Despite a complete domination of the second half of the match Town fell to yet another defeat and drop to nineteenth in the table. Bolton took the lead in the first half through Bergsson and Ricketts while Matt Holland score Town's goal just before half-time.

With Marcus Stewart out Darren Bent got his first Premiership start as expected. However, it was Pablo Couñago who lined-up as the other striker and not Richard Naylor who was on the bench. Bent, though in the early stages played a wide right role while Sixto Peralta appeared in a more advanced role. Jim Magilton and Matt Holland were in the centre, while Martijn Reuser was on the left. In defence Bramble and Venus were in the centre while Makin and Hreidarsson were the full-backs. New man Le Pen was on the bench.

Town had hardly started when they went behind. In the fifth minute Gudni Bergsson got up to a corner and headed it under Matteo Sereni. The wet ball looked to have played a part as the ball squirmed under the Town keeper.

On 11 Ricketts had a shot saved by Sereni and Gardner's rebound was blocked. A minute or so earlier Martijn Reuser had played in Hermann Hreidarsson down the left before his cross was cleared for a corner.

Two minutes after the goal Pablo Couñago came close to getting Town back on terms. The Spaniard hit a shot from just outside the area which hit the post and rebounded into play towards Darren Bent. However, a Bolton defender got in the way before the 17-year-old could take the chance.

Within a minute Paul Warhurst was booked for a poor challenge on Chris Makin. Memories of the Bolton tactics from the play-off semi-final here two years ago came flooding back.

On 16 Reuser hit a cross-shot which keeper Jaaskelainen caught without too much trouble. Seconds later Bent almost played in Holland. In the 20th minute Frandsen hit a freekick over the bar after Bramble had harshly been penalised for a foul on Rod Wallace.

Four minutes later Nolan hit a shot to Sereni's left and, fortunately for Town, wide of the post. The Bolton youngster had found himself in space on the right of the Town area. Just a minute later it was Ricketts who found himself escaped from his defender and bearing down on Matteo Sereni. The Bolton top scorer delicately placed the bouncing ball over the Town keeper and the visitors were two-up. Sereni could hardly be seen as at fault with Chris Makin looking like the player who ought to have followed Ricketts as he made his run.

Town were rattled by the poor start while Bolton chose to sit back on their lead and let the Blues come at them. However, Town weren't without scares. Bramble and Sereni couldn't decide who should take responsibility for a ball played into the box with Ricketts lurking. In the end Bramble hammered it away and the two of them 'discussed' what who should really have taken control.

The game was largely without chances, but on 39 Gardner hit a shot which was easy for Sereni. Town had their best chance a minute later when Mark Venus hit a shot from distance just over the bar, but getting the Portman Road atmosphere going.

On 41 Frandsen hit a shot well over after Sixto Peralta had been adjudged to have fouled Wallace.

Town fans were starting to look at a gloomy half-time when the Blues passed the ball from one side of the pitch to the other across the edge of the area. Eventually Sixto Peralta made a strong run into the box and laid the ball off to Matty Holland who lashed the ball home from 20 yards. It was a vital breakthrough for the Blues and the half-time mood was more optimistic than it would have been otherwise.

The second half saw Jermaine Wright replace Jim Magilton and a far more impressive Town on display. Two minutes into the half Venus had a shot charged down as a hungry Town went in search of an equaliser.

On 53 Bent turned well but failed to play in Couñago. Town were dominant but the clearcut chances weren't appearing. Bramble tried one of his off-road vehicle style runs forward, but his ball failed to find Bent.

On 56 Town forced a succession of corners, but the goal just wouldn't come. The 60th minute saw a cross from Reuser almost find Bent, but a defender cut it out for another corner.

There was controversy a minute later as Paul Warhurst went in very late on Sixto Peralta. A second yellow card looked a formality, but referee Bennett bottled the decision and merely gave the ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn man a talking to.

On 63 Peralta and Couñago came close to pulling off an excellent one-two on the edge of the area as the game increasingly became an attack versus defence training exercise. When Bolton cleared it was merely to a Town centre-half who would start the Blues' progress forwards once again.

In the 65th minute Wallace received a yellow card for a late challenge on Couñago. Reuser almost put Bent through on goal a minute later with a neat flick.

The 70th minute saw Reuser hit the post as Hreidarsson made a good run down the left and laid the ball back.

Jaaskelainen dropped a Venus corner in the 71st minute, but nearby Bent couldn't get on to it before the Finnish keeper regained control.

New man Ulrich Le Pen made his Portman Road bow on 80, replacing Chris Makin as Jermaine Wright went to right back.

Couñago almost played in Bent inside the area but the keeper was out quickly to dive on the ball.

Hreidarsson headed back across goal on 82 as Town continued to press. The ball went out for another corner.

On 85 Holland hit a shot which appeared to be on its way in until it was blocked by a Bolton body.

As the game entered injury time Le Pen tried to bang the ball in from the left corner of the Bolton area but was tackled and caught strongly by N'Gotty. It was clear from Le Pen's reaction and the noise of the challenge that it was serious and he underwent treatment for some while before being stretchered off. The Frenchman had some form of bandaging on his left foot and ankle. The last thing Town need this weekend is another serious injury.

Not long afterwards the whistle went and Town had dropped to another home defeat. The second half performance was an improvement, but again the opposition keeper had little serious to save. Again a lot of possession, but no goals at the end of it.

Inter Milan next and then Middlesbrough and Arsenal. We could enter December in a very dodgy League position indeed.

Photo: Action Images

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