Quick Collymore

Bolton Wanderers 0 Liverpool 1 (Collymore 61) Attendance: 21,0 4

WHILE Bolton struggled to convert spirit and footballing principle into the hard currency of Premiership points, Liverpool's largest investment, Stan Collymore, retains the ability to bank crucial and stunning goals. Territorially, Bolton deserved reward and though the addition of Scott Sellars bodes well, goals are at present too rare a commodity. Liverpool, too, are in a lean scoring spell. Enter Mr Collymore.

The pounds 8.5m man's overall performance was uninspired and almost lacklustre. The game's clearest-cut chances, however, fell at his feet and one conversion was likely to be enough. Cruelly, the goal stemmed from a mistake by Bolton's Sasa Curcic, whose nimble and nippy thrusts through the heart of the Liverpool defence had caused the greatest threat to the visitors. He lost possession on the left flank, Collymore sprang into life, jinked past Gudni Bergsson and pulled his shot into the near bottom corner.

The Liverpool manager, Roy Evans, claimed no training ground credit for the Collymore goal. "You say, 'What are you going to do next, Stan' and he produces something out of the blue. You are always looking for more and I don't think his overall contribution was perfect.

"When you're having a bad time it's about attitude and you have to show the intention that you do not want to get beat. After a nervy 15 minutes the confidence came back which was pleasing," added Evans.

Curcic's pace and trickery forced Liverpool to defend deeper in the second half, but an intricate Bolton move released the Serb into the box only to hit the post. As the home side chased the game their attacking play became more disjointed and desperate.

In the first half it had been Liverpool's frantic possession which contributed to a hectic start. However, as the calming influence of John Barnes grew, the visitors' build-up became more measured and menacing. Collymore glanced a Rob Jones header wide and two skidding shots, one in each half, forced saves from Keith Branagan.

With both sides effectively using a five-man midfield, space was at a premium. Bolton have so far struggled to maintain midfield possession and the touch and poise of Sellars opened previously unexplored avenues. Pressure, though, resulted only in a succession of corners.