Everton picked up a valuable away win with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Bolton but they had to work hard for it.
Toffees made to work hard for victory against Trotters
Everton picked up a valuable away win with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Bolton but they had to work hard for it.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men after just 19 minutes when David Wheater saw red for his lunge on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
From then on it was always going to be a struggle for a Bolton side languishing in the relegation zone, but they managed to reach the break goalless.
However it took just four minutes for Everton to break the deadlock in the second half as a lovely passing move ended with Marouane Fellaini scoring and from that point on Everton were in control.
The points were made safe 12 minutes from time when substitute Apostolos Vellios continued to make himself popular with the Everton fans, scoring after great work from Tim Cahill.
Seamus Coleman burst forward for Everton in the third minute, but saw his shot blocked by Paul Robinson's sliding tackle, and Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen palmed the ball away when Phil Jagielka got a flick to Leighton Baines' free-kick.
The visitors won a couple of corners, with Tim Cahill nodding one into the back of Wheater and the other bringing a save out of Jaaskelainen direct from Bilyaletdinov's delivery.
Toffees keeper Tim Howard was then called into action, punching clear Ivan Klasnic's strike from outside the area.
Red
Six minutes later Wanderers were reduced to 10 men, Wheater being shown a straight red card by referee Michael Oliver after the former Middlesbrough man lunged in on Bilyaletdinov having lost possession.
Howard caught a looping effort from Chris Eagles, but Everton were looking to make their numerical advantage count, Bilyaletdinov firing over from Coleman's cut-back and the Russian then trying to feed Tim Cahill, who was crowded out before he could shoot.
A passing move almost put Bilyaletdinov through but the ball escaped him, and Jaaskelainen got down to save John Heitinga's drilled effort from Leon Osman's free-kick lay-off.
Press
Everton continued to press, with Tim Cahill sending a diving header into Zat Knight and Robinson getting in the way of another Coleman foray.
Bolton survived a scare shortly after the restart when Gary Cahill just beat Tim Cahill to Coleman's centre to head away, but within seconds the Toffees were in front, Fellaini sliding in to stab a cross from the left into the roof of the net.
Everton kept their foot on the pedal, with Baines whipping a dangerous ball across the box, Coleman seeing a deflected effort gathered by Jaaskelainen at the second attempt and Louis Saha shooting at the Finn from the edge of the area.
Jagielka headed a corner wide with the Toffees protesting that Kevin Davies had handled and Baines rifled an attempt over, before a rare Bolton attack saw Howard deny Klasnic with his legs.
Back came the visitors, Jaaskelainen pushing away Tim Cahill's bouncing header before blocking Saha's follow-up.
Osman was next to bring a save out of Jaaskelainen, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do in the 78th minute as Everton finally made it 2-0.
Baines crossed the ball in, Tim Cahill stretched to knock it back across the face of goal and Vellios, who had come on for Saha, had no problem converting to wrap up the three points.
| Bolton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Everton |
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
9 |
| 0 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
6 |
| 2 |
Corners |
4 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 1 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 73 |
Passing Success |
76.4 |
| 29 |
Tackles |
13 |
| 58.6 |
Tackles Success |
61.5 |
| 45.3 |
Possession |
54.7 |
| 41.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
58.1 |
| 355 |
Total Passes |
433 |
| 13 |
Total Crosses |
24 |
| 168 |
Lost Balls |
187 |
| 53 |
Recoveries |
65 |
|
