Wenger targets title after Bolton win

January 18, 2010


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted his side were now genuine title contenders after goals from Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida helped them beat Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium.

Sunday’s success left the third-placed Gunners just three points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and they will go top, on goal difference, if they beat Bolton again at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in a fixture re-arranged following the recent cold snap in Britain.

After losing 3-0 at home to Chelsea on November 29, Wenger?s men were written off as potential champions but have since gone eight matches unbeaten to transform their season.

However, having seen Fabregas mark his return to the Arsenal side in style to help ruin Owen Coyle’s first match in charge of Bolton, Wenger said: “We are now in a quite interesting position that nobody expected us to be in.

“When the season started we were not all convinced maybe in our squad that we could be where we are today,” the Frenchman added.

“But now we are where we are, we want to have a go. We are a big club and when you are a big club, the most difficult thing is like last season in October and November, when you know you don’t fight for the title.

“But now we have a chance to fight for the championship, so let’s have a go.”

Fabregas had missed Arsenal’s three previous matches with a hamstring problem but the break did not appear to have done him any harm as he ran the show for the visitors on Sunday, including playing a part in setting-up fellow Spaniard Merida for the Gunners’ second goal 12 minutes from time.

Turning to Fabregas, Wenger said: “What is very interesting for us is Cesc gets stronger and stronger and has more personality on the pitch, like the whole team.

“He grows. He will be 23 this year – he is just starting.”

Coyle almost had the dream start as Bolton boss when after just 45 seconds Kevin Davies dribbled into the box but he could not control the ball when unmarked and the chance went begging.

Arsenal showed Bolton how it should be done in the 28th minute.

After some impressive build-up play, Abou Diaby was tackled by Gretar Steinsson on the edge of the box but the Icelandic defender tripped and gifted the ball to Fabregas and after a collecting a wonderful return pass from Eduardo, the Spain midfielder calmly slotted into the bottom corner .

Bolton were a much improved team after half-time with South Korea’s Lee Chung-Yong causing Arsenal problems down the right wing while Matt Taylor missed several good chances to level the match at 1-1.

“I thought the level of performance was terrific and on another day would have got us points, whether one or three,” Coyle said.

“If we play at that level we will pick up points in this league and we can make a game of it on Wednesday.”

BOLTON, England (AFP)

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Wolves earn crucial win in relegation battle

December 5, 2009


Wolverhampton climbed off the bottom of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Bolton at Molineux on Saturday.

Mick McCarthy’s side had slipped into 20th place after Portsmouth’s victory against Burnley in Saturday’s early game, but goals from Jody Craddock and Nenad Milijas ensured they didn’t stay there for long.

Craddock opened the scoring early in the first half and Milijas put Wolves in complete control soon after the hour mark.

Johan Elmander got one back for Bolton but the hosts held on for their first win in 10 matches in all competitions, while the visitors suffered their fifth defeat in six games.

McCarthy had made two changes to his side, recalling Milijas and Stephen Ward as he tried to end a winless run that threatened to send Wolves back to the Championship.

South Korea midfielder Chung-Yong Lee was back in the Bolton line-up in place of the suspended Kevin Davies.

McCarthy’s men made the perfect start in the third minute. Milijas curled over a free-kick, Christophe Berra flicked on and Craddock, who looked to be in an offside position, drove home from close range for his fourth goal of the season.

Wolves almost added a second in the 18th minute when Richard Stearman headed goalwards following a corner from Matt Jarvis, but Ricardo Gardner cleared off the line.

After struggling to find any momentum in the early stages, Bolton began to threaten. Ivan Klasnic tested Marcus Hahnemann from distance and Gretar Steinsson headed wide from Lee’s corner.

Klasnic had Bolton’s best chance of the first half but shot wastefully over after Lee’s pass split the Wolves defence.

Wolves were back on top in the second half and increased their lead in the 63rd minute through Serbian midfielder Milijas. He latched on to a loose ball and smashed his shot beyond goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Hahnemann reacted superbly to parry Matt Taylor’s close-range effort moments later before Elmander gave Gary Megson’s strugglers a glimmer of hope in the 79th minute.

