Bolton sink Ipswich

Gudni Bergsson gives Bolton the lead

E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

Ipswich 1-2 Bolton

Ipswich remain rooted in the bottom three after being beaten 2-1 at home by Bolton.

George Burley's side never really recovered after falling behind to Gudni Bergsson's sixth-minute header from Per Frandsen's corner.

It was a fantastic result for us

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce

Midway through the opening half Michael Ricketts doubled Bolton's advantage with a superb individual goal.

The Bolton striker finished off an excellent passing move by flicking the ball over Matteo Sereni's head and then heading into the empty net.

Ipswich's seventh defeat of the season means they have now gone 11 games without a Premiership win.

Matt Holland's goal in first-half stoppage time had briefly revived Ipswich's hopes.

The Ipswich midfielder was given the opportunity to drill a low shot into the Bolton net thanks to Sixto Peralta's persistence on the edge of the penalty area.

Ipswich dominated possession in the second period as they sought to draw level, but they were unable to make that domination tell.

Miserable day

Ipswich's topsy-turvy season had suffered another downward turn on Saturday when striker Marcus broke his jaw after colliding with Spanish striker Pablo Counago in training.

Stewart's injury meant that the Ipswich attack was lead by Counago - starting a full game for the first time - and the 17-year-old Darren Bent, who was making his debut.

That inexperience told as Ipswich struggled to create sufficient clear-cut openings.

Bolton also made sure they got plenty of men behind the ball as Sam Allardyce's side soaked up Ipswich's patient passing movements.

The combination of an inexperienced attack and an often sluggish midfield meant that Ipswich were frequently restricted to long-distance efforts.

Last year we didn't have many injuries, but this season is the opposite

Ipswich manager George Burley

Counago did hit the post in the 12th minute after his low shot was pushed onto the woodwork by Bolton's Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Defender Mark Venus also tested Jaakelainen with a couple of long range shots.

On 68 minutes Martijn Reuser's powerful drive went agonisingly close and soon after Peralta hit the side-netting.

Ipswich's miserable day was complete when substitute and debutant Ulrich Le Pen was stretchered off the pitch late in the game.

The Frenchman was injured after he went in for a tackle with Ricketts.

---

Ipswich: Sereni, Makin, Bramble, Hreidarsson, Venus, Peralta, Holland, Magilton, Reuser, Bent, Counago. Subs: Branagan, Naylor, Le Pen, Wright, Gaardsoe.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Whitlow, Bergsson, Warhurst, Frandsen, Gardner, Nolan, Charlton, Ricketts, Wallace. Subs: Poole, Holdsworth, Farrelly, Barness, Johnson.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).