Bolton’s Gary Cahill has spoken of his team’s joy to be winning games and moving up the table following their 2-1 home win against Stoke City.
Last Saturday’s result at the Reebok came on the back of three consecutive draws for Bolton – something that hasn’t correlated with the performances given by boss Owen Coyle’s side. Ivan Klasnic’s injury time winner elevated the Whites up to 7th position, and Cahill was keen to highlight the importance that the wins have in boosting the team’s morale: “It was nice for the win to come the way it did,” Cahill told Bolton Wanderer’s official site. “After a game ends like that, it leaves all the players buzzing.” The Trotters way of playing the game has dramatically altered since the appointment of Coyle last December – with the emphasis more on stylish attacking play rather than long-ball tactics and defending for large periods of the game. The change of ways has lost them the infamous ‘anti-football’ tag that has been upon the club for a number of years. But the former Aston Villa man spoke of his excitement in taking part in the physical games, and believes Bolton can still match the strength of the more aggressive team’s: “We knew it was going to be a tough game and we’ve all come off the pitch knowing we’ve been in a real tough, physical game.” Finally, the 24-year-old was quick to mention the impact that substitute Klasnic had in their win, going on to talk highly of what the Croat brings to the side when coming off the bench: “We were desperate to get a win as we didn’t want another draw. Ivan has come off the bench and won it for us. He’s clinical in that area, and if you give him a chance he’ll take it.”
Although a match-winner over the weekend, everything is set to come crashing back down to earth this week as manager Coyle continues to stay quiet on the subject of whether he will be appealing Klasnic’s red card. The Scot had a few things to say after the game about referee Peter Walton’s decision hand the striker his second yellow card in two minutes for a foul outside the Stoke box, but is unlikely to appeal, meaning he will be without the 30-year-old for their match against Wigan next Saturday. Although a key player for Bolton off the bench, Coyle will have the services of loanee Rodrigo Moreno and Robbie Blake to call on should the in-form duo of Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander have any problems in making an impact themselves.
