Breakaway Bolton pile on misery for Coppell

13 April 2012

Reading slipped into the bottom four as their worst Premier League run was extended to six straight defeats. Gary Megson's Bolton, who had not won in the League since January 2, could even afford to squander a penalty with the score at 0-0 en route to their first away victory of the season.

Reading manager Steve Coppell talked before the game about the need for 'mental toughness' during what is likely to be a fraught run-in.

His team were easily the brighter of the two in the early stages and Stephen Hunt celebrated his new contract with an exquisite piece of skill on the byline, skipping past Kevin Davies to win a free-kick which Jussi Jaaskelainen had to punch to safety.

Gary Cahill, Bolton's £5million signing from Aston Villa, then slipped to allow Leroy Lita in on goal but Jaaskelainen saved at the striker's feet.

Bolton should have gone ahead after 25 minutes when Marek Matejovsky, making his full debut for Reading, brought down Gretar Steinsson but Matt Taylor's spot-kick was saved low to his left by Marcus Hahnemann.

The opener came eight minutes later when Jaaskelainen's free-kick was punted long into Reading's area, Davies nodded it down to Kevin Nolan and he finished from 10 yards.

The pattern was repeated after the interval; Reading making all the running only for Bolton to score a breakaway goal after 58 minutes.

Taylor's shot was blocked by Graeme Murty, the ball ran though for the unguarded Heidar Helguson and he slotted it under Hahnemann.

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