Kevin Davies scored his first goal since the opening day of the season to start off the Bolton goal avalanche with Greek midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos and Everton old-boy Gary Speed adding further strikes late on in the game to cap off a vintage second half Wanderers performance.

The first half had little attacking action to speak of and it was half an hour into the game before either goalkeeper was forced into action as Trotters goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen safely gathered the ball away from Everton's Tim Cahill.

Moments later the visiting Wanderers side took the lead through Davies well placed header after the Everton defence where caught off guard when Bolton skipper Kevin Nolan misdirected his volley up off the ground.

It was to be a euphoric moment for the Trotters goalscorer as he netted only his second goal of the season despite the best efforts of former Southampton team-mate James Beattie who tried to stop the ball from crossing over the line.

After the visitors goal there was little else of note to point out in a dire first half period as Jaaskelainen comfortably gathered a header by Everton's veteran centre half David Weir.

The second half of the game proved to be a different story as far as Sam Allardyce's team were concerned as Bolton ran rampant and looked to be well in control especially in the final twenty minutes of the match when victory was sealed in the most comfortable way.

Spanish midfielder Mikael Arteta had a good game in the heart of the midfield for Everton but his 52nd minute free kick did not pose a problem for the Wanderers as Jaaskelainen watched the one-time Rangers player fire well over the bar.

Richard Wright then saved well at the other end for Everton after Bolton's lively Greek flier Stelios Giannakopoulos had fired in a volley from the edge of the box.

The Toffees thought they had brought themselves back on level terms but referee Wiley ruled out James McFadden's goal for offside and this proved to be a big turning point in the game as Bolton stepped up a gear.

Teenage striker Ricardo Vaz-Te was brought on in place of El-Hadji Diouf as the Wanderers looked to freshen up their forward line and it was a move which was to work out for the fourth game in succession as the Portuguese youngster once again made an impact on the final outcome of the game.

With quarter of an hour left on the clock Vaz-Te contributed a fine run and pass of which Giannakopoulos converted past home keeper Wright for the second goal of the contest to round off an excellent Bolton move.

Two soon became three as ex-Everton captain Gary Speed confidently fired past Wright from the penalty spot after full back Nuno Valente had upended goalscorer Davies in the 18-yard area.

The rout was completed ten minutes from time after Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo's mistake presented Giannakopoulos with his second of the game and Bolton's fourth. The little Greek star took his time, outfoxed the second defender Weir and smashed the ball home.

Everton had late chances to grab a consolation goal through Cahill and substitute Leon Osman but the damage had already been done by a Wanderers side brimming with confidence.

This result coupled with European progress earlier in the week means that the Trotters will hold no fear going into next week's Carling Cup Quarter Final tie at Wigan Athletic

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Radhi Jaidi, Bruno N'Gotty, Gary Speed, Jay-Jay Okocha (Nicky Hunt), Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (Martin Djetou), Kevin Nolan, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Kevin Davies, El-Hadji Diouf (Ricardo Vaz-Te)

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Hidetoshi Nakata

Everton: Richard Wright, Tony Hibbert (Leon Osman), Joseph Yobo, David Weir, Nuno Valente, Simon Davies, Mikael Arteta, Tim Cahill, Phil Neville, James McFadden, James Beattie

Subs Not Used: Iain Turner, Per Kroldrup, Kevin Kilbane, Marcus Bent

REFEREE

Alan Wiley

ATTENDANCE

34,500

BOOKED

Kevin Davies (Bolton)

Tony Hibbert (Everton)

Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (Bolton)

Phil Neville (Everton)

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