Elmander was set up by Klasnic following a corner from Taylor and the Swedish striker beat the goalkeeper from close range.

Klasnic should have earned Bolton a point in a frantic finish but he shot straight at Hahnemann.

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AFP)

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Injuries leave United with European worries

October 18, 2009


Manchester United have injury concerns over Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs ahead of the Champions League game at CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping that Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic, who missed Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers here at Old Trafford with an ankle injury, will be fit enough to return in mid-week.

But he admits he has concerns over both Evra and Giggs after they sustained knocks against Bolton.

It was not a convincing performance from United but they returned to the top of the table thanks to Chelsea’s loss to Aston Villa.

And although Ferguson is calling for improvements at the back – his defence have kept just three clean sheets in nine Premier League matches – he was happy to move back to the top of the table despite suffering further injuries.

United’s defence was the key to last season’s title win and although Ferguson reckons the league is tougher this season, he believes his players can do better.

“Giggs is doubtful for Moscow with a knock,” said Ferguson as he surveyed his casualty list.

“Evra we will look at tomorrow (Sunday) and he may be doubtful. Vidic should be okay and definitely will be fit for Liverpool (a week on Sunday).

“I think (Dimitar) Berbatov will be okay and we will try and get Wayne Rooney ready but he will be okay for Liverpool.”

Ferguson added: “In the past few years we have had runs of games when we haven’t lost goals and that’s been important in winning the championship and we have to get back to that.

“We were in a comfort zone at 2-0 and maybe we were relaxed in terms of our play and we should have finished the game off but we didn’t.

“Sometimes you can leave yourself regretting that but we got through and with the other results it’s been a good day for us.

“All the top teams have to accept it’s a tough league.”

Veteran Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar played for the first time since suffering a hand injury in pre-season and Ferguson feels that the former Ajax player will make a big difference to his defence.

“Edwin was fantastic. He has the composure and the experience and steadiness at the back that’s what his career is about.”

United overcame Bolton thanks to an early Zat Knight own goal and Antonio Valencia’s stunning finish.

But Matt Taylor’s late goal set up a tense finale at Old Trafford.

Bolton manager Gary Megson felt his side could have been even better if they had started at a decent tempo.

However, he admitted the international break had a considerable effect on players like South Korea’s Lee Chung-Yong and Israel’s Tamir Cohen.

“These international breaks for small clubs like ourselves are a disaster,” Megson said.

“Tamir Cohen looked nothing like the player he was before he went away and Chung-Yong looked a shadow of himself. Next time we will have to look at changing the team regardless of form.”

Megson also feels his side, who went into the United game on the back of a five-match unbeaten run, are moving in the right direction and shedding their old reputation for being direct and negative.

He added: “It makes us smirk a little bit because managers talk about set pieces and things like that and we’ve been bitterly disappointed in our defending of set pieces.

“Other managers have called us a big, physical team but in that you’ve got Lee Chung-Yong, Matt Taylor, Ricardo Gardner. We’re not that kind of team anymore.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Lee´s late strike lifts the pressure on Bolton boss Megson

September 26, 2009


South Korea midfielder Lee Chung-Yong eased the pressure on under-fire Bolton manager Gary Megson as his late goal secured a 2-1 win at Birmingham on Saturday.

Lee came on as a second-half substitute for his fifth Bolton appearance since his move from FC Seoul in August and made a dramatic impact.

Tamir Cohen’s first-half strike had given Bolton the lead but Birmingham looked to have rescued a draw through Kevin Phillips’ 84th minute goal.

However, Lee, 21, had the last word as his first Premier League strike stole the points and gave Megson just his second league win of the season.

The beleaguered Wanderers manager saw his team get off to the perfect start with the type of goal which established Bolton reputation as a Premier League nuisance.

Full-back Sam Ricketts launched a throw into the danger area which veteran striker Kevin Davies flicked into the path of Israel midfielder Cohen, who headed past Joe Hart to register his third goal in four league games.

City nearly found a way back into the match after French winger Gregory Vignal whipped in a dangerous cross but the on-rushing midfielder Teemu Tainio lashed a fierce effort inches wide of the post.

