Town's time in the Premiership looks to be up after a hugely disappointing display against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. It started badly with a Fredi Bobic goal in the first minute and was to quickly get worse.

The Blues started with the same line-up as against Chelsea on Monday, but largely showed the same lack of belief and passion as at West Ham last Saturday.

The game had hardly started and Andy Marshall was picking the ball out of the back of the net after a minute. Bolton had forced the Town defence back and the ball fell for Charlton just outside the area. He hit a shot through a crowd of players straight to the feet of Bobic who turned the ball past Marshall.

It was the worst possible start for the Blues and despite the odd decent moment going forward it would get much worse.

Town failed to create anything other than a poor Bent shot well wide and just before the hour Bolton went two-up. A long ball forward was chased by Wallace as McGreal followed him and Marshall rushed out. The former Rangers man got to the ball first with the Town keeper well away from his goal and turned and hit a shot which Marshall saved. Bobic however was first to the rebound to hit home off Marshall who had got back to his line.

Mark Venus summed up the mood of the Town faithful when he hit a freekick just outside the area well wide of Jaaskelainen's post.

Bobic hit another promising effort to Marshall's near post on 32 which the keeper pushed away for a corner. It wasn't long though before Wanderers were further ahead. Two minutes later Marshall poorly kicked straight to Bobic who ran down the right, crossed deep for Wallace who headed back across goal to where Djorkaeff stroked the ball into the empty net.

Bolton's final goal of the half came from a Gardner corner. The Jamaican whipped it in to the near post and Bobic flicked on and into the roof of the net off Fabian Wilnis's head.

Town's disaster half ended without further incident, but with many Town fans already deciding it was time for a pie and a pint.

Half-time saw George Burley replace three players and switch to 4-3-3. Off went Finidi George, Mark Venus and Sixto Peralta. Both Venus and Peralta had looked to be carrying injuries, Peralta for the second game running. If they were unfit why were they started in such an important game?

On came Titus Bramble, Marcus Stewart and Jamie Clapham, but despite the odd period of pressure Town did little to convince they deserved anything but a defeat.

The Blues best chances came late on with a Jamie Clapham shot and a series of headers from John McGreal, Marcus Stewart and Marcus Bent. Finally, in the last minute, the Blues did beat Jaaskelainen, Hermann Hreidarsson ran inside on the left, Stewart took over and laid a pass into the path of Jamie Clapham who hit a 20-yard shot home.

But, that was a small consolation on an afternoon when most will think that Nationwide League football will be returning to Portman Road next season. Bolton showed the spirit that Town needed and took the game to the Blues from the off. The early goal did a lot of damage, but woeful defending and goalkeeping left the Blues with little chance of the victory so desperately needed. Survival now looks a distant possibility if that.

Photo: Action Images

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