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Second half goals from Phil Neville and Tim Cahill gave Everton a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bolton. It was the perfect way for David Moyes' side to bounce back after Manchester United ended their 13-game unbeaten run at the weekend. The game began slowly and it was Bolton who carved out the first chance of the game, with Ricardo Gardner firing over from distance. Gardner was involved as Bolton attacked once more, but excellent defending prevented El-Hadji Diouf from getting his shot away. After being farily quiet on the attacking front, the hosts sprung into life after 20 minutes, but Mikel Arteta's shot was deflected to safety. Arteta picked out Yakubu on 33 minutes, but the Nigerian international looked to be off-balance as his header sailed wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal. Everton's record signing did have the ball in the net before the break, but it ruled out because Tim Cahill was stood offside earlier in the move. Cahill nearly made up for costing the Toffee's a goal inside a minute of the second half, but Jaaskelainen made an excellent point-blank save to deny the Australian. Joleon Lescott scored the winner the last time the two sides met, and he had another excellent opportunity to hand Everton the lead, but Jaaskelainen was once more in a good position and saved with his knee. But after those two excellent stops, the Finnish international was at fault on 51 minutes as Everton took the lead. Phil Neville's cross looked to have caused the Bolton defence few problems, but the Finn came rushing off his line, clattering into Cahill and watching in agony as the ball sailed into the back of the net. Bolton tried to claw themselves back into the game, and their best chance fell to former Toffee Gavin McCann, but his overhead kick was cleared by a well placed Lescott. However, Everton wrapped up the points inside the final 20 minutes. McCann fouled Thomas Gravesen, but with Lescott picking up the ball, referee Rob Styles played the advantage, allowing the defender to pull the ball back for Cahill who struck his shot beyond Jaaskelainen and into the roof of the net. Gravesen almost added a third five minutes later, but his shot went agonisingly wide of the target after the Bolton defence appeared to fall asleep. Nicolas Anelka had been kept quiet by Phil Jagielka, but with seven minutes to go managed to test Tim Howard but it was a one off and Everton closed the game out to claim a comfortable three points. Gary Megson now knows his side must pick up points at Sunderland on Saturday as they go in search of valuable victories to pull themselves out of danger. |
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