The visitors received a huge let-off five minutes before half-time when City’s clever free-kick caught the defence cold, leaving Irish midfielder Keith Fahey in space.

The former Arsenal trainee took a touch before unleashing a fierce shot but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and away to safety.

Referee Steve Bennett infuriated the home fans moments before the break when he waved away appeals for a penalty after Lee Bowyer went down under pressure in the area.

Wanderers were finally breached six minutes from time when former England forward Phillips played a slick one-two with Christian Benitez before planting an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner.

Home cheers were soon silenced though as Lee kept his cool to claim all three points for the visitors.

Matt Taylor whipped in a free-kick which bounced off a post and fell at the feet of the South Korean.

Birmingham defenders desperately launched themselves towards the ball, but the midfielder dummied back inside before walking the ball into the net.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

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Bolton rally too late to avoid boos in draw with Stoke

September 19, 2009


Matt Taylor’s late penalty salvaged a point for Bolton but a 1-1 draw with Stoke was secured too late for Gary Megson’s side to be spared the jeers of their own supporters.

Dave Kitson’s fine strike looked set to give Stoke all three points before Danny Collins was penalised for a challenge on Sam Ricketts.

With less than two minutes left, Taylor coolly slotted home the penalty to claim a point that lifts Bolton above Hull on goal difference and out of the relegation zone.

Megson recalled midfield anchor man Gavin McCann at the expense of Mark Davies and left strikers Johan Elmander and Ivan Klasnic on the bench initially.

James Beattie was also confined to the bench at the outset because of fitness concerns while Ricardo Fuller and Matthew Etherington were both given starting roles for Stoke.

Fuller generated the first chance of the match, breaking clear on the right to deliver a dangerous cross that was cut out by Fabrice Muamba, before getting himself booked for what the referee, Mark Clattenburg, judged to be a dive following a challenge from McCann.

Stoke went closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval with Glenn Whelan’s 32nd-minute free-kick testing Jussi Jaaskelainen and Rory Delap’s long throw-ins unsettling the Bolton defence.

The home side was woefully short of invention and the frustration of the home fans was reflected in some angry jeers and slow handclapping.

Stoke had a reasonable appeal for a penalty waved away by Clattenburg four minutes into the second period, when a goalbound shot from Delap was blocked by Zat Knight’s arm.

Taylor then went close for Bolton before Kitson gathered Fuller’s through ball and got away from Ricketts before finding the bottom corner with a fine finish.

Klasnic’s entrance pepped up Bolton’s attacking play and the Croatian striker came close to equalising when Thomas Sorensen turned over his close-range effort with just over 20 minutes left.

An even better chance fell to Knight but the centreback somehow contrived to clear the bar with his volley.

Bolton had done just about enough to merit an equaliser and a clumsy challenge by Collins ensured they got one, although Stoke might easily have snatched a winner in stoppage time but for Jaaskelainen’s brave block from substitute Liam Lawrence.

BOLTON (AFP)

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Vermaelen double helps Gunners beat Wigan 4-0

September 19, 2009


Thomas Vermaelen repaid a big chunk of the ten million pounds he cost Arsenal as the Gunners revived their Premier League challenge with a 4-0 win over Wigan on Saturday.

After back-to-back defeats by both Manchester clubs, the Gunners could ill-afford to lose any more ground on leaders Chelsea, who entertain Tottenham on Sunday.

That they didn’t was largely thanks to the efforts of centreback Vermaelen, whose summer recruitment from Ajax is increasingly looking like a very shrewd piece of business by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

The Belgium captain headed in Robin van Persie’s corner midway through the opening period before beating Chris Kirkland with a fine shot four minutes after the restart.

Eduardo was responsible for Arsenal’s third although he may not be credited with the goal after his shot, on the rebound after his own effort had come back off the post, took a deflection off team-mate Emmanuel Eboue.

Cesc Fabregas completed a confidence-boosting win by finishing off Nicklas Bendtner’s cross in the final minute.

With Liverpool playing West Ham in an early evening match and Manchester United entertaining newly-rich neighbours Manchester City on Sunday, Aston Villa were the highest-placed side in action on Saturday afternoon.

