The victory against the ambitious South Coast outfit proved to be Bolton's fifth in succession but they had to work hard early on after falling behind to a second minute Matthew Taylor strike.

Taylor collected an angled through pass by former Manchester United striker Andy Cole before making his way around Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and slipping the ball into an empty net.

Pompey kept possession very well in the first twenty minutes of the game and Bolton often found it hard to get control of the play with many passes failing to come off or going astray.

Skipper Kevin Nolan had the Wanderers first meaningful attempt on goal on 22 minutes when his volley deflected off a Portsmouth defender for a corner and Kevin Davies volleyed wide the resulting corner kick from El-Hadji Diouf despite being unmarked at the far post.

These two attempts gradually got Bolton more into the game and the equalising goal came the Trotters way on the half hour. Gary Speed whipped in a corner from the right which Pompey keeper David James could only fist into the air and defender Abdoulaye Faye nodded the loose ball into the back of the net from close range for his second goal of the campaign.

Star striker Nicolas Anelka was putting himself about for Bolton and his first half performance against Portsmouth was perhaps one of the best since he arrived at the club. Out of the three man strike force the Frenchman seemed the most likely to unlock a very sturdy Portsmouth defence which included former England regular Sol Campbell.

Bolton advanced further ahead with five minutes of the first half remaining. A long crossfield ball by Tal Ben-Haim was headed goalwards by Kevin Davies and goalkeeper James pulled off a superb save to deny the forward but Ivan Campo was on hand to head home to rebound after timing his run into the penalty area to perfection.

Shortly afterwards Portsmouth striker Cole used all his experience to turn Bolton defender Abdoulaye Meite but the resulting shot from the veteran hit man was thwarted by an alert Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal.

Central defender Noe Pamarot headed the resulting Portsmouth corner wide as Bolton went into the break leading the game and the hosts where to start the second half with a similar resilience.

Kevin Nolan wriggled clear of the visiting defence after collecting a neat pass from Kevin Davies but this time it was Jaaskelainen's opposite number James who was the alert one.

Davies had a hand in Bolton's winning goal on 62 minutes when making an incisive run down the left flank. His dangerous cross was deflected goalwards by Sol Campbell and goalkeeper James could only put the ball into the path of his former Manchester City team mate Nicolas Anelka who converted from close range to continue his excellent form in front of goal.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp introduced winger David Thompson, striker Bejani Mwarwaruwari and defender Andy O'Brien from the substitutes bench in the last twenty minutes but the trio could not impose themselves on the game.

Faye had a chance to net his second goal of the afternoon but his header from Nicolas Anelka's cross in the 82nd minute failed to suffiiently trouble James whilst at the other end Niko Kranjcar produced a fine shot which resulted in an excellent save from Jaaskelainen.<.p>

Substitute Henrik Pedersen saw his shot blocked for Bolton as the game came to a close but Pompey where not finished as Cole netted a last minute consolation with a finely placed shot in the bottom corner after the Wanderers defence had backed off.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye, Abdoulaye Meite, Tal Ben-Haim, Kevin Nolan, Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf (Henrik Pedersen)

Subs Not Used: Ricardo Gardner, Ricardo Vaz-Te, Idan Tal, Ian Walker (GK)

Portsmouth: David James, Glen Johnson, Linvoy Primus (Andy O'Brien), Sol Campbell, Noe Pamarot (Benjani Mwaruwari), Matthew Taylor, Gary O'Neil (David Thompson), Manuel Fernandes, Sean Davis, Niko Kranjcar, Andy Cole

Subs Not Used: Richard Hughes, Jamie Ashdown (GK)

Referee:

Peter Walton

Attendance:

22,447

Booked:

Gary O'Neil (Pompey)

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