Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Stoke City Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Stoke City

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Stoke slipped to defeat at the hands of Bolton in their first ever Premier League match at the Reebok Stadium. The damage was done in a mad fifteen minute spell in the first half in which The Potters conceded all three goals. Ricardo Fuller grabbed Stokes first goal of the season late on in the second half. It was Stoke who had the best of the opening minutes, with the majority of the play being inside Boltons half. Despite forcing a few trademark Rory Delap long throws, the bolton defence remained firm. The first real chance for the Stoke team, which included debuatants Dave Kitson, Seyi Olofinjana and Thomas Sorensen came after 20 minutes, when Leon Cort guided a free header from a Glenn Whelan free kick straight at Bolton keeper Ju si Jaaskelainen. The offside flag had though been raised, meaning the goal would have stood if Cort had converted the chance. The first scare for Sorensen in the Stoke goal came just minutes later, the ball drifting just wide of the post as Kevin Nolan failed to make significant contact on Larry Doby Jersey Matt Taylors low cro s. The deadlock was broken on 34 minutes, with Icelandic midfielder GretarStein son putting the hosts ahead. He hit what was surely intended as a cro s into the Stoke area on the half volley, the ball however had other ideas, swerving sharply over the helple s Sorensen and into the net off the cro sbar. Up to this point, Stoke had probably just edged the game, but this was about to change in the spell until half time. The lead was doubled on 41 minutes with Kevin Nolan flicking a header past Sorensen who seemed to be unsure whether to try and claim the cro s or remain on his line. Nolan beat two defenders in the air to connect with Gary Cahillscro s and score the goal. Things got worse for Stoke a minute before half time, with Boltons Swedish striker Johan Elmander, a summer signing fromToulouse nodding in Joey OBriens free kick from twelve yards with the Stoke marking absent and Sorensen helple s to make the half time score 3-0. Stoke managed to steady the ship somewhat in the second half, despite early pre sure, Dave kitson clearing a goal-bound Nolan effort and Sorensen saving well to his right from a Taylor header. Stoke introduced player of the season Liam Lawrence shortly before the hour mark and Ricardo Fuller ten minutes later, a move that gave the blunt Stoke attack some much needed edge. Lawrence soon created Stoke opportunities with his accurate cro s being sent just over the bar by Cort and his low centre following a winding Fuller run being turned wide by Rory Delap. As the game reached its closing minutes, Delap almost repeated Stein sons feat, his mis-struck cro s bouncing off the top of Jaaskelainens cro sbar before going behind. Stoke did get their reward a minute into stoppage time, with some nice pa sing play in midfield setting up substitute Carl Dickinson to whip the ball into the box. Fuller met his perfect cro s and headed powerfully home into the left hand corner of the goal, giving Stoke their first ever Premier League goal and the travelling fans something to cheer about.Stoke team (4:4:2):SorensenGriffin Cort Shawcro s WilkinsonDelap Whelan Olofinjana Cre swell Sidibe KitsonSubs: Lawrencefor Whelan (56), Fuller for Sidibe (65), Dickinson for Wilkinson (75)Subs not used: Simonson, Pericard, Diao, Amdy FayeAttendance: 22717 Fuller grabbed Stokes first ever Premier League goal