Ipswich were heading for the UEFA Cup at this stage last season, but one year on they were virtually condemned to a future of Nationwide League football by Fredi Bobic's first half hat-trick at the Reebok Stadium.

Unless George Burley's men fashion a miracle out of a run-in which includes games against the Premiership's top three, glamour nights in Moscow and Milan will fade to a distant memory and they will have to content themselves with the prospect of a day trip to Brighton.

Bobic's treble blast was enhanced by a strike from French international Youri Djorkaeff for a result which ought to secure the Trotters of their place in the elite next season.

But while Sam Allardyce's men rose to the occasion magnificently, Ipswich, playing like a side whose fate had been decided weeks ago, produced a performance which was remarkable for its sheer ineptitude, and only had Jamie Clapham's last-minute consolation to show for their poor efforts.

Bobic, who joined Bolton in January and had scored his first goal in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa a week ago, took just two minutes to get on the scoresheet and settle his side's nerves.

There was a touch of good fortune about it, with Nolan's attempted shot from 20 yards hitting the German star who brought the ball under control before firing calmly under Andy Marshall.

Ipswich missed their one decent chance at an equaliser, when Finidi George broke down the right and crossed for Sixto Peralta, but Anthony Barness made a timely clearance.

Bolton took a stranglehold in midfield, and a combination of their creativity and the visitors' catalogue of weaknesses led to a three-goal blast in eight minutes.

First visiting goalkeeper Andy Marshall committed himself to chasing a Youri Djorkaeff through-ball and came off second best against Rod Wallace, who turned the keeper and tried a shot which was flapped out into the path of Bobic, who could hardly miss.

Five minutes later Marshall was the guilty party again when he sliced a clearance straight into Bobic, who chased down the ball and crossed for Wallace. The former Rangers man missed the target but Djorkaeff charged in unmarked at the far post to sweep home.

It got worse. Three minutes later Bobic flicked home Riccardo Gardner's corner from the right, a desperate attempted clearance by Fabien Wilnis all in vain and leaving the Ipswich man lying on his back in the back of the net along with the ball.

Bolton, for whom Wallace had started in place of Dean Holdsworth after proving one rare bright spot in their 3-1 defeat at Everton on Easter Monday, did suffer a blow towards the end of the first period when Gardner limped off injured and was replaced by Michael Ricketts.

Burley made three substitutions at half-time and one of them, Jamie Clapham, did more than most to stem the Bolton tide and push for some consolation.

Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen held a Marcus Bent cross well under pressure from Armstrong and a Clapham corner from the left almost eluded everyone and squirmed home at the far post.

Bobic was withdrawn to a standing ovation 10 minutes from time to allow Holdsworth his slice of the action, then Djorkaeff almost grabbed his second and Bolton's fifth with a free-kick from the left flank which flashed unchallenged across goal.

Strangely with the game well and truly lost, Ipswich enjoyed their best period of the match, but when referee Jeff Winter blew his final whistle they surely knew their period in the Premiership sun was coming to an end, and for that they could blame only themselves.

Teams

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Barness, Whitlow, Charlton, Warhurst (Frandsen 23), Gardner (Ricketts 44), Nolan, Djorkaeff, Bobic (Holdsworth 81), Wallace.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Konstantinidis.

Goals: Bobic 2, 30, Djorkaeff 35, Bobic 38.

Ipswich: Marshall, Wilnis, McGreal, Venus (Stewart 45), Hreidarsson, Peralta (Clapham 45), Holland, Tommy Miller, George (Bramble 45), Marcus Bent, Armstrong.

Subs Not Used: Salmon, Reuser.

Goals: Clapham 90.

Att: 25,817

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).