Martin O’Neill’s side put the pre-match controversy over Nigel Reo-Coker’s bust-up with the manager to one side to claim a 2-0 win over Portsmouth, who became the first side to lose their first six matches since the launch of the Premier League in 1992-93.

James Milner gave Villa the lead from the spot after Pompey skipper Nadir Belhadj pulled down Stiliyan Petrov as the Bulgarian midfielder burst into the box.

Milner then provided the flick that enabled Gabriel Agbonlahor to strike two minutes before the interval.

David Nugent marked his home debut for Burnley with a double as the Clarets notched up their third straight win at home with a 3-1 defeat of Sunderland.

The on-loan striker, who scored just three goals in 34 league games for Portsmouth, claimed two for his new employers in less than half an hour after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Burnley had taken the lead through a Graham Alexander penalty, after Anton Ferdinand had tripped Wade Elliot, but Sunderland were level by the break after Darren Bent pounced for his fifth goal of the season.

A stale encounter between Bolton and Stoke finished in a 1-1 draw with a late Matt Taylor penalty salvaging a point for the home side after Stoke had taken the lead through a fine Dave Kitson goal eight minutes after half-time.

The Ireland striker collected a through ball from Ricardo Fuller, evaded a challenge from Sam Ricketts and found the bottom corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

Birmingham took all three points from their visit to Hull thanks to Scotland striker Garry O’Connor’s near-post header from a Keith Fahey corner, a quarter of an hour from the end.

Hull were desperately lucky not to snatch an equaliser when Ibrahima Sonko’s header rattled the bar.

LONDON (AFP)

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Hiddink tells Chelsea to heed Bolton warning

April 12, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Guus Hiddink has warned Chelsea to curb their generous nature if they wish to preserve their dream of a first ever Champions League triumph.

The Blues interim manager was dismayed by the shambolic defending which almost gifted Bolton Wanderers an extraordinary point on Saturday.

The west Londoners had raced into a 4-0 lead but leaked three goals in eight second-half minutes and ended the afternoon clinging on to victory by their fingertips.

Liverpool’s delegation of scouts will have noted that late capitulation with interest ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The Merseysiders have been largely written off following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg at Anfield, but they could yet produce an improbable fightback if they can exploit the insecurities laid bare in the Chelsea defence on Saturday.

Petr Cech looked particularly on edge, the Czech goalkeeper failing dismally to cope with the stream of high balls being pumped into the home penalty area, while Ricardo Carvalho – who is certain to play against Liverpool, when John Terry is suspended – lacked sharpness on his return from injury.

All three Bolton goals came from long balls which were headed on or down by Kevin Davies and it will be of some consolation to Hiddink that Liverpool do not possess a hulking striker in his mould.

The Dutchman will also back his side to cause problems of their own against Rafael Benitez’s team, and their attacking performance, particularly at the start of the second half, was ominous for their rivals.

But Hiddink, a manager unused to his teams showing such defensive flimsiness, insisted that a vast improvement is needed for Liverpool’s visit.

“That would have given heart to Liverpool and we must not let it happen twice,” Hiddink said. “Against top teams, you cannot afford to concede goals like that and we have told the players that.

“We were just waiting for the fifth goal when we were 4-0 up with 20 minutes to go, but then we got very sloppy. We were too relaxed and we weren’t winning enough battles defensively, all over the pitch.

“We conceded three in eight minutes, I think, which is impossible, really, for a team which is near the top of the table. It’s normal that players will react to this situation, though, and I am sure they will.”

Hiddink refused to attribute the bulk of the blame to Cech, insisting instead that “everyone, including the goalkeeper, didn’t perform well. We made a sequence of errors to give Bolton their goals.”

The Dutchman also played down the significance of his own decision to take off Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba after Chelsea had scored their fourth, claiming – not unreasonably – that his side’s sudden defensive jitters could not be attributed to replacing an attacking midfielder and a striker.

The memories of those chaotic last 20 minutes will hang heavy in this corner of the English capital ahead of Tuesday’s tie, but Hiddink will do his best to accentuate the positives, not least the brio Chelsea showed in racing into such a commanding lead.

