Strikers Michael Ricketts and Bo Hansen fired home crucial second-half goals
to earn Bolton victory at Fratton Park to allow them to close the gap on leaders
Fulham to seven points.
Ricketts, a £350,000 signing from Walsall last summer, continued his
spectacular run in front of goal by putting Bolton in front three minutes into
the second half with his 18th goal of the season following confusion in the
Portsmouth penalty area.
And Hansen made sure Sam Allardyce's side extended their unbeaten run away
from home to eight matches by rounding off the move of the match 20 minutes
later with a neat finish from a tight angle.
Portsmouth winger Michale Panopoulos ensured a thrilling climax when he
reduced the deficit with two minutes remaining of normal time with a spectacular
volley from the edge of the area.
But Bolton, well marshalled by veteran Scottish defender Colin Hendry, clung
on to move nine points clear of third placed side Blackburn.
Ricketts and strike partner Ricardo Gardner caused Portsmouth defence problems
from the outset and they were unlucky not to give the visitors the lead in the
opening 45 minutes.
Ricketts twice went close in the opening half hour when shooting wide from
good positions while Gardner was unlucky to see a shot cannon off the woodwork
five minutes before the break.
The Jamaican collected Rickett's pass to race through on goal and guide a shot
passed Pompey goalkeeper Chris Tardif but his effort rebounded off the cross-bar
to safety.
Portsmouth themselves had good opportunities to break the deadlock with Lee
Sharpe, Lee Bradbury and Nigel Quashie all wasting good chances when well
placed.
Sharpe and Bradbury fired over the bar from 12 yards while Quashie missed the
chance of the half when he side-footed wide of the right-hand post in first half
injury time.
Ricketts opened the scoring in the 48th minute when Jason Crowe's intended
clearance cannoned off Quashie into his path and Bolton looked to be cruising to
victory when Hansen easily finished past Tardif following Gardner's superb 40
yard cross-field ball.
But Pompey player-manager Steve Claridge gave the visitors a warning when he
rattled the crossbar two minutes later and Panopoulos then set up a grandstand
finish when he volleyed home inside the left-hand post from 20 yards
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