Bolton Wanderers 1 - 2 Everton

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Saturday Sep 01 2007 03:00

Nicolas Anelka scored a stunning goal, but Joleon Lescott returned Everton to winning ways with an 88th minute header at the Reebok Stadium.

The former Wolves defender rose highest to meet substitute Thomas Gravesen's corner and squeeze the ball past Mikel Alonso guarding the post.

It was cruel on Sammy Lee's team, now beaten four times in five Premier League games, but once again poor defending proved their undoing.

Indeed, Leon Osman might have claimed the winner himself just moments before Lescott's goal, but skied a shot into the ranks of the Everton supporters.

Until the late drama, Anelka showed just why his services were so coveted prior to the closure of the transfer window.

Bolton trailed to Yakubu's first goal since his big-money move from Middlesbrough, before their French talisman appeared to rescue a point.Phil Jagielka and Joseph Yobo both tried to clear El-Hadji Diouf's cross and only helped the ball into Anelka's path.

With one mighty swipe of his right boot the former Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid striker netted his fourth goal in five games.

Bolton fans joyfully sung Anelka's name before kick-off in recognition of his decision to commit his future to the club and they like him even more after another great strike.

However, despite bringing on new signing Andy O'Brien at half-time, Bolton are still leaking goals and until Lee rectifies the problem Anelka's goals will only be decoration.

Yakubu, one of three players making their first starts for Everton, didn't need long to start repaying his £11million transfer fee and all three newcomers were involved in the goal.

Jagielka dispossessed Anelka, deep in Everton's own half. Steven Pienaar, signed on a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund, then played an exquisite pass that Gerald Cid tried in vain to reach before Andy Johnson.

That allowed Johnson a direct run on goal, allowing him time and space to provide the perfect assist for Yakubu.

Bolton hit back strongly and had justifiable penalty appeals turned down for Lee Carsley's clumsy attempted tackle on Diouf.Tim Howard saved acrobatically from Alonso's arrowing long-range shot, while Diouf volleyed over after Kevin Nolan headed on Nicky Hunt's long throw.

And the action remained frantic and entertaining throughout the remainder of the half.

Alonso smacked an angled 25-yard drive off the crossbar while Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to keep out a Yobo header.

Live Commentary

90
FULL TIME - BOLTON 1 - 2 EVERTON: It's all over at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton dominated for most of the game, but did not make the most of their opportunities. Everton pick up three points and will go joint top of the Premiership tonight.

89
BOLTON 1 - 2 EVERTON: Bolton fail to deal with an Arteta corner and JOLEON LESCOTT rises at the far post and heads the ball into the back of the net

86
The game looks set to be a draw, unless one of the sides can produce a moment of magic to grab a late winner

85
Gravesen shows good skill and his pass finds Arteta, who then picks out Osman who should score from close range, but side-foots the ball over the crossbar

84
Yakubu, despite a dream start to his debut, has been fairly quiet and David Moyes replaces him with Victor Anichebe

82
Meite blocks a cross and Everton appeal for a penalty, saying the defender handled the ball, but the referee shakes his head and waves play on

80
Diouf curls a corner onto the head of Meite but he directs it straight at Howard who makes a comfortable save

79
Nicky Hunt limps off the pitch and Sammy Lee uses his last throw of the dice as Kevin Davies takes the field

76
Abdoulaye Meite makes a horrific mistake and gifts an opportunity to Johnson, but the England striker slides the ball wide of the mark

73
Peter Walton shows Gravesen the yellow card for a lunge on Jlloyd Samuel

72
The ball falls kindly for Arteta inside the 6-yard box but his volley is straight into the arms of Jaaskelainen.

70
Steven Pienaar makes way for Leon Osman.

68
Bolton certainly seem the most determined to win the game at the moment, and Sammy Lee may look to the bench for a winner in Kevin Davies.

65
Bolton win two corners in quick succession but neither cause Everton much problems.

64
Alonso has already shown he can strike a ball. is 30-yard shot looks destined for the top corner, but Howard scrambles across his goal-line to tip the ball around the post

62
Thomas Gravesen takes the field in place of Lee Carsley

61
Diouf picks up the ball on the right flank and his cross finds the skipper, Kevin Nolan, in the six-yard box but he squanders the golden opportunity, placing the ball wide

59
The Everton defence is all over the place in this second period and David Moyes looks furious on the touchline

57
Bolton are well on top at the moment and Everton cannot get out of their own half. Even Jlloyd Samuel is trying his luck, but his shot is blocked by Steven Pienaar

55
Gavin McCann is replaced by Christian Wilhelmsson

55
BOLTON 1-1 EVERTON: NICOLAS ANELKA, with an absolutely stunning right-footed volley from the edge of the area, levels the scoreline and the Reebok stadium erupts.