After Michael Ballack had stabbed in the opener five minutes before half-time, Chelsea took complete control just after the re-start: Drogba converted Lampard’s cute free-kick, the latter slammed in from the penalty spot after Gretar Steinsson’s hand-ball and Drogba completed his brace from Ballack’s corner.

The game looked to be ambling to its conclusion when Bolton delivered their exatrordinary flurry of goals from Andy O’Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor, all converted from close range. There might even have been an equaliser, but Gary Cahill’s last-gasp strike was scraped off the line.

“I don’t know whether this will have given Liverpool heart but it certainly gave us heart,” Bolton manager Gary Megson said. “We will get more credit for being beaten 4-3 here than winning 4-1 against Middlesbrough last week.

“There’s a whole gamut of emotions – there’s anger at the way we defended at times and approached the game, and pleasure at the way we came back. But ultimately we have still lost the game.”

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Chelsea survive Bolton backlash

April 12, 2009

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LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea survived an extraordinary late fightback from Bolton to register a jittery 4-3 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Guus Hiddink’s side looked certain to chalk up one of their most comfortable wins of the season after romping into a four-goal lead thanks to strikes from Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard’s penalty, but that was simply the start of the drama.

Wanderers, who had looked bereft of ideas, suddenly stormed back into contention with three goals in nine minutes from Andy O’Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor and Hiddink, having been a picture of relaxation earlier in the day, could only wipe his brow in relief at the final whistle.

The win keeps Chelsea on the fringe of the English Premier League title race, albeit four points behind leaders Manchester United having played a game more, but the most intrigued observers of the late carnage in the home penalty area will have been Liverpool’s scouts.

The Merseysiders need to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final decider at Stamford Bridge and the shambolic nature of Chelsea’s defending might persuade Rafael Benitez that his European hopes could yet be revived, against all the odds.

Chelsea, for their part, will just be grateful that they avoided one of the most embarrassing capitulations of the season against a side mired in mid-table. Having weathered an early Bolton storm, when Taylor came close with a free-kick and flashing header, they assumed control with ease, with Ballack at centre-stage.

The German saw one long-range drive scream just over in the 35th minute but he was not to be denied five minutes later. After wriggling into space on the edge of the area, a canny pass released Salomon Kalou and Ballack, bursting forward, arrived just in time to slam home the Ivorian’s cut-back.

Bolton hinted that they remained an attacking force to be reckoned with when Davies slashed wide when well placed, but their defence remained alarmingly wobbly and Chelsea doubled their lead just after half-time through an immaculately-worked free-kick.

Bolton’s back-line were braced for a fizzed cross from Florent Malouda but, instead, the Frenchman dummied and Frank Lampard clipped a square pass across the six-yard box to Drogba, who had the easiest job of all in crunching high into the net.

Chelsea smelled blood and Bolton barely had time to clear their heads before they fell further behind. Lampard’s chipped cross into the area was handled by Gretar Steinsson and referee Peter Walton immediately awarded a penalty, which Lampard converted with ease.

When Drogba completed his brace moments later – bundling in from close range after Ballack’s corner had been nodded down by Branislav Ivanovic – Bolton would surely have been content simply to keep the score at four.

Hiddink certainly appeared to consider the points secure, the manager taking off Drogba and Lampard with one eye on Chelsea’s defining week, but it was a move which backfired spectacularly.

In a chaotic nine-minute spell, Bolton plundered three goals: first O’Brien, on as a half-time substitute, stabbed in after Davies had caused chaos at a corner; then, in the 74th minute, Basham, another replacement, volleyed in from close range following a header back across goal from Davies.

Stamford Bridge was suddenly on edge and the ripples of anxiety became full blown waves with 12 minutes remaining when Jaaskelainen punted downfield, Davies flicked on and Taylor headed into the top corner.

The final minutes bordered on the lunatic. Nicolas Anelka saw a shot cleared off the line and Jaaskelainen saved brilliantly from Malouda, but the real drama came in the last of the four minutes of stoppage time when Bolton defender Gary Cahill’s effort was scrambled around the post. Chelsea could breathe again.

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Baggies closer to drop after Bolton stalemate

March 22, 2009

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BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) – West Brom’s hopes of Premier League survival were left looking slimmer after a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Bolton.

