The game ended 1-1 with Everton teenager James Vaughan grabbing a point for the away side to cancel out an earlier effort from Wanderers burly front man Kevin Davies.

Vaughan was later substituted in the second half after suffering what appears to be a very bad ankle injury and this added a sour taste to what was a very competitive game with little to choose between the two UEFA Cup hopefuls.

In hindsight had Bolton won the game then they would have leapfrogged into the Champions League places due to Arsenal's away draw at Newcastle United but the Trotters still sit comfortably in the UEFA Cup places and are to visit the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal this coming weekend.

Bolton drew first blood into todays game against the Toffees but big centre half Abdoulaye Faye could not get enough accuracy on Gary Speed's curling free kick to trouble visiting keeper Tim Howard after only two minutes played.

Former Manchester United man Howard nearly produced a gaff some moments later but he was able to clear his lines after Kevin Davies had reacted quickly to read a back pass from one time Bolton captain Alan Stubbs.

Wanderers central midfielders Ivan Campo and Andranik Teimourian launced long throw ins into the Everton penalty area all afternoon and one such attempt nearly paid off when El-Hadji Diouf forced the ball goalward following a Kevin Davies flick. The Senegalese star Diouf was penalised however by the match referee Martin Atkinson who adjudged that he had used his hand to control the ball.

Bolton put themselves in the lead on 18 minutes when Davies latched onto a floated free kick by Campo and fired the ball into Howard's bottom left hand corner on the volley.

Everton boss David Moyes will be furious at the way in which his side conceded the goal as left back Joleon Lescott played four Wanderers players onside when the rest of his defensive collegues had gone to play the offside trap.

The Toffees disappointment didnt last long though as on 33 minutes they where level thanks to young striker Vaughan who fired past Jussi Jaaskelainen from close range after latching onto a ricochet between Bolton defenders Nicky Hunt and Abdoulaye Meite.

Again, as with the Bolton goal, this goal also came with repercussions as Wanderers midfielder Gary Speed claimed that he was caught with the elbow of fellow veteran Lee Carsley in the build up.

England striker Andy Johnson was eager to impress against the club he snubbed to join Everton in the summer but the bald front man only managed to test Wanderers keeper Jaaskelainen once during the game.

Leon Osman also had an attempt well saved by Bolton's Finnish custodian whilst Abdoulaye Faye, Andranik Teimourian and goalscorer Davies had further chances for the hosts.

All in all a draw was a fair reflection of the game between two teams heavily involved in the European pack. Now Bolton must set to the road for the first of three visits to London over the coming weeks when they take on another European rival in the shape of Arsenal this weekend.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye, Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner, Andranik Teimourian (David Thompson), Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf (Stelios Giannakopoulos)

Subs Not Used: Idan Tal, Cesar Martin, Ian Walker (GK)

Everton: Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Joleon Lescott, Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville, Lee Carsley, Leon Osman, Andy Johnson, James Vaughan (James Beattie)

Subs Not Used: Gary Naysmith, James McFadden, Anderson Silva, Richard Wright (GK)

Referee:

Martin Atkinson

Attendance:

25,179

Booked:

Gary Speed (Bolton)

Mikel Arteta (Everton)

Abdoulaye Faye (Bolton)

Ivan Campo (Bolton)

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