Joey Barton rediscovered his goalscoring touch and Manchester City that winning habit at the Reebok Stadium.

The midfielder's first goal in the Premiership this season was enough to give the team their first win in three games.

While City go into Christmas full of cheer, there is nothing but gloom for Bolton after a fourth successive defeat.

Nicolas Anelka returned to the visiting team and caused Bolton problems with his pace and movement.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce reshuffled his pack as he went in search of their first win in seven games.

Tal Ben Haim, Julio Cesar, Anthony Barness and Kevin Nolan all returned to the starting line-up.

Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo had to settle for a place on the bench while Nicky Hunt and Radhi Jaidi were sidelined through suspension and injury.

Bolton were the first to show and Jay-Jay Okocha saw his effort from the edge of the area go wide of the post after Nolan had played the ball into his path in the fourth minute.

City hit back and Antoine Sibierski split the defence with a long ball to the back post.

Robbie Fowler found himself in plenty of space but only succeeded in sending a tame header into the arms of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Anelka was left holding his head in frustration as he was in a good position in the six yard area.

Barness then got forward for Bolton and rattled in a fierce shot from 20 yards that was deflected to safety by Sibierski.

The defender was seeing plenty of the ball and clipped a pass into the path of Henrik Pedersen.

However City skipper Sylvain Distin was alert to the danger and got in a timely clearance with goalkeeper David James looking on.

The visitors almost made the breakthrough after swift counter attack in the 18th minute when Sibierski released Fowler.

He whipped in a first time shot from 18 yards that Jaaskelainen to well to turn away at his near post.

Bolton were winning a good deal of possession and Cesar tested goalkeeper David James in the 22nd minute with a shot from distance.

James did well in the 31st minute to beat away a superb volley from Barness after Stephen Jordan had only partially cleared a long throw from Okocha.

City looked content to play things at their own pace and with Anelka and Fowler around they always carried a threat going forward.

Danny Mills then tried to pick out Sibierski at the back post only for Barness to anticipate the cross and head away.

City again broke forward and Barton tried his luck from distance but was well wide of the target.

Despite the amount of ball they had Bolton were struggling to carve out any clear-cut chances with Pedersen and Kevin Davies well shackled by Richard Dunne and Distin.

City began the second half with a bang and Bosvelt rattled a shot wide under pressure from Nolan after being released by Barton.

It was Barton who made the breakthrough for City in the 52nd minute to stun the home crowd.

Fowler began the move when he clipped a superb ball through to Anelka in the area. He got clear only to be upended by Jaaskelainen in what looked like a clear penalty.

However referee Uriah Rennie played the advantage and the ball broke to Barton, who clipped it home from close range.

This was a good spell of pressure by City and Sibierski headed wide from six yards as Bolton back-pedalled.

Okocha then tried his luck from distance but saw his effort finish nearer the corner flag than the goal.

The Nigerian playmaker looked out of sorts and was replaced by 18-year-old Ricardo Vaz Te.

He has been scoring regularly for the reserves and was soon joined by the veteran Les Ferdinand with Pedersen going off.

Bolton kept up the pressure and Ben Haim got into a good position only to lose his bearings.

City found themselves on the defensive as Bolton went in search of the equaliser.

Ferdinand and Stelios Giannakopoulos both went close before Speed rattled a shot wide of James' post.

Anelka's shot then whistled just wide before Barness and Giannakopoulos failed to find the target from close range.

The Bolton supporters rounded on the team at the end with a chorus of jeers and with Manchester United come on Boxing Day these are difficult days for the club.

Teams:

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Cesar, Ben Haim, N'Gotty, Barness, Nolan, Okocha (Vaz Te 64), Speed, Davies, Pedersen (Ferdinand 75), Giannakopoulos.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Campo, Hierro.

Man City: James, Mills, Distin, Dunne, Jordan, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt, Barton, Sibierski, Anelka, Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Macken, Waterreus, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Onuoha, Flood.

Goals: Barton 52.

Att: 27,274

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).