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One point gained or two points dropped?
AS these exhausted footballers hauled themselves off the pitch, it seemed that the Riverside Stadium had witnessed a decisive moment but, as the snow cleared and the desperate drama was put into perspective, it was hard to know which one.
It might have been the result. Five years ago, at the same stage of the season, Arsenal had gone to their bogey team, Bolton, and been held to a viciously-competitive 2-2 draw. Manchester United, running hard on Arsenal's shoulders, had seized their chance and accelerated away.
Manchester United's relationship with Middlesbrough is roughly similar to Arsenal's with Bolton. In 10 of their last 17 meetings, United have failed to force victory and this formula would be churning in Avram Grant's mind. If Arsenal win at Old Trafford on Sunday and his Chelsea side overcome Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, then a wildly-improbable prize should be his.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Roy Hodgson. Rarely can a manager have cut as forlorn a figure as Fulham's did when he trudged, head bowed, across the pitch to a cacophony of jeers after this soul-destroying defeat.
A season that has seen Bolton Wanderers defeat former European champions in Manchester United and Red Star Belgrade, and frustrate a third, Bayern Munich, seems almost certain to end in tame relegation to the Championship. Four points adrift of safety with 15 still available, Bolton still have time to secure an escape but on the evidence of their display here it would appear that the majority of the players have accepted their fate.
Bensala
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