BOLTON // Ivan Klasnic scored a late winner as Bolton survived a spirited fightback by Everton to clinch their first home league win of the season. Substitute Klasnic's decisive goal, his first for the club, came in the 87th minute after Everton had battled back from two goals down. The Wanderers had been well in control as goals from Lee Chung-Yong and Gary Cahill put them 2-0 ahead. Everton hit back with a wonder-strike from Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini's second-half equaliser.
The Bolton manager Gary Megson named the same starting XI for Bolton that had performed so creditably in their 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last week. And after 17 minutes, Bolton made a deserved breakthrough. Sam Ricketts beat Tony Hibbert and sent a bouncing ball across the box which evaded the Everton defence and found Lee, who coolly slotted it past Tim Howard. They doubled their score on 27 minutes when Matt Taylor fired in a wonderful free kick and centre-back Cayhill rose above a crowd of players in the area to loft the ball over Howard.
Everton looked down and out, yet within five minutes they were back in the game. There looked to be little danger when Lucas Neill found Saha in space midway into the Bolton half but the Frenchman caught everyone by surprise as he advanced a few yards before rifling the ball into the top corner. Everton were back on level terms 10 minutes into the second half. Neill was again the provider, lofting the ball to Fellaini, who turned Cahill and then smashed it into the roof of the net.
Bolton's passing game broke down for a while but they never gave up the fight and Klasnic settled the issue with his late strike.
kaffleck@thenational.ae
Match-winner Klasnic is a happy Wanderer
Ivan Klasnic scored a late winner as Bolton survived a spirited fightback by Everton to clinch their first home league win of the season.
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