- Kanu (16), Utaka (30), Taylor (88 pen)
- Anelka (13)
- Date:2007-08-18
- Kick-off:12:45
- Venue:Fratton Park
- Attendance:17108
- Referee:Tanner, S
Live Commentary
90mins
Pompey, with a slightly depleated side, win comfortably over a Bolton that didn't have much to offer once they went behind.
90mins
Arnold Mvuemba comes on to replace Kanu, who gets a good reception from the crowd.
90mins
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to be added.
87mins
Matthew Taylor scores from the penalty spot and Pompey, with only a few minutes left, seem to have this game won.
86mins
Portsmouth are awarded a penalty after Kanu is fouled.
85mins
Heidar Helguson comes on for Nicky Hunt as Bolton look to grab a late goal.
82mins
Bolton put in a great free-kick but no-one goes in at the back post to get something on it, and that was a wasted chance for Bolton there.
82mins
Martin Cranie comes on for Gary O'Neil, who seems to be limping off.
79mins
Great work by Diouf from the corner as he uses great skill to get the ball in the box, but Anelka's shot ends up going well wide.
77mins
Pompey break well, and the ball deflects to Taylor, but he cant control his shot and it goes well over.
76mins
The game seems to be going into a bit of a lull, however, Bolton gey through on goal, but Anelka's ball in isn't good enough.
74mins
Nugent finds himself right in the action but his header doesn't cause much trouble on the Bolton goal.
72mins
It does, Striker David Nugent comes on as he replaces Benjani, who has played well today.
70mins
Redknapp is talking to a Nugent who has been warming up for a few minutes now, does this mean the introduction of Pompey's new signing?
69mins
Sammy Lee may be getting a bit nervous now, going into the final 20 minutes and still a goal down, but with Pompey seemingly on top, what can Bolton do to change things?
66mins
The resulting free-kick is put in with too much power and safely goes off for a goal-kick.
65mins
Gary Speed is booked for a foul on O'Neill
62mins
Bolton seem to be struggling to control possession, and Pompey are looking more comfortable of the two sides as the game goes through a slight flat spell.
59mins
Djimi Traore shows great skill and power and finds himself up the field, but a crucial tackle from a Bolton defender stops him running through on goal.
58mins
James makes a great save to his left after Speed puts in a powerful header from close range.
55mins
Daniel Braaten comes on to replace Kevin Nolan, who doesn't look happy with his managers decision.
55mins
Diouf again leaves his foot in for a tackle, and he's playing a very dangerous game here.
53mins
Diouf seems to leave his foot in high when going in for a tackle with O'Neil, and the crowd weren't happy with that.
52mins
Utaka has a great first time effort, its straight at the keeper though, if it goes either side of Jussi Jaaskelainen, that could have been a goal.
50mins
Matt Taylor recieves the ball on the edge of the box,the crowd urge him to shoot, but his effort is well over the bar.
48mins
Christian Wilhelmsson is a very quick player, and Sammy Lee will be looking to match the pace of Benjani and Utaka for Pompey.
45mins
Andranik Teymourian is replaced at half-time by Christian Wilhelmsson for Bolton.
45mins
Referee Steve Tanner restarts the game and with both sets of strikers looking in good form, there should be an entertaining second half in prospect.
45mins
The whistle goes, and after a slow start, the game has really perked up, and fans alike will be hoping for more of the same in the second half.
45mins
There will be two minutes of stoppage time to be added.
42mins
Benjani is just caught offside as he attempts to bring himself level with play.
40mins
Not long till half-time and both managers will probably be looking to keep the score the same going into the break.
37mins
Anelka gets a shot out of nothing and has David James scrambling for the save, but the ball just goes wide, proof of Bolton's dangerous attacking abilities.
36mins
Benjani and Cid both go down as they go for the ball on the edge of the Bolton box, Cid doesn't get the ball, so should that have been a free-kick?
33mins
Benjani has a great shot from the edge of the box and Jussi Jaaskelainen saves well.
33mins
Hunt is booked for holding on to Utaka'a shirt after the Pompey player was looking to get away.
31mins
Portsmouth, after going behind, are now in the lead and are playing very well.
29mins
John Utaka shows great speed and skill after running with the ball through on goal from the half-way line and then showing great nerve to round the keeper and put the ball in the net.
28mins
Kanu will be sending a message here to Harry Redknapp, starting his first game of the season and he's already scored and playing very well.
25mins
Hermann Hreidarsson is down injured but Bolton play on and win a corner, much to the dis-pleasure of the home fans.
23mins
Gerald Cid makes a crucial tackle at the back as Kanu looked to poke the ball past the keeper, and this game certainly has stepped up a gear.
20mins
Benjani finds space at the back post after indecision from Jussi Jaaskelainen, but the striker cant control his effort and puts the ball wide.
19mins
Speed is given a stern talking to by referee Steve Tanner, perhaps Speed was still questioning why the referee didn't give Bolton the foul in the build-up to Pompey's goal?
17mins
And in the space of minutes this game has changed dramatically, and Alonso comes close with a decent long range effort.
15mins
Kanu finally gets his goal! Utaka passes the ball to Kanu who scores from close range, though Anelka did seem to be fouled in the build-up play.
14mins
Kanu puts the ball into the net with a header....but the referee has already whistled for a foul somewhere in the box.
