Toffees too hot for Bolton

Everton were forced to be patient against a tough Bolton rearguard but eventually managed to secure a 2-0 win at Goodison Park.

The hosts had the lion's share of possession during a scrappy first half but it was Bolton that came closest to breaking the deadlock.

Neat interplay from Lee Chung-Yong and Jack Wilshere allowed Kevin Davies in, but Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard made a fine save.

The Toffees continued to press after the break and finally made the breakthrough after Gretar Steinsson was sent off for bringing down Yakubu while the Nigerian was through on goal.

From the resulting free kick, Mikel Arteta gave Jussi Jasskelainen no chance as he curled the ball over the wall and into the corner of the net.

The result was put beyond all doubt in the last minute when substitute Leon Osman surged towards the byline before pulling back for Steven Pienaar, who duly slotted home an easy chance.

Unchanged

Both sides, having come into the game in good form, opted for unchanged teams but Everton were forced into an alteration after just 13 minutes.

Victor Anichebe, who only returned to action in January after almost a year out with a knee injury, broke down in pain after a challenge by Paul Robinson and could not continue.

By then the forward, who was playing out on the right wing, had already spurned one of the best opportunities of a scrappy first half.

Anichebe was played in on goal by a superb through-ball from Tim Cahill but hesitated as he ran into the area and Robinson slid across to tackle.

A goal would have been a double, who had claims for a handball waved away when the ball struck Johnny Heitinga in the area.

Bolton were causing problems from set-pieces, with Zat Knight unable to make firm contact with Lee's cross and Howard saving comfortably.

Cahill was then booked for a bad challenge on Wilshere and Everton struggled to clear the resulting set-piece as Phil Jagielka headed over his own bar.

Everton's supporters then called for a penalty after Leighton Baines went down under a Lee challenge but the South Korean was correctly adjudged to have played the ball.

Bolton then went close as Tamir Cohen fired narrowly over after Davies' cross was headed in his direction by Baines.

Break

A slick break involving Elmander and Lee saw Wilshere play Davies through but the Bolton skipper again shot at Howard.

Everton stepped up the pressure in the second half and Pienaar had a volley blocked by Steinsson, with Yakubu's effort on the rebound being ground by Jaaskelainen after a deflection.

Heitinga also tested Jaaskelainen from long range before Cahill appeared to nudge the ball past the goalkeeper to create another opening, but the Australian had handled.

The hosts maintained the momentum and Jagielka went close after 68 minutes as he rose to meet an Arteta free-kick with a firm header but Jaaskelainen saved well.

Bolton were struggling to cope with Everton's increased tempo and Steinsson was given his marching orders a minute later.

Steinsson - the third Bolton player sent off in four games - made contact with Yakubu as he raced clear from a superb Pienaar pass.

Arteta stepped up to double the punishment by curling a sweet strike over the wall.

At that moment there seemed little way back for Bolton, but they came close almost immediately as Knight put a free header over from a Davies flick-on.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov then headed over from an Arteta cross at the other end and Saha shot straight at Jaaskelainen as Everton looked to kill off the game.

Osman should have added a second but rattled the woodwork after Jaaskelainen parried a Heitinga shot.

Osman redeemed himself when he weaved his way into the area with two minutes remaining and pulled the ball back to present Pienaar with a simple finish.