Blistering Bolton blast Pompey

Bolton scored two goals within the first three minutes to beat Pompey 2-1 and claim the points.

Taylor and Gardner score early goals before Crouch pulls one back

Bolton scored two goals within the first three minutes to deservedly beat Portsmouth 2-1 and claim a crucial three points. The crowd at the Reebok did not know what hit it as Matt Taylor scored within the first minute with a right-footed effort after Kevin Davies had flicked on. Johan Elmander then had a close-range shot blocked before Ricardo Gardner netted a second after being found unmarked by a Taylor header. Portsmouth were in danger of being swamped but came back into the game and scored with their first attack in the 20th minute. Niko Kranjcar put in an exquisite cross from the left which Peter Crouch had to simply nod home at the back post. Gretar Steinsson almost headed home in first-half injury-time but David James made a fantastic point-blank save to push onto the post. In the second period Bolton pressed for a third but Pompey held firm, with Jermain Defoe missing a half chance in injury-time. Taylor made sure the hand of friendship over Christmas did not extend to his old mates at Portsmouth - at least on the field. The Bolton midfielder opened the scoring after just 49 seconds with a clever finish. He clipped the ball over Hermann Hreidarsson following Davies' flick-on with Andy O'Brien also involved in the move. Elmander came close before Bolton extended their lead with another lightning-quick move. Jlloyd Samuel picked out Taylor and he found Gardner, who made no mistake from close range. Gardner almost added a third in the 10th minute when he got on the end of a cross from Steinsson but smashed a shot wide.

Dismantled

Portsmouth were being dismantled with ease and manager Tony Adams railed at his players from the technical area. The visitors responded and pulled a goal back in the 20th minute through Crouch - his eighth of the Premier League campaign. Crouch got on the end of a delightful cross from Kranjcar to head into the bottom corner of the net. Elmander, however, could have restored Bolton's two-goal advantage in the 31st minute when Taylor played the ball into his path. But the Sweden striker failed to test James with his effort going wide of the target. Portsmouth hit back on the counter and Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to push Kranjcar's effort around the post after his initial shot had been blocked. Bolton pushed forward again but Gardner and Taylor squandered good chances in quick succession. There was a scare, however, for the home side in the 42nd minute when Defoe stole in on the blindside of Gary Cahill but Jaaskelainen saved bravely at his feet. James then pushed a header from Steinsson onto the post and to safety in stoppage-time as the defender pleaded unsuccessfully that the ball had crossed the line.

Second-half

Portsmouth were intent on getting back in the game sooner rather than later and Defoe cracked in a shot in the 54th minute that was deflected to safety. Kranjcar floated in the corner but Hreidarsson's header went wide of the post. James then mis-kicked a routine back pass from Sol Campbell and Elmander looked set to take advantage of the mistake. However, James recovered just in time to take the ball off the striker's toes. Bolton stepped up the pace and Davies whipped in a cross that was turned away by Sean Davis in the 61st minute. A minute later Davies almost made it 3-1 but his effort was cleared off the line by Kranjcar. Portsmouth again found themselves on the back foot and Davies released Kevin Nolan but he clipped his effort the wrong side of the post. Adams decided to go for broke and brought on striker David Nugent for Papa Bouba Diop in the 75th minute. But it was Bolton who almost added to their tally two minutes later when Taylor whipped in a shot that was deflected by Campbell. Defoe had a half-chance in injury-time but Bolton ran out comfortable winners to chalk up only their third home win of the league campaign. Portsmouth struggled to get their game together and could find themselves in a dogfight if they do not improve.

Bolton Wanderers	Team Statistics	Portsmouth
2	Goals	1
2	1st Half Goals	1
7	Shots on Target	2
10	Shots off Target	5
2	Blocked Shots	5
7	Corners	3
15	Fouls	16
5	Offsides	3
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
60.6	Passing Success	66.4
20	Tackles	28
75	Tackles Success	75
44	Possession	56
56.9	Territorial Advantage	43.1