The 24-year old midfielder showed quick instincts to score the only goal of the game on 25 minutes after Zenit keeper Kamil Contofalsky had been quick to deny Stelios Giannakopoulos at close range following a Bruno N'Gotty free kick.

Each side wanted to play football and make a game of it but the torrential weather conditions at the Reebok meant that players often found that the ball stuck on the turf and passes went astray.

St.Petersburg's forward line of Andrei Arshavin and Aleksander Kerzhakov proved lively throughout the evening to ensure that this game was not always going to be a one sided affair.

The Russians started well as Arshavin hit the side netting after full back Aleksander Anyukov had been denied by a smart save from the Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen on the edge of the area.

Bolton's Kevin Davies then missed the first of two glorious chances to put the hosts in front on the quarter hour mark as he headed wide of Contofalsky's goal following a dangerous curling cross from the left by the Trotters stand-in captain Kevin Nolan.

Just a minute later the former Southampton star broke the Zenit offside trap following an excellent through ball by veteran Gary Speed but he could not get enough accuracy on the shot to test the Russian goalkeeper.

On 24 minutes the opening goal finally arrived albeit due to some quick thinking by the impressive Nolan. French veteran Bruno N'Gotty floated in a free kick from the right and Stelios Giannakopoulos reacted quickly to force a save from the long haired Contofalsky who saw the rebound cannon in the net off midfielder Nolan, the Trotters top goalscorer.

Zenit found gaps in the Bolton defence especially down the left flank where Ricardo Gardner was often exposed due to the less than adequate conditions which delayed the fluency of the game.

Liverpool target Martin Skrtel was then stretchered off for the visitors and replaced by Olexander Gorshkov. Gorshkov immediately fired in an effort from the edge of the area that just flashed wide of the right upright of Jaaskelainen's goal.

Despite Bolton's lead Zenit found themselves able to create chances whilst on the offensive and the English side had to be alert at every opportunity when their Russian counterparts broke forward.

Shortly before half time Zenit's bald and bruising Scandanavian defender Erik Hagen was cautioned for a shoulder barge on Bolton striker Davies who did well to keep relatively calm. The Norwegian international Hagen was later to be jeered by certain sections of the home support for his part in the incident.

It was a very open first half in wet and dismal conditions but Bolton were pleased at how they snuffed out the potential Zenit danger. The only problem proved to be the two Russian attackers and the threat coming from the opponents midfield areas.

The opening moments of the second half saw the Russians claim a large chunck of the possession as the Wanderers got men behind the ball. Midfielder Igor Denivson volleyed inaccuractly towards Jaaskelainen's goal but the centre half pairing of Tal Ben-Haim and N'Gotty could not afford their concentration to slip as the Zenit front two were as slippery as the Reebok Stadium pitch.

Bolton's Jay-Jay Okocha was brought on for Hidetoshi Nakata midway through the second half and the Wanderers club captain looked to make things happen but like many others was frustrated due to the abysmal conditions.

Davies then headed over the crossbar as the game neared it's final quarter before being replaced by Mexican substitute Jared Borgetti shortly after. Borgetti was unable to impose himself on the game and add to his impressive goals total of recent matches.

Midfielder Igor Denisov then saw his shot saved well by the impressive Jaaskelainen as Zenit looked to bring themselves back into the game in front of a generous away following who had made the long journey from Far-Eastern Europe.

Goalscorer Nolan then got a standing ovation by the home support as he was replaced by striker El-Hadji Diouf for the final few minutes of the contest. Nolan had worked hard during the game building on the impressive recent performances against Charlton Athletic and West Brom.

Zenit could have snatched an injury time equaliser through Arshavin but Bolton had brave custodian Jaaskelainen to thank for them claiming all three points in the game.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Tal Ben-Haim, Bruno N'Gotty, Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Nolan (El-Hadji Diouf), Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye, Hidetoshi Nakata (Jay-Jay Okocha), Gary Speed, Kevin Davies (Jared Borgetti), Stelios Giannakopoulos

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Radhi Jaidi, Ricardo Vaz-Te, Jarostaw Fojut

Zenit St. Petersburg: Kamil Contofalsky, Alexander Anyukov, Erik Hagen, Martin Skrtel (Oleksander Gorshkov), Jan Flachbart, Milan Vjestica, Velice Sumulikoski, Oleg Vlasov (Mihail Koslov), Igor Denisov, Aleksander Kerzhakov, Andrei Arshavin

Subs Not Used: Viatcheslav Malafeev, Dragan Cadikovsky, Robertas Poskus, Oleg Kozhanov, Victor Stoev.

Referee:

Matteo Trefoloni

Attendance:

15,905

Booked:

Erik Hagen (Zenit St Petersburg)

Jan Flachbart (Zenit St Petersburg)

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