Sam Allardyce will have to find something new to dream about after Bolton Wanderers were promoted to the Premiership at the third time of asking yesterday. According to the former Wanderers player his sleep has long been peppered with thoughts of managing Bolton in the top flight. Now, after losing in the last two First Division play-offs, the club are there.
"I can't quite put what I feel into words," Allardyce said afterwards. "I feel like the world has come off my shoulders. It is a phenomenal achievement."
It was a thoroughly deserved victory against one of Bolton's oldest opponents and fellow founder members of the Football League. Bolton were stronger and tactically more astute and the experience in the side stood up better to the pressure of the occasion. Justice was also done because they had finished nine points ahead of Preston in the league.
The presence of Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney in a disappointingly small crowd reminded everyone of headier times for both clubs. But on the day Preston were not good enough to end their 40-year absence from the top division.
Indeed, perhaps this result is a blessing. Watford and Manchester City, the last two sides to go up two divisions in succession into the Premiership, went straight back down again. Now David Moyes can spend another year building towards the bright future everyone predicts under his astute management.
"The difference was experience," he said. "I hope we'll learn from it and come back again."
Bolton will earn an estimated £30 million (sterling) by entering the Premiership but even that handsome boost to the transfer kitty did not prevent bookies from immediately installing them as 4-7 favourites to go straight back down.
The first half of this game may be the last they dominate for a while; they could have gone in at half-time three goals to the good. Preston were all over the place, and a panicky moment led to Bolton taking the lead after 17 minutes as Colin Murdock gave away a free-kick about 25 yards out with a clumsy challenge.
The ball floated in by Simon Charlton was eventually cleared but fell to Republic of Ireland international Gareth Farrelly on the edge of the area. Bringing the ball down on his thigh, the former Aston Villa and Everton midfielder unleashed a low shot which arrowed in just inside the post. Farrelly went on to give a performance that may well jog Mick McCarthy's memory.
Four minutes later Bo Hansen, released after a one-two with Farrelly, scuffed his shot. Then Dean Holdsworth hesitated on his shot and allowed the onrushing David Lucas to intervene. It might have been costly. Preston emerged after the interval with a flea in their ear and a new spring in their step.
Mark Rankine pushed forward to support the front two and suddenly they threatened. Their best chance fell to David Healy, who saw his 20-yard effort brilliantly tipped round the post by Matt Clarke.
Had Preston equalised then their momentum might have been unstoppable. But it was almost inevitable that they would be caught on the break. With time running out, the substitute Michael Ricketts was released and he rounded the goalkeeper and tucked away Bolton's second.
In stoppage-time Ricardo Gardner added a third, dispossessing Graham Alexander on the halfway line before rounding a tired Murdock and scoring with clinical precision from inside the area. It was a class finish to the move and the game.
BOLTON: Clarke, Bergsson, Hendry, Barness, Charlton, Frandsen (Elliott 79), Farrelly, Nolan, Gardner, Holdsworth (Whitlow 90), Hansen (Ricketts 70). Subs Not Used: Banks, Marshall. Goals: Farrelly 17, Gardner 90, Ricketts 90.
] PRESTON: Lucas, Alexander, Edwards, Murdock, Kidd, Gregan, Rankine, McKenna (Cresswell 82), Macken, Healy, Cartwright (Anderson 66). Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Jackson, Barry-Murphy. Att: 54,328.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
