Bolton beat Everton in five-goal thriller

By GEOFF McALLISTER
STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) – Croatia international Ivan Klasnic came off the
substitutes’ bench to score his first Premier League goal and
lead Bolton to a thrilling 3-2 win over Everton on Sunday.

Everton looked to have snatched a point after fighting back from
2-0 down after 27 minutes to 2-2 before Klasnic’s 86th minute
heroics.

The victory, which lifts Bolton three points clear of the
relegation zone, ensured manager Gary Megson marked his second
anniversary in charge at the Reebok Stadium in style.

Megson said: "At the end of the game it was a mixture of relief
and delight we have come away with three points.

“We played some great stuff mixed in with some average stuff,
which meant the game was as tight as it was.

“I am proud of the players because they keep going, never give
in and battle for every inch of grass on the pitch.

“At times we need to show a little bit more quality because at
2-0 down the game should not have panned out as it did.

“Everton are a good side and this is a really good victory in
terms of how we have won and who we have beaten.

“I was pleased for Ivan because he is a great lad. He has come
across and settled in really well. He has got to get used to
English football but his finishing and goalscoring in training
are quality.”

Bolton, who had not won at home since April, got off to a flying
start and goals from Chung-Yong Lee and defender Gary Cahill put
them into a commanding lead.

Tamir Cohen and Kevin Davies had both gone close when Lee opened
the scoring after just 17 minutes.

Sam Ricketts crowned a fine right wing run with a pin-point
centre to pick out Lee and the Korean drove a low shot through a
crowded penalty area and past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Cahill doubled Bolton’s lead ten minutes later, rising above
Sylvain Distin to head Matt Taylor’s free kick beyond Howard for
his second league goal of the season.

Louis Saha reduced the deficit 13 minutes before half time,
racing onto Lucas Neill’s pass before firing an unstoppable
25-yard shot past Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The visitors were level ten minutes after the interval when
Marouane Fellaini raced onto another Neill pass to round Cahill
and pick out the corner of the net.

Neill also had a hand in Bolton’s winner as Jaaskelainen’s
clearance struck the Australian and Davies before dropping
kindly for Klasnic to slot home.

The defeat crowns a miserable week for Everton, who were
thrashed 5-0 by Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday.

Manager David Moyes said: "We worked very hard to get back in
the game but we seemed to run out of energy in the last 15
minutes.

“You know what Bolton are going to do and how they are going to
play. If you cannot do the basics like head the ball away you
are always going to be in trouble.”

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