Bolton vs. QPR: Referees Take Center Stage in Relegation 6-Pointer

There was little beauty on display as two of the five teams grouped at the foot of the Premier League table sought to reverse their fortunes.

The tone for the match was set from the opening kickoff when rather than retaining possession, QPR simply chose to smash the ball deep into Bolton's half and set up to pin down the subsequent throw-in.

Rangers looked nervy as the game began and found themselves simply clearing the ball from their half as quickly as possible.  But after surviving the first quarter-hour unscathed, they finally found their way forward.

QPR forward Djibril Cissé looked lively the majority of the match and he announced his presence in the 17th by playing strike partner Bobby Zamora in on the left side of goal.  Zamora's strike flew past Bolton's keeper only to rebound off the crossbar and out.

The move was one of the few highlights from Zamora's game, but Cissé was hardly finished.

I Couldn't See It

Three minutes later, Joey Barton swung in a QPR corner.  Clint Hill beat Bolton's David Wheater to the front post and headed strongly.  Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan got an arm to the ball and knocked it up onto the crossbar.

QPR players screamed that it was in, but the assistant referee gave no signal and play continued.  Replays showed the ball clearly across the goal-line as Bogdan reached it. Moments later, assistant referee Bob Pollock could be seen saying that he hadn't seen it.

It won't cool the anger of Rangers fans that in a post-game interview, Bolton defender Tim Ream admitted that he and his teammates knew the ball was in the goal.

The mistake led England's FA to issue a statement immediately after the game, repeating its call for the institution of goal-line technology.

Bolton Goes Ahead, Cissé Gets Out His Passing Boots

With QPR players still shaking their heads over their non-goal, the match went on.  As halftime drew nearer, Bolton worked a short free-kick across the field to Ream. The U.S. international's left-footed cross found a completely unmarked Darren Pratley who rose to head Bolton into the lead.

The London side responded positively creating a pair of dangerous chances through the vision of Cissé.

Off the ensuing kickoff, QPR worked down the field until a Cissé back heel put Shaun Wright-Phillips in free on goal. But the diminutive winger couldn't put his shot on frame.

In first-half added time, Cissé did it again setting right-back Nedum Onuoha free down the right side, only to see the shot directed straight at Bolton's keeper.

Cissé Takes It on Himself

Perhaps frustrated by his teammates inability to finish the pair of golden chances he provided as the first half ended, QPR'S mercurial forward took matters into his own hands just after the break.

With the center of his midfield in possession, Cissé began a run in behind three Bolton defenders. The attempted through ball was deflected up and over Bolton's line and into the path of the onrushing Frenchman. Cissé slipped it past the charging keeper with the outside of his right boot to restore parity.

What one assistant took away, the other appeared to give as Cissé was approximately the same distance offside as the goal in the first half had been over the line.

Owen Coyle's Not-So-Secret Weapon

With 10 minutes to play, Bolton brought on the club's leading scorer, Ivan Klasnic. The Croatian arrived on the field just in time to watch as a Cissé cross led to a half dozen rapid-fire chances for QPR in front of Bolton's goal.

Perhaps inspired by the tenacious blocking put in by his defenders, in the 86th minute Klasnic made a late burst into the left side of the QPR area to get on the end of a Ryo Miyaichi pass.  Klasnic coolly side-footed the ball into the far corner and gave his club the very late lead.

One More Close Decision

QPR had little time to chase the draw. But as added time began a ball played across into the top of the box provided them a last opportunity.  Mark Hughes will be aggrieved that neither the apparent hand-ball from Bolton's Chris Eagles nor the subsequent lunging tackle from Nigel Reo-Coker on Onuoha were given as penalties.

With Hughes receiving no satisfaction, the match ended and the three vital points pulled Bolton clear of the relegation zone for the first time in more than a month.