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Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bolton Wanderers: What the papers say

Tuesday May 5th, 2009

How the national press reported the Wanderers goalless draw at the JJB Stadium

The News of the World gives top billing to Jussi Jaaskelainen, suggesting Wigan would have won at a canter but for the Bolton keeper’s heroics. The Guardian described Jaaskelainen as “immense”. The Mail is similarly complimentary, although it does point out that he almost got punished for a howler early in the game.

In contrast to most other papers, the Times thought it was a boring game, even going as far as suggesting that the fans might have enjoyed it more if their teams were more deeply involved in the relegation battle. The Times was also the only paper to point out that the Bolton fans’ present to Gary Megson on his 50th birthday was abuse (anybody else hear this?).

The reporter from the Independent enjoyed the game rather more:

Despite the score, there were the odd outbreaks of excitement, too, particularly in the first half when Wigan were kept at bay only by the agility of Jussi Jaaskelainen. Hugo Rodallega hit a post and Bolton’s Gary Cahill had a shot deflected on to the bar, so it was not quite the arid wasteland implied by Gary Lineker on Match of the Day.

In seeming apparent ignorance of the rivalry between the two club’s sets of fans, the Telegraph rather patronisingly suggests Wigan and Bolton are like two peas from a pod (what because we’re both small northern towns?). The same report then rather bizarrely feels need to comment on the game between Barcelona and Real Madrid on the same day, which can only lead us to conclude that the reporter’s heart wasn’t really in his duties at the JJB.

Also struggling to take in the action on the pitch was the Express, who also lumped Blackburn in to the “aww aren’t those plucky northerners cute” analogy.

What did you think of the game? Have your say on Wigan Athletic 0-0 Bolton Wanderers in the comment box below…

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