Bolton are on the brink of qualifying for the last 32 of the Uefa Cup after a 1-0 win at Crvena Zvezda.
Trotters edge to win in Belgrade
Bolton Wanderers are on the brink of qualifying for the last 32 of the Uefa Cup after a battling 1-0 win at Crvena Zvezda.
Gavin McCann's first goal for Bolton on the stroke of half-time was enough to send Gary Megson's side top of Group F.
But the build-up to the game was marred by a group of Trotters fans being detained in a Belgrade hotel by Serbian police.
On the pitch, a tight encounter was settled by McCann's 45th minute goal as the bandaged midfielder drilled home his shot after Andranik Teymourian's corner was not cleared.
Bolton had a scare after nine minutes when Nicky Hunt carelessly lost possession to Nenad Milijas. The midfielder snatched at his shot, however, and sent it high over the bar.
Pressure
The home side kept up the pressure and, two minutes later, Dejan Milovanovic whipped a free-kick over the wall but wide of the post.
Bolton responded in the 21st minute when Hunt's free-kick found Christian Wilhelmsson, but his effort was deflected to safety.
Crvena Zvezda hit back in the 26th minute when former Portsmouth midfielder Ognjen Koroman raced forward - only to hit his effort from distance wide of Ali Al Habsi's left-hand post.
Hunt then tried his luck from outside the area, but he failed to test the goalkeeper. Stelios Giannakopoulos was furious with his team-mate as he was better placed at the time.
Al Habsi, standing in for Jussi Jaaskelainen, reacted quickly in the 31st minute and showed a safe pair of hands as Joao Lucas rattled in a shot.
Bolton carved out a half chance in the 37th minute after Andranik delivered a corner from the left. Stand-in skipper Gary Speed left his marker but flashed his shot wide.
Crvena Zvezda responded and Al Habsi did well to block Koroman's header following a cross from Naned Jestrovic.
And Megson's men took the lead on the stroke of half-time when former Aston Villa midfielder McCann scored his first goal for the club, sweeping the ball home from close range after Speed had got on the end of a corner from Andranik.
Andranik influence
Bolton almost extended their lead in the 52nd minute when the influential Andranik delivered a free-kick to the back post. Stelios was unmarked, but only succeeded in steering his header into the side-netting.
There was a huge police presence in front of the home supporters but the match was trouble-free on and off the pitch - although 100 "official" Wanderers fans were held at a hotel on the outskirts of the city ahead of the game for their own safety, according to a Foreign Office spokesman.
Bolton defender Hunt, who has only recently recovered from a shoulder injury, needed treatment in the 79th minute after going down heavily.
However he was soon on his feet and resumed his place in the team at a crucial stage of the game.
The hosts looked dispirited and Bolton held out for a superb victory given the circumstances.
| FK Crvena Zvezda |
Team Statistics |
Bolton Wanderers |
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 4 |
Corners |
4 |
| 20 |
Fouls |
29 |
| 6 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 69.9 |
Passing Success |
57.5 |
| 27 |
Tackles |
25 |
| 81.5 |
Tackles Success |
68 |
| 61.5 |
Possession |
38.5 |
| 51.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
48.4 |
|
