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Bolton secured victory thanks to two goals in the first three minutes but also missed a glut of chances.

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Matthew Taylor fired the hosts ahead when he flipped the ball up and volleyed in before Ricardo Gardner made it 2-0 with another cracking volley.

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Peter Crouch headed in at the far post to hand Pompey a lifeline, but they almost conceded again when Rafn Steinsson’s header hit the post.

Kevin Davies had a header cleared off the line as Bolton pressed for a third.

It proved elusive and meant Bolton, who should really have won by a comfortable margin, had to endure an edgy last few minutes.

Having only scored twice in their last five home games, they doubled that tally before Portsmouth had settled.

In the first minute, Taylor lifted the ball over his marker and hammered his shot past James to open the scoring against his former club.

Botlon pressed again and Johan Elmander’s shot was blocked but they did not have to wait long for the second as Taylor headed back across goal and an unmarked Gardner ran onto the ball and smashed it home.

With the visitors looking totally disorganised, Bolton could have wrapped up the points within the first 15 minutes.

But Steinsson’s dangerous low cross was not converted, Elmander saw a shot saved by James and Gardner cracked a volley wide.

LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME

Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Portsmouth

9 February 2008 – Ref: Peter Walton
Portsmouth scorer: Diarra 81

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