12mins
Anelka slips the ball past David James after he was supplied brilliantly by Diouf.
10mins
A relatively slow tempo start to this game so far, but this is sometimes the case with early kick-offs.
7mins
Benjani was lurking dangerously in the box, the keeper doesn't give the defender a shout and Bolton are forced to give away a corner.
4mins
Distin is given offside, though replays suggest this may have been a harsh decision on the Pompey player.
2mins
The rain is pouring down at Fratton Park for this early kick-off, as Hughes gives away a free-kick for a foul on Speed.
0mins
Both teams are looking for their first win of the season, while Bolton will feel they have the edge due to their past record against Portsmouth, they haven't lost to Pompey in the last 5 and did the double over them last season.
0mins
Kevin Davies and Vaz Te are both out injured with a hamstring and foot injury respectively as Bolton begin with: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Cid, Faye, Samuel, Teymourian, Alonso, Speed, Diouf, Nolan, Anelka
0mins
Sol Campbell is still out injured while Muntari is suspended, Kanu replaces David Nugent as Pompey start with: James, Traore, Hreidarsson, Distin, Taylor, O'Neil, Davis, Hughes, Utaka, Mwaruwari, Kanu
Match Preview
Portsmouth go in search of their first win of the new campaign when they entertain Bolton Wanderers in Saturday's early kick-off.
Harry Redknapp's side followed up their opening day 2-2 draw with Derby County by holding Manchester United to a 1-1 stalemate at Fratton Park on Wednesday evening.
Benjani Mwaruwari cancelled out Paul Scholes' opener for the champions with his second goal in as many games as Pompey picked up a creditable point.
Veteran defender Sol Campbell missed the visit of the Red Devils with a niggling groin injury but could return to the starting line-up on Saturday.
However, combative midfielder Sulley Muntari will miss out through suspension after being dismissed against United.
Elsewhere, Gary O'Neil could return following summer ankle surgery, but Niko Kranjcar (foot), Dejan Stefanovic (knee) and Linvoy Primus (knee) will definitely be absent.
During the course of the week, Redknapp sanctioned the sale of Andy O'Brien to Bolton and the Republic of Ireland centre-half could make an instant return to Fratton Park to face his former team-mates.
Bolton Wanderers boss Sammy Lee has urged supporters to be patient as he looks to make his mark on the squad inherited from former manager Sam Allardyce.
Lee's first season at the helm of the Trotters started in disappointing fashion as they went down 3-1 at home to Allardyce's new side Newcastle United on Saturday.
Their poor start to the campaign continued at Fulham on Wednesday evening when they went down 2-1 despite Heidar Helguson giving them an early lead at Craven Cottage.
But the former Liverpool and England coach has urged Bolton fans to give him and his new-look squad time to gel after adding 12 new players during the course of the summer.
"We have made a lot of changes and most of the players have had five to six weeks to work together," he said. "But it may take time to get things the way I want and I hope people are patient."
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Match Report
Sammy Lee's difficult start to management continued as his Bolton Wanderers side were humbled 3-1 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Goals from Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka and a late penalty by Matt Taylor left Nicolas Anelka's 13th minute opener a long and distant memory.
Bolton are already looking a side ripe for relegation even at this early stage of the season, after conceding eight goals in their opening three Premier League games
Heaven help them when they begin their UEFA Cup adventure, as that now appears to be an unwanted distraction rather than the celebratory reward of years gone by.
Portsmouth however are very much a team on the up and with Kanu back in vogue, Harry Redknapp's side are the ones who have shown they could be Bolton's replacement as perennial European football achievers.
In horrendous conditions on the South Coast it was Bolton who snatched the early initiative when El Hadji Diouf played Anelka through for the Frenchman to embarrass David James in the Pompey goal.
The former Arsenal striker used his electric pace to find the space between Djimi Traore and Hermann Hreidarsson before taking an early shot which skidded through James' legs.
Pompey needn't have worried though as three minutes later they hauled themselves back into the game with a goal straight out of Africa.
Gary O'Neil's clipped cross was touched down with the deftest of passes by Utaka for Kanu to stab his finish past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The home side pressed on and Benjani Mwaruwari was then guilty of a glaring miss when another dangerous O'Neil cross left the Zimbabwean unmarked at the far post, but his header drifted over.
It was Utaka though who ultimately killed the game off as early as the 30th minute when he left the crowd gasping and Bolton's defence floundering, by bursting through to run half the length of the field and despatch a clever finish around Jaaskelainen.
Lee threw on Swedish international Christian Wilhelmsson at half-time in a bid to add more width to his side.
The former AS Roma midfielder had moments where he indicated he could be the answer to Bolton's problems.
Gary Speed saw a second-half header well saved by James from Wilhelmsson's cross which would have given Bolton an arguably undeserved equaliser.
Pompey though put the game beyond reasonable doubt two minutes from time. Substitute David Nugent played in Kanu for the Nigerian to be hacked down and Taylor step up to slot home the spot-kick.
Portsmouth Team
Bolton Wanderers Team
Portsmouth | Bolton Wanderers |
Corners
| 10 | 6 |
Fouls
| 13 | 11 |
Goal attempts
| 12 | 8 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 5 |
Offsides
| 10 | 4 |



90mins
Heidar Helguson knocks down the ball and Bolton are in a good position....however, the referee has just blown the whistle for a foul, and that sums up Bolton's afternoon.