham from the depths N17.
There were no goals in the first half, but once Pompey moved into first gear Bolton where overwhemled in what may have seemed sadly reminiscent of their opener against Manchester United.
In the eighth minute Amdy Faye punched a long pass from Pormpey's midfield which Yakubu headed down for Berger to strike with conviction from 25 yards straight into the hands of Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Sheringham's subtle touches were beginning to have the desired effect, in the 37 mintue Portsmouth put together the most creative attack of the game when Sheringham and Stone exchanged pases before Stone's low driving cross from the right side was snatched of Yakubu's feet bravely by Jasskelainen.
Portsmouth survived a scare at the start of the second half when a Kevin Davies shot skimmed the bar, however the home side went ahead mintues later when when Berger skilfully exchanged passes with Sheringham and fired in a low shot which Jaaskelainen just about managed to parry away with his feet, only for Pompey's stoical little midfielder Steve Stone to neatly bundle home.
Another goal was added to the tally when Sheringham slammed the ball in on the 56 minute. Boris Zivkovic neatly collected Nigel Quashie's pass down the left to send over a peach of a cross from the left which Sheringham met with a bullet header inside the near post.
Bolton were visibly beginning to show the strain and discipline began to slowly crumble when Pedersen and sub Stelios Giannakopolous flew recklessly into tackles that bought down Dejan Stefanovic and Nigel Quashie.
Mintues lates Berger tested Jaaskelainen several times from distance, slowly piling the presure on a demoralised Bolton. On the 87th minute Bolton's fate was firmely sealed following a neat Stone pull back which neatly lined up Sheringham to make it 3-0. The match ball was firmly in Teddy's possession when he sealed his hat trick following the perfect execution of a penalty awarded after Ivan Campo bought down Vincent Pericard on the edge of the 18 yard box.
Another superb Pompey performance, but signings must be made to ensure strength of depth to the squad.
Portsmouth (3-5-2)
Hislop, Zivkovic, Stefanovic, De Zeeuw, Schemmel (Primus 81), Berger, Quashie, Faye, Stone, Sheringham, Ayegbeni (Pericard 84).
Subs (not used) Wapenaar, O'Neil, Harper.
Booked Quashie.
Bolton (4-4-2)
Jaaskelainen, Campo, N'Gotty, Barness (Charton 41), Laville, Gardner, Okocha, Frandsen (Jardel 63), Djorkaeff, Davies (Giannakopoulos 64), Pedersen.
Subs (not used) Nolan, Poole.
Booked Laville, Davies, Zivkovic, Chartlon, Giannakopoulos.