Bolton beat Everton in five-goal thriller

Oct 25, 2009 - 5:10 PM By GEOFF McALLISTER STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Croatia international Ivan Klasnic came off the substitutes' bench to score his first Premier League goal and lead Bolton to a thrilling 3-2 win over Everton on Sunday.

Everton looked to have snatched a point after fighting back from 2-0 down after 27 minutes to 2-2 before Klasnic's 86th minute heroics.

The victory, which lifts Bolton three points clear of the relegation zone, ensured manager Gary Megson marked his second anniversary in charge at the Reebok Stadium in style.

Megson said: "At the end of the game it was a mixture of relief and delight we have come away with three points.

"We played some great stuff mixed in with some average stuff, which meant the game was as tight as it was.

"I am proud of the players because they keep going, never give in and battle for every inch of grass on the pitch.

"At times we need to show a little bit more quality because at 2-0 down the game should not have panned out as it did.

"Everton are a good side and this is a really good victory in terms of how we have won and who we have beaten.

"I was pleased for Ivan because he is a great lad. He has come across and settled in really well. He has got to get used to English football but his finishing and goalscoring in training are quality."

Bolton, who had not won at home since April, got off to a flying start and goals from Chung-Yong Lee and defender Gary Cahill put them into a commanding lead.

Tamir Cohen and Kevin Davies had both gone close when Lee opened the scoring after just 17 minutes.

Sam Ricketts crowned a fine right wing run with a pin-point centre to pick out Lee and the Korean drove a low shot through a crowded penalty area and past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Cahill doubled Bolton's lead ten minutes later, rising above Sylvain Distin to head Matt Taylor's free kick beyond Howard for his second league goal of the season.

Louis Saha reduced the deficit 13 minutes before half time, racing onto Lucas Neill's pass before firing an unstoppable 25-yard shot past Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The visitors were level ten minutes after the interval when Marouane Fellaini raced onto another Neill pass to round Cahill and pick out the corner of the net.

Neill also had a hand in Bolton's winner as Jaaskelainen's clearance struck the Australian and Davies before dropping kindly for Klasnic to slot home.

The defeat crowns a miserable week for Everton, who were thrashed 5-0 by Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday.

Manager David Moyes said: "We worked very hard to get back in the game but we seemed to run out of energy in the last 15 minutes.

"You know what Bolton are going to do and how they are going to play. If you cannot do the basics like head the ball away you are always going to be in trouble."