Everton left it late before sneaking a barely-deserved 1-0 victory away at Bolton on Wednesday.
Record signing bags dramatic late winner for David Moyes' men
Everton left it late before sneaking a barely-deserved 1-0 victory away at Bolton on Wednesday.
A game which failed to provide much in terms of an attacking spectacle ended with Marouane Fellaini grabbing a last-gasp winner.
With both sides desperate for the points after enduring difficult starts to their respective campaigns, the game was always going to be a tight affair.
So it proved, with the first half epitomising the mentality of two teams wary of seeing three points slip through their grasp.
Even half-chances were at a premium, with Yakubu Aiyegbeni spurning Everton's best effort and Matt Taylor seeing a looping header drift narrowly wide at the other end.
The second period failed to raise the standard, with plenty of effort failing to produce the required quality.
Mustapha Riga stung the fingertips of Tim Howard as the hosts resorted to ambitious efforts from distance, while Everton were unable to profit from some Trotters defending which bordered on the comical at times.
Then, with only seconds left on the clock, Steven Pienaar whipped over a cross from the right and Fellaini saw his free header clip off both posts before creeping over the line.
Abuse
Gary Megson suffered verbal abuse from a section of supporters during Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham and this latest setback will place the former West Brom boss under further scrutiny.
The Trotters created next to nothing and Megson's decision to splash out a club record £8.2million on Johan Elmander again looked seriously ill judged.
The Sweden striker arrived from Toulouse during the summer but was virtually anonymous throughout and never came close to adding to his solitary goal for the club.
After the creditable 1-1 draw at home to United on Saturday, David Moyes resisted the temptation to hand Tim Cahill an immediate recall.
The Australia international was available after a three-match ban and entered the action in the 63rd minute, but did not have much chance to shine.
Everton looked bright and purposeful during the opening 45 minutes as Yakubu and Louis Saha dovetailed effectively up front.
Mikel Arteta swung in a dangerous cross from the left in the ninth minute and Yakubu planted a firm header into the ground from six yards but Jussi Jaaskelainen was not seriously tested.
Two minutes later, a delightful flick from Yakubu sent Saha clear from 20 yards and he raced forward before finding the net, only to have it ruled out for a clear handball.
Wanderers captain Kevin Nolan kept Tim Howard warm with a low shot from distance but it posed no serious threat to the Everton goal.
Saha miskicked at the other end but Bolton wasted a golden opportunity to drive at the heart of the Everton defence in the 20th minute.
Hacked
Summer signing Fabrice Muamba embarked on a fine run from inside his own half, carrying the ball deep into Everton territory before slipping a neat pass to Kevin Davies.
The striker fed Gretar Steinsson on the right flank only to be hacked down by Joleon Lescott, who earned a yellow card, but Taylor's dreadful free-kick from an excellent position was high and wide of the far post.
Yakubu combined effectively with Saha again in the 26th minute when he drifted across the box and presented the France forward with the chance to hit a low first-time shot at Jaaskelainen from 20 yards.
The Finnish goalkeeper parried the ball but no visiting player was on hand to tuck away the rebound.
Phil Neville then flighted a superb deep cross from the right and rejuvenated midfielder Fellaini ghosted in unmarked at the far post but headed over the bar.
The misfiring Trotters looked woefully bereft of ideas but, in the 41st minute, Gary Cahill nodded a corner from Riga wide and Taylor also failed to hit the target with his head moments later.
On the hour mark, Elmander's flick found Taylor unmarked 20 yards from goal and his right-foot shot was on target but weak and straight into Howard's arms.
Three minutes later, Moyes replaced Yakubu with Cahill and the winner finally arrived in the last minute when Neville fed Pienaar down the right.
He looked suspiciously offside but crossed quickly and Fellaini headed home from six yards.
| Bolton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Everton |
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 5 |
Corners |
3 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 68.8 |
Passing Success |
76.3 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 66.7 |
Tackles Success |
81 |
| 46.1 |
Possession |
53.9 |
| 50.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
49.1 |
|
