Bolton Wanderers forward Daniel Sturridge says victory over Arsenal was for club’s fans after Wembley nightmare

EPL : Daniel Sturridge, Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal

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In the wake of heaping further misery onto Arsenal and virtually ending their title hopes, Bolton‘s Daniel Sturridge has proclaimed that the victory was for the Trotters fans after their Wembley nightmare in the FA Cup last week.

The loanee striker from Chelsea opened the game’s scoring after pouncing on a rebounded block from close range. Gary Cahill’s header from a Bolton corner seemed to get past Samir Nasri on the back post, but nothing was given until the 21-year-old made it certain with his effort.

Following on from the Trotters’ devastating 5-0 loss in their FA Cup semi-final against Stoke, Sturridge says Sunday’s victory was for the fans they had let down at Wembley.

He told Sky Sports: “We are delighted to come out and work as hard as we can in front of these fantastic fans.

“After last week’s result we wanted to come here and show we had the passion. I think a lot of the fans were unhappy with the performance last week, so we just wanted to come out here and work as hard as we could to try to prove to them that last week was just one bad day.

“We did this for the fans today and that’s the main thing.”

Substitute Tamir Cohen got an emphatic and emotional winner in the 90th minute after rising to meet a corner with his head with effort that flew past Arsenal ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny. The midfielder’s father died in a motorcycle accident in December and he dedicated the goal to his father with a poignant celebratio.

Explaining his emotion, Cohen said: “Well I came on with 10 minutes to go at 1-1 and I’m just happy to score a goal here very much and it means a lot to me after this season. But I do my best for the team and for myself.”

Sturridge congratulated his teammate for their efforts and showed an understanding attitude towards Cohen’s situation as he praised the Israeli.

“The effort he puts into training and the work he shows when he gets his opportunities is unbelievable and we’re all a great team here and we like to work together and we understand how much of an emotional time he’s had,” Sturridge added.

“Today was a great tribute to what he’s gone through and I’m very delighted with what he’s done.”

We did this for the fans today and that’s the main thing