Pearce won’t blast Dunne’s ‘moment of madness’

Man City 0 Bolton 1

Republic of Ireland international Dunne conceded a penalty in stoppage time after handling Henrik Pedersen’s chip over his shoulder.

Gary Speed stepped up to knock the ball past David James to give Bolton an astonishing 1-0 victory.

City dominated the game but manager Stuart Pearce refused to slate Dunne for his mistake.

“You get fatigued. It was a moment of madness but to be fair to Richard he owes this club nothing. He has been sensational since I have been in charge Richard has been a rock for this team. I told not him not to apologise but to show it in his performances in the coming weeks. He has to learn from it,” he said.

To complete City’s misery Trevor Sinclair, a long-term absentee last season, will have a scan on his injured knee today after falling awkwardly in the first half.

“We will review his situation tomorrow. We think he has just stretched his ligaments slightly. We are hoping he is okay. The form he has been in, it would be a big blow to lose him.”

City, despite being without hamstring injury victim Andy Cole, peppered the opposition goal. It was as one-sided a game as you would see at this level.

“I have been around long enough and seen enough Premiership games to know that the dividing line between success and failure is very thin. If you are going to lose a game, you are perhaps better off losing it in that manner,” said Pearce.

“Bolton stuck in the game and the longer you do that, you have a chance of winning it. We couldn’t have done more to win a game but I won’t ask for any sympathy for me or my players.

“We will take it on the chin. Bolton are well organised and they have got a fantastic result. Someone will pick up the tab for us getting beaten, I am sure of that.”

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, while admitting his team rode their luck, saluted Pedersen.

“Henrik moved up from left-back and continued to play exceptionally well,” he said. “He caused them problems and brought us an opportunity to win the game. We deserved the penalty thanks to our play. We have nicked it but it reminds me of our game against Everton a few weeks ago when they pinched a victory.”

Opta Fact: Man City’s run of 13 Premiership games unbeaten has come to an end.

Opta Fact: Gary Speed has scored in every Premiership season.

MAN CITY: James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Sinclair (Jihai 26), Barton (Ireland 81), Reyna, Musampa, Sibierski, Vassell.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Ben Haim, N’Gotty, Jaidi, Pedersen, Diouf (Nakata 56), Speed, Faye (Campo 45), Nolan, Giannakopoulos (Gardner 66), Davies.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).