A scrappy game at the Reebok Stadium went in favour of the home side Bolton, with a 2-0 win over Everton. Bolton had lost five of their last seven games, and against Everton had lost six of their last nine encounters but on a rain swept afternoon did enough to earn the three points against a disappointing Toffees.
Loanee Daniel Sturridge scored his third goal in three games since he arrived from Chelsea which doubled the Wanderers lead given to them by Gary Cahill early in the first half.
Tim Cahill could have levelled when he failed to make proper contact with Leighton Baines' cross and this result leaves David Moyes's side glancing nervously towards the relegation places as they lie just three points above the drop zone.
Meanwhile, his Bolton counterpart Owen Coyle has almost banished the prospect of relegation this season and can concentrate on a possible European place.
Referee: Lee Probert
Venue: Reebok Stadium Attendance: 22,986
Bolton scorers: Cahill 10, Sturridge 67 Everton scorers:
BOLTON 22 Jaaskelainen 04 Robinson 05 Cahill 12 Knight (Wheater 27) 18 Ricketts 07 Taylor (Lee 59) 08 Holden 16 Davies 09 Elmander (yellow card) 14 Davies 15 Sturridge (Muamba 90)
Substitutes 01 Bogdan, 31 Wheater, 06 Muamba, 10 Petrov, 27 Lee, 17 Klasnic, 19 Moreno
EVERTON 24 Howard 03 Baines 05 Heitinga 15 Distin 18 Neville 23 Coleman (Osman 61) 07 Bilyaletdinov (Beckford 61) 10 Arteta 17 Cahill 25 Fellaini 28 Anichebe (Baxter 78)
Substitutes 01 Mucha, 02 Hibbert, 06 Jagielka, 34 Shane Duffy, 21 Osman, 16 Beckford, 37 Baxter
