Duncan Ferguson came back from a three-match ban to grab a hat-trick of
headers and give Everton heart in their desperate battle toavoid relegation.
And to do so against a side who are down at the bottom of the Premiership in
the same mire, was an added bonus for the Merseysiders.
Howard Kendall was missing a dozen players through injury and suspension, in
particular key figures like Gary Speed, Dave Watson and Craig Short.
Everton were forced to plunge four teenagers into this battle, but they fought
for their lives as the Goodison Park strugglers won at home for the first time
in two months.
It has been a grim time for Kendall, cash starved and searching the transfer
market for something, anything, to help the cause.
But that help came from kids like Richard Dunne and Michael Ball, who fought
magnificently for the cause.
At the head of the troops was Ferguson, who terrorised Bolton's rearguard.
A day after his 26th birthday, Ferguson was a tower of strength.
Bolton just couldn't cope with him. Even though Bolton played three centre
backs against the aerial menace of Ferguson, the towering Scot - complete with
captain's armband - was in one of those Braveheart moods that frighten thelife
out of defenders.
He had threatened on several occasions before battering his way to his first
goal after 17 minutes.
Tony Thomas fired in a cross from the right, and Ferguson powered in, crashing
past Chris Fairclough on his way, to send a soaring header past Gavin Ward.
Four minutes from the break Everton were two ahead and looking on their way to
a convincing victory.
This effort was created by a superb run from Andy Hinchcliffe, cutting in from
the left.
He beat two defenders, and then neatly fed Nicky Barmby on the left of the
box. The near post cross was only waste high, but Ferguson was there first to
head it past Ward.
You would have thought that Everton would be cruising now, so close to the
break.
But in a devastating two-goal burst by Bolton in 60 seconds, the Wanderers
found themselves level, and a packed Goodison Park was reduced to silence -
except for the jubilant Bolton contingent.
The first came after 42 minutes when Dunne pushed Nathan Blake in the back,
some 40 yards out.
Scott Sellars took the free kick, and skipper Gudni Bergsson was allowed to
head the ball in off the underside of the bar, Ferguson failing to pick up the
defender in the box.
Worse was to follow for Everton. From the re-start, Ferguson tried to be too
clever and scooped the ball out to John Oster on the left.
The Welsh kid was under immediate pressure and lost the ball. It flowed across
the park for Jamie Pollock to lay it back to Sellars who drove astunning 20 yard
shot past Myhre.
Bolton were clearly buzzing when they came out after the break, and
PerFrandsen twice tested Myhre will long-range shots as tension spread from
Everton's fans through to their young players on the pitch.
Nobody wanted the ball at this stage, but Bolton still persisted with their
policy of sitting back, conceding ground, and trying to catch Everton on the
break.
At this stage the Merseysiders were there for the taking if anybody hadtaken
the game to them.
As it was, big Ferguson battered his way to a hat-trick with another header
after 66 minutes.
Thomas, again, launched the ball into the box from the right and Ferguson
soared to smash it past Ward, who made no attempt to contest the ball in his own
six yard box.
At last Bolton decided they had to come forward, and Myhre contrived thesave
of the match by leaping to his right to fingertip over a Blake drive that looked
destined for the top corner.
Ferguson was still leading the line with great passion and drive, and twice in
a minute he failed to score. Firstly after being put clear by Hinchcliffe, but
his shot flashed past the far post.
Seconds later Hinchcliffe crossed from the left, and Ferguson missed
hisconnection a yard out by inches.
Bolton were now throwing everything at Everton's massed defence. But Kendall's
men and boys held on for a victory that could be so vital come the end of the
season.
Teams
Everton: Myhre, Thomas, Dunne, Tiler, Hinchcliffe, Farrelly,
Oster (Thomsen 77), Ball, Barmby, Cadamarteri, Ferguson.
Subs Not Used: Barrett, Gerrard, Jeffers, Allen.
Booked: Tiler.
Goals: Ferguson 17, 41, 67.
Bolton: Ward, Cox, Frandsen, Fairclough, Pollock, Sellars, Blake,
Bergsson, Beardsley (Gunnlaugsson 35), Fish (Johansen 79),
Whitlow, Gunnlaugsson (Carr 65).
Subs Not Used: Phillips, Jaaskelainen.
Booked: Bergsson.
Goals: Bergsson 42, Sellars 43.
Att: 37,149
Ref: K W Burge (Tonypandy).
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