Bolton’s surprise new kit

Gentlefolk I had no idea that Brazil were playing at the Reebok. Brazil Wanderers that is.

Maybe Wilkins was like the druid Getafix in the Asterix cartoons, maybe he had a magic potion which he gave the team and now he’s gone Chelsea can’t find the recipe.

Bolton’s second goal in the 2-2 draw with Blackpool at the Reebok will not be bettered this season. Anywhere. Internationally.

It was a thing of of finesse, strength, wit, charm and debonair flair. The ball placed into the net as gently as caviar being spooned onto toast by a ballerina’s slender fingers.

This is it on Youtube - click here.

Football purists will want to watch it over and over again. The total control of the ball in the snowflake pattern created by Mark Davies, Kevin Davies, Elmander, Klasnic and then Mark Davies again, embodied the grace that an often ugly game can deliver. Forget smashing the ball in from 35 yards, this was real team play, real football.

It was a record weekend in the Premier League with 41 goals scored and no team not scoring at least once.

It was also a record in that Dimitar Berbatov smiled at least four times as he scored five in the 7-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford. Lots of people have thought it a shame that Rooney didn’t get a goal but Confidential learns he was so mesmerised by the sight of Dimi’s pearly whites he couldn’t stop setting him up.

It would be lovely if Berbatov relaxed and started to score as freely as he did on Saturday. But he won’t, the next careless pass will really piss him off and his shoulders will bunch like that man in Notre Dame who rings the bells.

Bolton's golden goal

Bolton's new home kit

Meanwhile Manchester City went floppy again at Stoke. Playing poorly and one nil up they forgot what it was like smashing Fulham to bits a few days previously. Instead they decided they needed Mancini to keep rocking on the precipice of being fired. Strange team, the Skyblues. They sway unpredictably between being boring or irresistible, ultimately a sure path to winning nothing.

Chelsea are similar to City: something that would have been unimaginable a month ago. But the loss of assistant manager Ray Wilkins seems to have caused deep anxiety. Their draw against Newcastle means that United are two points clear at the top of the table - again something unimaginable two months ago.

Maybe Wilkins was like the druid Getafix in the Asterix cartoons, maybe he had a magic potion which he gave the team and made them unbeatable. Now he’s gone and taken the recipe with him and Chelsea are left uninspired and weak.

The best story away from the Premier League was the 1-1 draw non-league FC United gained at League One Brighton in the FA Cup. This sets them up for home visit of the once-mighty Portsmouth if they can win the reply.

Elsewhere the big local derby between Rochdale and Oldham in League One ended 1-1 as well. This was better for Oldham, securing their position in the play-off places, than for Rochdale, who’ve had a dreary November. Like Chelsea.

The FA Cup draw paired United with Liverpool and City with Leicester away in the third round in January. Both Manchester teams should progress. Roy Hodgson's teams have only won away about twice since 1066.

Back to that dream goal from Bolton Wanderers FC. Let’s hope Wanderers fans start filling the stadium soon if they’re got that calibre of entertainment available at the Reebok.

Anybody for a top five finish for Bolton?

Time to watch the clip above again.