52
Lee Carsley hits a long range shot but it is straight down the throat of Jaaskelainen

49
Diouf has looked very bright this afternoon. He works his way into a decent position just outside the box, but his delivery is poor this time.

48
Joleon Lescott is shown the yellow card for a rash challenge on Anelka

47
Diouf teases Jagielka before whipping a cross into the box and Alonso's powerful header grazes the post.

45
One change at half-time, as Gerald Cid makes way for Andy O'Brien to make his debut.

45
The sides re-emerge after half-time team-talks and the second half is underway.

45
HALF TIME: BOLTON 0-1 EVERTON: Bolton responded brilliantly to Yakubu's opener and have been on top for most of the half. Sammy Lee will wonder how his side are still a goal down at the interval, but will want a similar performance in the second-half

43
Johnson runs at goal before trying his luck from the edge of the area, but McCann puts in a good block.

41
The Wanderers put together a fine move which ends with a Diouf header looping into the arms of Howard

40
Everton rush up the other end with Arteta, and Joseph Yobo meets his cross but Jaaskelainen pulls off a fine save to deny the defender's header,

40
Alonso lets fly from way out and his thunderous strike cannons off the angle between the crossbar and post.

39
The home side have seen a lot of the ball but need to lift the tempo a little

37
Diouf receives the ball inside the box and in a good position, but his first touch lets him down and Everton regain possession

35
Hunt is cautioned for his challenge on the goalscorer

34
Yakubu breaks away from the Bolton defence before he is hacked down by Nicky Hunt

31
It has been a spirited response from Bolton since Yakubu's goal. The visitors have not had any time to settle on the ball

29
Diouf lobs the ball over the head of Howard and is left with the goal gaping, but the ball does not drop for him and he fails to get a shot away.

28
Leighton Baines receives the first booking of the game after delaying a throw-in.

26
Arteta floats a corner into the mixer and Jaaskelainen is caught off his line, but Everton fail to make the most of the opportunity and Phil Jagielka heads over the crossbar

24
Diouf reaches the byline and gets a cross in, but cannot pick out a team-mate

22
McCann, who is playing against the club where he started as a trainee, gets a weak shot away and Howard collects the ball with ease

19
Gerald Cid connects with Diouf's corner but steers his header over the crossbar

17
Diouf sends an inviting cross into the penalty area from a free-kick and Gary Speed's header is deflected behind for a corner.

15
Diouf shows good skill before pulling the trigger from just inside the box but smashes the ball over the crossbar

14
Diouf appeals for a penalty after a strong challenge inside the box from an Everton defender, but the referee waves play on. The Bolton players are livid with Peter Walton.

12
Mikel Alonso lets fly from 20-yards and forces a superb save out of Tim Howard

11
BOLTON 0 - 1 EVERTON: Out of nowhere, Andy Johnson skips away from the Bolton defence before sliding a pass through to YAKUBU, who drills the ball past Jaaskelainen to notch a goal on his debut.

9
Bolton have scored in each of their last 19 games, but there have been no real chances as of yet

7
Mikel Arteta curls a long range free-kick goal-wards but does not trouble Jussi Jaaskelainen

4
Andy Johnson gets behind the Bolton defence but is pulled back for offside.

2
El Hadji Diouf cuts in from the right flank but before he can get his shot away, Leighton Baines slides in and steals the ball

0
Bolton ended their losing streak last weekend against Reading and recorded their first points of the season, but Everton will look to prevent them having back-to-back wins and could potentially go top of the league tonight.

0
Referee Peter Walton gets the game underway.

0
BOLTON STARTING XI: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Meite, Cid, Samuel, Speed, Nolan, Alonso, McCann, Diouf, Anelka. SUBS: Al Habsi, Wilhelmsson, Davies, Braaten, Andrew O'Brien

0
EVERTON STARTING XI: Howard, Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Neville, Carsley, Pienaar, Yakubu, Johnson. SUBS: Wessels, Gravesen, McFadden, Osman, Anichebe

0
Kevin Davies has fully recovered from a hamstring injury, but is still only among the substitutes at the Reebok today. Ricardo Gardner and Joey O'Brien are still sidelined.

0
New signing Yakubu Ayegbeni makes his debut for Everton and partners Andy Johnson up-front. Lee Carsley passes fit and makes the line-up, along with Phil Jagielka who gets his first start. Loan signing Thomas Gravesen begins the game on the bench.

Statistics

Bolton Wanderers

Shots on target	7
Shots off target	5
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	8
Offsides	1
Corners	11

Everton

Shots on target	11
Shots off target	4
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	10
Offsides	5
Corners	6

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