Megson frets over capital punishment

RELEGATION battles are full of ill omens, but Bolton Wanderers have good reason to be fearful if their Premier League fate rests on the final day of the season.

The last time they were relegated from the top-flight 10 years ago, it was Chelsea who sealed their doom, beating Bolton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to leave a side managed by Colin Todd third from bottom in the table.

It just so happens that their last match of this campaign will also take place in London SW6, so the last thing current manager Gary Megson wants is to head to the capital needing a victory to decide his side’s destiny.

Megson has stressed the importance of next weekend’s encounter with Sunderland at the Reebok stadium, where anything less than a victory will leave them in dire trouble.

“I don’t write the Chelsea game off,” Megson said. “But after their result over the weekend, and the fact they have not lost a game at home for about four years, it would be advantageous to ourselves if we do not have to go to Stamford Bridge and get a result.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at different permutations and where we might finish, but all I know is we have to beat Sunderland and wait to see how results go elsewhere.

“We will know much better next week what it will take. I know how I hope the season will end, and I just hope we’re above the bottom three.

“Given the circumstances at the club over the past 12 months it would be a huge achievement to stay up. If we can do it, it would be fortunate as well.

“Everybody knows the situation we are in and we will just focus on this over the next week.

“Whoever does go down will have to cope with the consequences, but we hope to pull ourselves out of this situation.”

How Bolton managed to take a point away from this less arduous visit to London remains a mystery.

They were swamped by Spurs for most a one-sided game but were grateful to substitute Stelios Giannakopoulos, who scored just 24 seconds after his introduction.

It was Bolton’s only real chance of the entire game, but the lead lasted only six minutes as Steed Malbranque levelled from close range nipping in to poke home a deflected Robbie Keane shot.

Tottenham could easily have scored five but their finishing let them down. Aaron Lennon and Keane were both guilty of first half misses, while Dimitar Berbatov, Jonathan Woodgate and substitute Darren Bent all missed opportunities to win the match in the final five minutes.

Watching from the stands was Luka Modric, the 22-year-old who is completing a £16m move from Dinamo Zagreb.

Newcastle were in talks with the attacking midfield player, while top sides from Spain’s La Liga were also interested.

Modric would presumably prefer to link up with Dimitar Berbatov, the silky-skilled Bulgarian, but Ramos admitted for the first time on Saturday that the striker might be sold this summer.

“We know the situation of Berbatov and we are calm about it,” he said. “If a team comes along and pays the asking price the chairman wants then possibly yes, but we’re delighted to have him here.”

TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Cerny 5, Hutton 7 (Huddlestone 46, 6), Dawson 6 (Bent 53, 6), Woodgate 6, Gilberto 7, Zokora 6, Lennon 6, Jenas 7, Malbranque 7 (O’Hara 77, 6), Berbatov 6, Keane 6.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Tainio.

BOLTON (4-5-1): Al Habsi 8, Steinsson 6, cahill 6, Andrew O’Brien 6, Samuel 6, Joey O’Brien 5 (Guthrie 20), Nolan 7, Campo 6 (Giannakopoulos 46, 7), McCann 6, Taylor 6, Rasiak 5 (Diouf 46, 5).

Subs Not Used: Walker, Fojut.

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear) 7: Made four bookings during the game, three of which went to Bolton players, but ithere was hardly a tough tackle made in the entire game. Certainly one of his easier afternoons.

MATCH RATING: ** If Bolton are to stay up they will need to show far more ability and creativity in the final third. As for Tottenham, they should spend the week brushing up on their finishing.