Muamba torment hit Reo-Coker

Nigel Reo-Coker had flashbacks during Bolton’s rescheduled FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

The original meeting was postponed after Reo-Coker’s team-mate Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

The Congo-born midfielder remains in hospital but has improved since being rushed to hospital 10 days before the replay.

Reo-Coker felt the need to revisit the area of the pitch where Muamba collapsed before the 3-1 loss to Harry Redknapp’s side in order to ‘get it out of my system’.

“Yes, you could call it flashbacks,” Reo-Coker admitted when asked if the return had triggered memories of the original incident.

“That’s why I had to walk over to the spot before the game to get it out of my system and, speaking to the club doctor, even he said he felt weird.

“When I came on the pitch before the game, I had to walk over to the area where the incident occurred, just for my own benefit. There was a tingly feeling down my spine.”

Reo-Coker conceded that the occasion may have resulted in Owen Coyle’s side playing slightly within themselves but felt that it was important to get the game out of the way.

Kevin Davies scored for Bolton but goals from Ryan Nelsen, Gareth Bale and Louis Saha sent Spurs into the semi-finals of the competition.

“I felt we were slightly withdrawn,” Reo-Coker said. “I can’t speak for the rest of the lads. I can only speak of my experience.

“It was a day of very mixed emotions and I will never in my life be able to sum up in words the emotions I went though.

“In a way we had to face our fears. It helps that we can come back here and play this game. We have a young team and I felt they dealt with it very well.

“I could never tell you how long it will take for people to totally get over their reactions to what happened. It might take years for people to get over it.”