The hosts had not lost on home soil since the middle of October and there was nothing to suggest that the Wanderers could be the team who upset the pools coupons today.

Second half efforts from Phil Neville and Tim Cahill made all the difference to condemn Bolton to yet another defeat away from the comfort zone of the Reebok Stadium.

Results in recent times at the Reebok have been of a good standard but Bolton boss Gary Megson is keen for his side to show their home form when away from South Lancashire.

Megson stuck with the same side who prpoduced a late rally against Birmingham City at the weekend, whilst opposite number David Moyes welcomed back key player Mikel Arteta and was able to call upon Tim Cahill after injury.

It was a dogged defensive display from Bolton within the first half and they often frustrated Everton in that respect, but despite having one of the league's top scorers in the shape of Nicolas Anelka they where unable to hurt their opponents at the other end.

Long serving Bolton star Ricardo Gardner forced the first real chance of the game on fifteen minutes but the Jamaican international was unable to get any accuracy on the ball as home goalkeeper Tim Howard watched the ball to safety.

Gardner then set up his team mate El-Hadji Diouf only for the African to be foiled en-route to goal by the Everton defence and soonafter the influential Mikel Arteta went close at the opposite end of the pitch only to see his drive deflect off Abdoulaye Meite.

Former Middlesbrough striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni was working as a lone forward for Everton and the Nigerian had three seperate occasions to breach the Bolton back line as the half wound down.

Firstly the Nigerian's speculative effort was blocked by Meite, then he headed over an Arteta cross at the far post and perhaps most importantly had a goal ruled out for offside by the officials on the stroke of half time.

Wanderers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen also played his part in keeping the scores level by saving extremely well from lively defender Joleon Lescott and the eventual matchwinner Cahill.

Bolton did not force Howard into a save throughout the first forty five and it was a similar story at the start of the second half as all the play was dominated by the hosts.

Everton took the lead in strange fashion on 51 minutes through their captain Phil Neville who delivered in a cross which was completely missed by Jaaskelainen and his defenders.

It could have got a bit easier for Bolton a quarter of an hour later but ex-Toffees midfielder and Wanderers substitute Gavin McCann saw his acrobatic effort cleared off the line by Lescott.

McCann had a hand in the Everton winner, albeit indirectly. The Bolton midfielder bundled over his marker Thomas Gravesen and referee Rob Styles decided to give Everton the advantage rather than bring the play back for a free kick.

Bolton expected Styles to award the free kick and therefore stopped in their tracks but Everton carried on with Lescott feeding through Cahill to grab the second and final goal.

Anelka spearheaded a rare Wanderers attack with just over ten minutes to play but the Frenchman found that Everton keeper Howard was unwilling to part with a clean sheet.

The next two matches will see Bolton come up against sides within the drop zone. Firstly a trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland is on the cards and then a televised home encounter against bottom club Derby County is next thereafter.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Andy O'Brien, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan (Joey O'Brien), Ivan Campo (Gavin McCann), Danny Guthrie (Jlloyd Samuel), Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf

SUBS NOT USED: Stelios Giannakopoulos, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

EVERTON: Tim Howard, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, Steven Pienaar, Thomas Gravesen, Lee Carsley, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Yakubu Aiyegbeni

SUBS NOT USED: Nuno Valente, Stefan Wessels (GK)

REFEREE:

Rob Styles

ATTENDANCE:

38,918

BOOKED:

A.O'Brien (Bolton)

Diouf (Bolton)

Nolan (Bolton)

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