Duncan Ferguson was a mightily relieved man as Everton got the better of a pulsating clash with fellow strugglers Bolton at Goodison Park to virtually secure their Premiership future.

Captain Ferguson was sent off for a stupid off-the-ball punch at Bolton's Fredi Bobic in the 21st minute but his side's third win in four matches under David Moyes ought to render his resulting absence from the final three games of the season irrelevant.

Bolton's Kostas Konstantinidis was also sent off for two bookable offences in as many first half minutes before Alessandro Pistone screamed home his first goal of the season from 25 yards four minutes before the break.

Everton seemed to have secured the points their dominance deserved in the 57th minute when Tomasz Radzinski got on the end of Scot Gemmill's right-wing cross and squirmed his shot under defender Paul Warhurst.

But their failure to convert any of the numerous chances for a third goal left them living on their nerves when Bolton, brighter in the second period, got a goal back through Bruno N'Gotty's point-blank header from Per Frandsen's free-kick with 14 minutes to go.

Only substitute Nick Chadwick's goal five minutes from time after a rash misjudgement from Bolton keeper Kevin Poole finally allowed Goodison to settle down.

Moyes' Everton career had been marked by 18 goals in his games so far and it did not take long to promise more at overcast Goodison.

Bolton, who started the day behind their opponents on goal difference four points above the drop zone, survived an eighth-minute penalty appeal for Mike Whitlow's challenge on Radzinski.

David Unsworth shot tamely wide and Niclas Alexandersson stole into the box and almost got on the end of Pistone's cross from the left as Everton quickly asserted their authority.

Ferguson's dismissal for an action which left Bobic writhing on the deck as Pistone prepared to take a left-wing free-kick threatened to upset the pattern of the match.

But after Bobic had shot tamely at Steve Simonsen in Bolton's first chance, Konstantinidis made it 10 men on both sides after a rash challenge on Radzinski moments after incurring his first booking.

Busy referee Steve Bennett denied Everton another penalty appeal when Alexandersson appeared to be pushed by Bobic as he tried to get his head to Unsworth's free-kick after it had been parried by Poole.

After Pistone's fierce opener Radzinski missed a golden chance to increase Everton's lead before half-time, but the former Anderlecht man made amends 12 minutes after the restart.

Bolton, fighting for their lives, introduced Rod Wallace for Youri Djorkaeff and his arrival almost made a difference, with N'Gotty heading against one post and Ricardo Gardner firing against the inside of the other both in the 64th minute.

But as the visitors pressed Everton launched a number of counter-attacks. In the 76th minute Radzinski crossed from the left only for Chadwick to shoot straight at Poole.

Five minutes from time Chadwick finally sealed the win when Poole raced inexplicably from his goal and was dispossessed on Everton's right flank by Radzinski, who turned Whitlow and squared for the substitute to sweep home the simplest of chances.

Teams:

Everton: Simonsen, Watson, Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Alexandersson, Gemmill, Unsworth, Blomqvist (Chadwick 70), Ferguson, Radzinski (Linderoth 89).

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Cleland, Ginola.

Sent Off: Ferguson (20).

Booked: Unsworth, Weir.

Goals: Pistone 41, Radzinski 57, Chadwick 86.

Bolton: Poole, N'Gotty, Konstantinidis, Whitlow, Charlton, Djorkaeff (Wallace 58), Warhurst, Nolan, Gardner, Holdsworth (Frandsen 38), Bobic (Ricketts 45).

Subs Not Used: Southall, Cassar.

Sent Off: Konstantinidis (31).

Booked: Konstantinidis.

Goals: N'Gotty 75.

Att: 39,784

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).