There was a political storm prior to the game after a number of Bolton supporters were kept in their hotels for their own safety in light of recent football violence surrounding Red Star Belgrade but there was no such trouble on the pitch as Gary Megson's men secured a comfortable win.

Megson left the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Kevin Davies, Kevin Nolan, Andy O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner and Jussi Jaaskelainen in England ahead of Sunday's important Premier League clash at home to Wigan Athletic leaving many of the Reebok faithful questioning the Wanderers manager's desire to progress but the team he picked suffered no ill effects and now could qualify for the final 32 of this competition provided other results go their way.

Goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi was given another start to add to the recent games against Fulham and Bayern Munich and the Oman international once again failed to let Bolton down.

Stelios Giannakopoulos, hero in the last European game against Aris Thessaloniki a week ago, also started as did Daniel Braaten and Christian Wilhelmsson in a much changed Trotters team.

On nine minutes midfielder Nenad Milijas fired over for the home side after Bolton full back Nicky Hunt had lost possession and between the two of them they had a good battle throughout the first half which saw them square up to one another to heat up an otherwise freezing Marakana.

Dejan Milovanovic then fired in a free kick which went almighty close to heading into the top corner but fortunately Bolton keeper Al-Habsi was able to see the ball swerve wide of his right hand post.

Christian Wilhelmsson had the visitors first real chance on 21 minutes but the Swedish winger was unable to get his shot on target as the ball deflected over the bar.

Five minutes later the lively ex-Portsmouth midfielder Ognjen Koroman burst down the left flank for Red Star but he screwed his effort hopelessly wide to give Bolton the chance to gain the upper hand.

Nicky Hunt fired a tame shot wide as the first half gathered momentum whilst at the other end Al-Habsi did well to clasp a shot from Portuguese born midfielder Joao Lucas.

Eight minutes before the break a Wanderers corner from the recalled Andranik Teimourian found its way through to Gary Speed but the experienced midfielder scuffed at his shot leaving hosts goalkeeper Ivan Randjelovic to watch the ball go wide.

Belgrade striker Nenad Jestrovic whipped in a cross from the left which Koroman rose well for at the far post but Al-Habsi once again saved well to deny the Serbian international.

Bolton took the lead more or less on the stroke of half time. Another well taken Teimourian corner from the right was headed goalwards by Gary Speed and Randjelovic did well to deny Stelios Giannakopoulos from touching the ball in from close range.

However the little Greek persisted and cut the ball back for McCann who lashed the ball into the bottom corner to give Bolton the lead much to the delight of the 500 or so supporters who where housed behind the goal in the far corner.

The flow of the first half was disrupted somewhat by Belgian referee Paul Allaerts keeping stopping the game but in fairness the official kept his cards in his pocket despite a number of incidents. Only goalscorer McCann and Koroman where booked throughout the whole game.

Wanderers came out at the start of the second half looking lively and they where unlucky not to have extended their lead when on 52 minutes Giannakopoulos headed a left wing Teimourian cross into the side netting.

Bolton looked in full control for the rest of the game and despite being without some of their key players they did not need to finish the game off once they had gotten their noses in front.

It would be fair to say Belgrade where reduced to half chances from outside the box with the exception of the Koroman header and given the fact they are currently second in the Serbian league means Bolton have secured yet another scalp.

Hopefully this will be enough to see the club through to the next stage in February but for now the Trotters gain a morale boosting victory ahead of Sunday's important visit of local rivals Wigan.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Ali Al-Habsi, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Meite, Lubomir Michalik. Jlloyd Samuel, Andranik Teimourian, Gary Speed, Gavin McCann, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Daniel Braaten (James Sinclair). Christian Wilhelmsson

SUBS NOT USED: Danny Guthrie, Zoltan Harsanyi, Matthew Cassidy, Robert Sissons, Nathan Woolfe, Ian Walker (GK)

RED STAR BELGRADE: Ivan Randjelovic, Dusan Basta, Milos Bajalica, Djorje Tutoric, Grzegorz Bronowicki (Dusan Andjelkovic), Mauricio Molina, Joao Lucas, Ognjen Koroman, Nenad Milijas (Igor Burzanovic), Dejan Milovanovic, Nenad Jestrovic (Filip Dordevic)

SUBS NOT USED: Vladimir Djordevic, Milanko Raskovic, Segundo Castillo, Zoran Banovic (GK)

ATTENDANCE:

45,000

REFEREE:

Paul Allaerts (Belgium)

BOOKED:

McCann (Bolton)

Koroman (Red Star)

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