Skipper Paul Merson and Zigor Aranalde returned to the team after missing the defeat at Millwall. Jamie Lawrence was brought in on the wing. Leitao left on the bench with fellow strikers Fryatt and Birch. Kris Taylor preferred to Stefan Oakes on the bench. It could have been a different story if Paul Merson’s seventh minute tap-in had not been disallowed, Deon Burton being adjudged to have fouled home keeper Kevin Poole. Even before that, Steve Corica had tested Poole with a 25 yard screamer which was pushed aside for a corner.
On 14 minutes however, Bolton took the lead. Ibrahim Ba set up fellow debutant Jardel, who headed past Jimmy Walker to make the score 1-0. Corica again registered an effort from distance before Jardel headed onto the roof of the net.
Henrik Pedersen – who fired the winner last time the sides met in 2001 – set up Jardel on 56 minutes, but the big Brazilian struck the cross bar from close in. With 21 minutes to go, Pederson teed up Kevin Nolan and the midfielder beat Walker with a long range effort which deflected past the keeper.
Paul Merson hauled his team back into contention with his fifth of the season soon after. He swept home a cross from substitute Gary Birch, who came on on the left wing despite Walsall’s need for goals.
The game was put out of reach of Walsall on 80 minutes when Jardel grabbed his second. Ritchie handled in the area and the Trotters were awarded a penalty. Walker palmed away Jardel’s effort but the striker was first to the rebound to finish off the Saddlers.
Matty Fryatt was handed his first team debut as a second half substitute but Colin Lee declined the opportunity to give ex Manchester United youngster Kris Taylor his big moment.
Jardel once scored 42 goals in a season for Sporting Lisbon and could have had two more, as he fired over and then missed his chance of a hat trick with a diving header which also flew over.
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