After a relatively quiet first half the Wanderers pressed in the second period and their persistence paid off as top scorer Nolan got his fifth goal of the season and his second matchwinner in a week.

Both defences were very tight and neither goalkeeper was troubled too much throughout the opening 25 minutes of the match.It was a very keenly contested game between two of the Premiership's less fashionable, yet exciting clubs.

Bolton's Kevin Davies had the first clear cut chance of the half as he flicks Bruno N'Gotty's punt into the area straight into the arms of Charlton's goalkeeper Stephan Andersen.

Moments earlier the hosts had put the ball in the back of Jussi Jaaskelainen's net but referee Mark Clattenberg spotted a handball infringement in the move involving Darren Ambrose and ex-Blackburn loan striker Jay Bothroyd.

A quarter of an hour before the break saw Charlton produce an excellent team move which was unlucky not to have seen a goal as Bothroyd and Dennis Rommedahl both combined to set up Ambrose for a shot which was saved well by Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal.

The two sides went in goalless at the interval to reflect on 45 minutes of football that had been all about good defensive play rather than clear cut attempts on goal.

Bolton began the second half brightly as Gary Speed's dangerous free-kick on 47 minutes was kept out by Addicks Scandanavian goalkeeper Andersen who is currently keeping the long serving former Bury player Dean Kiely out of the team.

Sixty seconds later Hidetoshi Nakata tried a speculative effort to beat Anderson from long range but the Japanese midfielder could only see his shot from 30-yards go right over the crossbar and into the stands.

Charlton brought on two sets of fresh legs within a couple of minites of one another as Bryan Hughes and Jonatan Johansson came on for the ineffective Alexei Smertin and Dennis Rommedahl.

The Addicks where clearly missing their top scorer Darren Bent with the England international ruled out pre-kick off due to an illness leaving Bothroyd to lead the line.

Sam Allardyce's visiting Wanderers team had looked to get a foothold on the game as they brought on veteran Mexican goalgetter Jared Borgetti in place of Kevin Davies.

Jonatan Johansson's introduction to the play nearly gave the home side the lead but the Charlton striker could find no way past his international team mate Jaaskelainen despite having broke down the Bolton defence well.

On 72 minutes Bolton took the lead with a goal which proved to be the eventual matchwinner. Kevin Nolan tapped the ball into the back of the net after Hidetoshi Nakata had taken advantage of a goalkeeping mistake by Charlton's Andersen following Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye's shot on goal.

Bolton made a couple more changes in the second half in an attempt to hold onto their lead as team captain Jay-Jay Okocha made his return from injury as a substitute for El-Hadji Diouf.

Tal Ben-Haim was also brought on in place of Hide Nakata as Charlton looked to grab an equalising goal. Fortunately, any pressure exerted from the home side was dealt with swiftly by the Bolton defence.

Jaaskelainen did well to keep the Wanderers level when he saved a powerful header from fellow Finn Johansson two minutes from the end, whilst Borgetti squandered a chance to score his third goal in four games as he scuffed an attempt on goal which would have seen Bolton hit the net for a second time.

Bolton's held on for the three points after some late Charlton pressure and can be pleased with a good away win against a very organised and competitive side who had been on a fine run prior to today.

The Trotters now face two home games in league and cup action as Zenit St. Petersburg and Tottenham Hotspur are the next challenges that await Sam Allardyce and his Bolton squad.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Radhi Jaidi, Bruno N'Gotty, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan, Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye, Hidetoshi Nakata (Tal Ben-Haim), Gary Speed, Kevin Davies (Jared Borgetti), El-Hadji Diouf (Jay-Jay Okocha)

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Martin Djetou

Charlton Athletic: Stephan Andersen, Luke Young, Chris Perry, Jonathan Spector, Hermann Hreidarsson, Alexei Smertin (Bryan Hughes), Radostin Kishishev (Matt Holland), Danny Murphy, Darren Ambrose, Dennis Rommedahl (Jonatan Johansson), Jay Bothroyd

Subs Not Used: Dean Kiely, Talal El-Karkouri

Referee:

Mark Clattenburg

Attendance:

26,175

Booked:

Danny Murphy (Charlton)

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