Bolton beats Blackburn 2-1 in Premier League

Posted Sunday, March 25, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Bolton beat Blackburn 2-1 in the Premier League Saturday in its first game since midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane last weekend.

Though he remains in intensive care at a London hospital, Muamba’s condition has improved, giving the team an emotional boost ahead of the clash against fellow relegation battler Blackburn, which came into the game with two consecutive league wins.

David Wheater scored twice in the first half at the Reebok Stadium and despite Blackburn pulling one back through Steven Nzonzi in the 56th minute to set up a frantic finish, Bolton held on for the win.

The victory takes Bolton out of the relegation zone and up to 17th place, two points behind Blackburn in 16th. It also moves Bolton a point clear of QPR and Wigan, with Wolves three points further adrift.

Results elsewhere also went Bolton’s way, adding extra gloss to a day that the home fans started and finished by singing Muamba’s name.

Loud applause and chanting to honor Muamba greeted a montage of the past week that was played on the stadium screen before kickoff and continued through to the pre-match handshakes.

Fans also held up cards as part of a mosaic that spelt out “Muamba 6” for the midfielder, who has recovered miraculously according to doctors after his heart stopped beating on its own for 78 minutes.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle said Muamba sent a message via a consultant to his teammates ahead of the match.

“Football is very emotional and passionate but when something like that happens to someone you hold dear then it pales into insignificance,” Coyle said. “The players are out on their feet physically and mentally.”

Any fears that Coyle may have had about the reaction of his players to Muamba’s condition would have been dismissed by how his side started the game.

“The team talk wasn’t long today,” he said. “Nothing is more important to us than Fabrice. If he is able to recover and have a great life with Shauna and his son Josh, that will be fantastic.

“But, God willing, he is able to play football again at this level, and if it is, our aim is for him to do that as a Premier League player.”

Bolton appeared to feed off the home crowd’s enthusiasm, with Martin Petrov a particular threat down the left.

The Bulgaria international hit a hard 25-yard drive that was beaten away by Paul Robinson in the opening stages, while Trotters striker David Ngog also posed a threat.

But just as Bolton paused for breath after the early frenzy, Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett charged into the box only for defender Gretar Steinsson to appear to commit a foul in halting his run. But referee Andre Marriner waved play on, allowing the home side to regroup.

It was Petrov who made the first chance when his delivery was inadvertently flicked on by Nzonzi for Wheater to head in at the far post for his first Premier League goal since August 2008.

Seven minutes later the tall centreback was celebrating another goal.

This time the delivery came from Ryo Miyaichi’s superb corner for Wheater to provide a thumping finish.

Ngog almost made it three when he rose to meet a cross from Petrov minutes later but the ball flashed over the bar.

Bolton had another chance to score a third when Miyaichi picked out Davies out from the right, but, unmarked and only six yards out, the midfielder glanced his header wide.

And it was Blackburn that eventually scored next when Nzonzi found the net after Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan failed to impose himself in a crowded penalty area.

The home side immediately sought to restore its two-goal cushion when a Petrov corner found Darren Pratley in space, only for the midfielder to miss the goal.

Blackburn used the lifeline to begin a sustained push for an equalizer and came close through Aiyegbeni Yakubu but the striker shot wide.

However, Bolton held on and survived the late onslaught to claim a poignant win and three crucial points.