Burnley 1-0 Bolton: Daily Mirror match report
Published 21:42 21/09/10 By Jeremy Butler
Wade Elliott served up a delicious slice of revenge for Burnley fans last night as his controversial strike condemned Owen Coyle to a nightmare Turf Moor return.
Coyle became a hate figure in these parts the January day he quit his adoring Clarets army and headed for neighbours Bolton.
And after being subjected to boos and angry chants of "Judas'" it was one of his former favourites that waded in to secure a satisfying victory for the Burnley faithful.
Elliott was the only goalscorer on the day Coyle celebrated a Wembley play-off victory and a Premier League spot.
But he ensured his former boss suffered a miserable night by scoring just before the break.
The abuse Coyle endured throughout must have hurt.
But not as much as Tamir Cohen's failure to net a simple equaliser and silence the crowd in the Trotters best chance of the night.
Coyle was met by a chorus of boos and chants of "Judas'" as he marched purposely to the away dug out and tried to rise above the vitriol aimed at him.
But Chris Eagles proved in the opening seconds the former Clarets boss would be made to feel just as uncomfortable by the events on the pitch.
The man Coyle brought in from Manchester United darted into the box to collect Chris Iwelumo's neat touch and forced Adam Bogdan into a smart near post save.
And a minute later he cut in from the right and smashed a swerving shot against the Bolton bar.
Burnley were not having it all their own way, and keeper Lee Grant threw himself to the right to get a finger tip to Tamir Cohen's effort and divert it round the post in the 16th minute.
But Coyle's men were forced on the back foot again and needed the woodwork to save them again - this time it was local youngster Jay Rodriguez who's rocket cannoned against the bar.
Bogdan's luck did not last until the break though as Brian Laws" side took the lead in controversial circumstances.
Eagles did brilliantly down the right to deliver a cross that bounced around the box until Wade Elliott smacked a volley on target.
Keeper Bogdan was behind the line when he punched the ball clear but instead of awarding a goal ref Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot.
Burnley's players directed him to a flagging linesman who persuaded his fellow official to let Elliott's strike stand, much to Coyle's anger with the Bolton chief confronting Clattenburg on the pitch at the interval to demand an explanation.
