Burnden Aces

Portsmouth 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

• April 18, 2009 | By Chris Mann
• Short URL: http://b-ac.es/3d6ff

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• Match Reports, Portsmouth, Premier League
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Bolton's poor away form continued as they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Substitute Kanu scored the only goal of the game twelve minutes from time, bundling home a Nadir Belhadj corner from close range.

The game began on a quiet note and it wasn't until the 26th minute that the first opportunity arose, with Glen Johnson forcing a fine save out of Jussi Jaaskelainen after a mistake from Andy O'Brien.

Johnson was proving to be Portsmouth's most effective player on the attack and soon after he brought another stop out of Jaaskelainen after Niko Kranjcar had broke down the left flank.

A rare attack for Wanderers almost brought the opening goal just after the half hour, but Johan Elmander's half chance was easily saved by David James down to his right.

Johnson once again tried his luck for the hosts before the break, but his shot came back off the post after Jaaskelainen's finger-tip save denied the England full-back.

In a first half which saw Ricardo Gardner receive lengthly treatment for an apparent hamstring injury, five minutes of stoppage time were added.

David Nugent had the final chance of the half, but the former Preston North End striker saw his shot curl just wide of goal with Jaaskelainen beaten in the Bolton goal.

Chances were few and far between after the break and Portsmouth took the lead with the first real chance of the second period.

Kranjcar had been forced off the field with a serious looking injury and Belhadj, his replacement, whipped in a corner which Kanu bundled home from close range for his first league goal of the season.

Peter Crouch could have doubled their tally only to acrobatically fire over the bar, before Matt Taylor struck a free-kick high into the stands at the other end on his return to Fratton Park.

Wanderers failed to threaten during six minutes of added time and Paul Hart's side claimed what will go down as a deserved three points.

The result leaves the two sides level in the table, with Bolton 13th and Portsmouth 14th. Gary Megson's side return to action next Saturday when they host Champions League chasing Aston Villa at the Reebok Stadium.

Portsmouth: James, Kaboul (Pennant 89), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Davis, Mullins, Nugent (Kanu 71), Kranjcar (Belhadj 77), Crouch
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Utaka, Hughes
Booked: Distin, Kranjcar
Goals: Kanu 78

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, A O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Basham, McCann, Gardner (Muamba 12), K Davies, Elmander, Taylor
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Smolarek, Puygrenier, Makukula, Cohen
Booked: A O'Brien, Hunt, K Davies, McCann

Attendance: 20,158
Referee: Phil Dowd

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