FEARS that one of the lowest crowds ever to watch a competitive match at the Reebok tonight appear to be materialising writes Chris Sudlow
England Under 21 manager David Platt appears to have literally shot himself in the foot by his decision to leave Wanderers' Kevin Nolan out of the squad to meet Yugoslavia at the Reebok.
The direct result, according to some estimates, is that Wanderers will be extremely lucky to break through the 10,000 barrier. One report on the BBC website today said only 5,000 tickets had been sold.
Many home fans who might have paid £10 (£5 for concessions) to see one of their local heroes graduate to the Young England ranks, were instantly put off when he was omitted and three of the Aston Villa team - Peter Crouch, Jlloyd Samuel and Gareth Barry - beaten at the Reebok on Sunday were included.
As one Wanderers fan, K G Jones of Dovedale Road, Bolton, reacted to the Bolton Evening News's confirmation of Nolan's omission: "As a direct consequence of your report I immediately stopped attempting to purchase four tickets for the match ... saving myself and three friends both time and money."
Wanderers' chairman Phil Gartside fears a low attendance will be embarrassing and could wreck any prospect of the Reebok being selected to stage any future prestige games.
Platt has told his players to go out and express themselves against the Yugoslavians.
"We have got to trust them and hopefully they can go in there with a lot of confidence," he said.
"If we apply ourselves in the right manner there is no reason why we shouldn't encourage the players to go and express themselves in the framework of what we are trying to do.
"We have a new set of players breaking in and I have been delighted with the way they have applied themselves."
Team: Kirkland (Liverpool), Samuel (Aston Villa), Bramble (Newcastle), Barry (Aston Villa), Konchesky (Charlton), Pennant (Arsenal), Jenas (Newcastle), Carrick (West Ham), Prutton (Nottm Forest), Defoe (West Ham), Jeffers (Arsenal).
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