The Baggies went into the match knowing that only three points would allow them to entertain realistic hopes of mounting a late surge off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.

But after Matt Taylor had given the visitors a fully-deserved lead shortly after the restart, it required an own goal by Bolton substitute Danny Shittu to earn Tony Mowbray’s side a share of the points.

After a bright start by West Brom, it was Bolton who began to dominate and only the heroics of goalkeeper Scott Carson had prevented West Brom from falling behind before the interval.

Matt Taylor was first to test the England goalkeeper, striking a sweet left-foot drive after 21 minutes.

Carson was then called upon to palm a dipping free-kick from Taylor around the post and, from the resulting corner, it required a point-blank save to prevent Kevin Davies’s header finding the net.

Taylor went close with another free-kick, a swerving effort from all of 35 yards that Carson had to be alert to keep out.

Bolton continued to dominate after the break and they were finally rewarded in the 67th-minute after Jussi Jaaskelainen launched a huge punt into the opposition area.

Jonas Olsson’s headed clearance did not get the ball out of the area and Taylor was able to find the net with a fine, controlled volley.

Bolton had done enough to earn all three points but they were forced to settle for a draw when Shittu deflected a Robert Koren shot past Jaaskelainen eight minutes from time.

The frustration was evident as Bolton boss Gary Megson got himself sent from the dug-out in injury time after a verbal altercation with referee Howard Webb.

Written by: AFP

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Jo´s debut double fires Everton

February 8, 2009

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Jo hit a debut double to inspire Everton to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Bolton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Brazilian striker scored a sublime effort on 49 minutes before adding a penalty in stoppage time to complete a romp started by Mikel Arteta’s first half spot-kick.

It was no more than Everton deserved after totally outplaying Gary Megson’s side to cement sixth place in the Premier League.

Toffees manager David Moyes rewarded teenager Dan Gosling for his dramatic winning goal in the midweek FA Cup replay win over Liverpool with a place in the starting line-up for just the second time.

Moyes also handed a first appearance to Jo following his arrival on-loan from Manchester City, while Joleon Lescott made his 350th league appearance as Everton looked to extend their impressive run of just one defeat in the last 11 outings in all competitions.

Bolton also arrived at Goodison high on confidence in the wake of their thrilling home victory over Tottenham last weekend.

Such a feeling disappeared inside the opening two minutes as Moyes’s men tore into the visitors and never stopped.

The home side could and should have taken the lead in the third minute when the impressive Leighton Baines set up Tim Cahill with an inch-perfect cross but the Australian international missed the target from just two yards out in what was one of the misses of the season.

The chances continued to come and go as Everton totally dominated and Bolton somehow kept the scores level.

Matt Taylor cleared under pressure from Gosling before the teenager crossed for Jo moments later only to see the Brazilian scoop his shot over the crossbar.

Another chance fell to Jo in the 23rd minute when Cahill’s clever header sent him racing clear, but with just Jussi Jaaskelainen to beat he dragged his shot off target.

Everton’s frustration continued when Lescott shot wide before Arteta demanded a smart save from Jaaskelainen on 35 minutes.

Bolton’s resistance was finally broken on 39 minutes when Andy O’Brien’s clumsy trip on Jo left referee Peter Walton with no choice but to point to the spot. Arteta made no mistake to hand his side’s a more than deserved lead.

Bolton’s afternoon should have got worse even before half time but Phil Jagielka headed Arteta’s corner onto the crossbar before Gary Cahill produced an unbelievable block to deflect Leon Osman’s shot wide and prevent what appeared to be a certain goal.

There was nothing Cahill could do to prevent Jo from doubling Everton’s lead in the 49th minute, however.

He produced a sublime piece of skill to gather Phil Neville’s lofted cross and turn Cahill before planting a first time volley past Jaaskelainen and make the perfect start to his Everton career.

Bolton offered little in terms of a fightback, with a tame effort from Matt Taylor the only threat to Tim Howard’s goal as Everton’s total dominance was confirmed by Jo at the death after Mark Davies had handled Gosling’s cross.

Written by: AFP

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