Allardyce hits out at Bolton chairman

Sam Allardyce rounded on Bolton chairman Phil Gartside after starting his career as Newcastle manager with an emphatic victory against his former club.

Gartside claimed in a radio interview before the Premier League match that supporters had become bored with the team’s style of play.

Allardyce, who left with two games to go last season, was stung by his remarks.

“The Bolton chairman has been saying a lot about me and I am very disappointed with the comments he has made,” he said after the 3-1 victory at the Reebok Stadium.

“But actions speak louder than words. We played them off the park and won the game.

“That answers everything for me, rather than get into a fight.

“I would rather look forward than back. I have moved on and left Bolton in the best state it has ever been in.

“I do not understand his (Gartside’s) thinking. He believes I have done certain things which I have not.

“He really should not. I have given them a great platform so I do not know why he is so critical of me.”

Allardyce could not have wished for a better start as Newcastle boss as they raced into a three-goal lead before half-time.

Newcastle took the lead in the 11th minute with a goal out of nothing.

Charles N’Zogbia drove in a free-kick from the right that eluded the Bolton defence and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

They extended their lead in the 21st minute and again Bolton’s defending was poor.

James Milner was able to weigh up his cross and found Obafemi Martins at the back post. He beat Jaaskelainen with a superb overhead kick.

Bolton almost pulled a goal back three minutes later but Steven Taylor cleared Gary Speed’s effort off the line.

The agony continued for Bolton in the 27th minute when Martins made it 3-0 with his second goal of the game.

He had a bit of luck, however, his shot from 20 yards taking a deflection off defender Abdoulaye Faye to leave Jaaskelainen stranded.

Nicolas Anelka pulled a goal back for Bolton in the 50th minute but Newcastle were never troubled again.

Considering Allardyce was without a number of key players, he had good reason to feel satisfied.

He said: “It has been a great day for me, bringing my side back to my old club.

“Your hope your players produce a committed performance, not just as individuals but as a team.

“That happened in the first 45 minutes and we killed the game off stone dead.

“Bolton put us under the cosh a little bit but we saw the game out extremely well.”

Bolton manager Sammy Lee, who succeeded Allardyce, was at a loss to explain their start.

He said: “I do not know what went wrong. We did not turn up for the first 45 minutes.

“We wanted to get the ball down and play but we did not do that and it was disappointing.

“But I got a response in the second half. However the over-riding thing was how poor we were early on.”