Under-strength Bolton crash out

GARY MEGSON paid the price for fielding an under-strength side as Bolton followed Everton and Spurs out of this season’s UEFA Cup at the last-16 stage.

Against a Bolton side shorn of several stars an unremarkable Sporting clinched their quarter-final place via Bruno Pereirinha’s 85th-minute strike to give them a 2-1 win aggregate victory.

There was no Kevin Nolan, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Kevin Davies, Matt Taylor, El Hadji Diouf, Andy O’Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo or Gavin McCann for this clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Megson’s focus is firmly on Sunday’s clash with relegation rivals Wigan at the JJB Stadium, and understandably so with the club now back in the bottom three.

Like Megson, Lisbon coach Paulo Bento is under pressure himself, although his side are facing an uphill task to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

What Megson would give for that kind of luxury.

Yet despite the players on view, it was primarily a reserve team that drew 2-2 at Bayern Munich, beat Red Star 1-0 in Belgrade and held Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw in Spain this season.

There was no reason to suggest Sporting would pose a greater threat than any of those illustrious three teams, and for the most part so it proved.

Sporting finished the half with Leandro Romagnoli pulling another good save out of Al Habsi, but for all their possession, that was as much as they created.

Bolton had one effort from Portugal U21 international Ricardo Vaz Te that struck the side netting, while Danny Guthrie forced Rui Patricio into a fine, low save at his near post.

Bolton’s endeavour certainly could not be faulted, but all too often it appeared the ball would not drop kindly for them where it mattered in the penalty area.

They also perhaps lacked a greater degree of belief and conviction because while Sporting continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession after the break, they barely troubled their visitors until late on.

Al Habsi made a straightforward save in the 56th minute, stooping low to collect a 20-yard drive from Pereirinha, who eventually grabbed the all-important winner five minutes from time.

SPORTING: Rui Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Anderson Polga, Grimi, Joao Moutinho, Bruno Pereirinha, Izmailov (Gladstone 75), Romagnoli (Silva 75), Liedson, Vukcevic (Tiui 66).

BOLTON: Al Habsi, Hunt, Cahill, Meite, Samuel, Joey O’Brien, Guthrie, Teymourian (Braaten 71), Giannakopoulos, Vaz Te, Helguson (Woolfe 76).

Referee: Bertrand Layec (France).