Kevin Davies rediscovered his scoring touch to give Bolton only their third home victory in the league.

The industrious striker grabbed the winner in the 52nd minute after an error by goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.

It was his sixth goal of the season - but his first for six weeks and Bolton reaped the benefit.

Hislop seemed to have Davies's shot from close range covered only to let it slip under his body.

It was just the result Bolton manager Sam Allardyce wanted after the FA Cup defeat by second division Tranmere in midweek.

Portsmouth, however, are fighting to avoid relegation and to complete a miserable day Dejan Stefanovic was sent off in stoppage-time, apparently for barging into referee Phil Dowd.

Allardyce gave a first league start to on-loan striker Javi Moreno and the Spaniard partnered Davies up front.

Defender Anthony Barness was also included after being recalled from West Ham, where he was due to begin a loan spell.

Nigerian playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha captained the side after delaying his departure to the African Nations Cup.

Moreno almost made the breakthrough for Bolton after six minutes when Youri Djorkaeff clipped the ball back.

The Spaniard's effort carried enough power but it went the wrong side of the post.

The pair then linked again three minutes later with Moreno heading across the face of the goal.

Portsmouth were looking a bit ragged in the early stages of the game and some of their passing was sloppy.

Djorkaeff laid the ball into the path of Okocha from a free-kick in the 13th minute but his effort ended nearer the corner flag than the goal.

Bolton were having plenty of possession but they looked a bit edgy in front of their home fans.

Arjan De Zeeuw raced forward for Portsmouth after 26 minutes and got on the end of a cross from Alex Smertin.

However, his shot from the edge of the area carried little power and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was able to gather comfortably.

Djorkaeff then got on the end of a low throw from Okocha but his touch let him down.

Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop had to look alert in the 33rd minute, getting down quickly to parry a shot from Ivan Campo.

Bolton were looking for a little bit of magic from Okocha but he was finding it hard to get going as half-time approached.

Nicky Hunt got clear down the right for the home side, only for the chance to go to waste when he over-hit his cross.

Davies and Moreno were working hard up front but Bolton were creating few chances.

Bolton began the second half brightly and Djorkaeff whipped in a shot after 47 minutes that Hislop did well to turn away.

A minute later Okocha made space for himself but his effort failed to trouble the Portsmouth goalkeeper.

Then Davies got away from his marker, only to find the wrong side of the post.

Portsmouth were looking rattled and struggling to get out of their own half

Bolton took the lead in the 52nd minute after a mistake by Hislop.

He allowed a weak shot from Davies to go under his body following a cross from Hunt.

Portsmouth almost drew level in the 57th minute when a shot from Aiyegbeni Yakubu spun off Bolton defender Emerson Thome and hit the post.

Patrick Berger was handed a yellow card for a challenge on Campo a minute later, leading to tempers being frayed on both sides.

Okocha and Teddy Sheringham squared up which saw the Bolton captain also go in the book.

Hislop then redeemed himself when he blocked a shot from Djorkaeff after a neat chip by Hunt.

Portsmouth rallied and Smertin powered in a shot from the edge of the area after 75 minutes that was superbly parried by Jaaskelainen.

Sheringham and Berger both squandered good chances of getting the equaliser late in the game and Bolton hung on for victory.

Teams

Bolton Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Thome, N'Gotty, Barness, Okocha (Giannakopoulos 90), Campo, Nolan, Djorkaeff (Pedersen 84), Javi Moreno (Ba 62), Davies.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Charlton.

Booked: Okocha.

Goals: Davies 53.

Portsmouth Hislop, Pasanen, De Zeeuw, Primus (Harper 77), Smertin, Hughes (Taylor 77), Berkovic, Berger, Stefanovic, Sheringham, Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Wapenaar, Robinson, Pulis.

Sent Off: Stefanovic (90).

Booked: Hughes.

Att: 26,558

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).