A fine individual goal by Eidur Gudjohnsen improved Bolton's play-off chances
and inched Port Vale closer to the First Division trap door on Tuesday night.
Wanderers substitute Dean Holdsworth played the ball into the Icelander who
skated past his marker before beating Paul Musselwhite with a perfectly placed,
angled shot in the 77th minute.
Vale had tried to make the most of the conditions by opting for the aerial
route towards their lanky striker Gareth Taylor.
But Allan Johnston squandered a fine chance on the counter-attack as Bolton's
extra quality soon began to show.
Bolton went almost into cruise-control against a Vale side sadly lacking
confidence, with Johnston's mazy runs causing problems.
A swirling effort from Johnston brought a fingertip save from Musselwhite, and
it seemed only a matter of time before the opening goal arrived.
But it was Vale who almost went ahead on the half-hour when Martin Bullock's
deflected shot very nearly embarrassed Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Bolton were forced to make a substitution a minute before the interval when
Paul Warhurst limped off to be replaced by Gareth Farrelly.
Vale were a more determined proposition on the resumption as Jaaskelainen
blocked at the feet of Taylor and fielded a long-range attempt from Bullock.
But Bolton came within inches of a 52nd-minute lead when Sagi Burton's mistake
led to Gudjohnsen curling in a shot against a post and Bob Taylor firing the
rebound wide.
Vale were unfortunate when Taylor's well-struck volley hit team-mate Tommy
Widdrington as the action continued to improve.
The home side were enjoying their best spell of the game as Dean Holden
blocked Alex Smith's shot after good work by substitute Tony Naylor, a
59th-minute replacement for veteran Martin Foyle.
Burton's acrobatic effort from the resulting corner flashed inches wide with
Jaaskelainen a spectator and Bolton rocking for the first and only time.
But it was Wanderers who claimed the points through Gudjohnsen who squandered
another fine chance to put the result beyond doubt in the closing seconds.
Teams
Port Vale: Musselwhite, Talbot, Burns, Burton, Tankard, Bullock, Brammer, Widdrington (Eyre 85), Smith (O'Callaghan 85), Taylor, Foyle (Naylor 59).
Subs Not Used: Pilkington, Rimmer.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Holden, Bergsson, Whitlow, Elliott, Johansen, Jensen, Warhurst (Farrelly 44), Johnston (O'Kane 76), Taylor (Holdsworth 74), Gudjohnsen.
Subs Not Used: Banks, Ritchie.
Goals: Gudjohnsen 77.
Att: 5,092
Ref: T Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe).
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