Robbie Fowler chalked up his first hat-trick for Leeds since joining them from Liverpool for £11million earlier this month.

The England front man has only taken a few weeks to win over the Elland Road fans.

They chanted his name to the rafters after his superb one-man show against a Bolton side that has now won only won of their last nine games.

Fowler scored twice in the first half then later missed a penalty in a comfortable victory.

Leeds central defender Jonathan Woodgate made his first start in 10 weeks for the club. Woodgate last lined up in the 6-0 Worthington Cup defeat of Leicester in October.

He was making his first Premiership start of the season, two weeks after being found guilty of affray.

Midfielder Lee Bowyer was also included in the side after successfully coming through an early morning fitness test on his troubled hamstring.

Bolton were again without skipper Gudni Bergsson, who has a hamstring injury. Djibril Diawara was preferred to Colin Hendry at the back.

Leeds made a blistering start and took the lead after only a minute to stun the home fans.

Fowler found the target after an incisive move involving Alan Smith and David Batty. The former Liverpool striker made a yard of space for himself before tucking the ball into the corner beyond keeper Jussi Jasskelainen.

Leeds were forced to make a change after just six minutes when Eirik Bakke was replaced by Jason Wilcox. Bakke was left struggling following a challenge from Paul Warhurst in the opening seconds of the game.

Bolton were stung by that opening goal and swept forward in the 12th minute. Simon Charlton picked out Kevin Nolan but his shot went high over the top.

Warhurst then picked up the first yellow card of the game for a stiff challenge on Bowyer.

Fowler added his second goal of the game in the 16th minute with another clinical finish after Mark Viduka had delivered the ball into his path after defender Diawara was guilty of ball-watching.

Fowler's double blast in the first 16 minutes had left Bolton with a mountain to climb. Bolton tried to push forward in numbers but they found Leeds solid at the back.

Warhurst tried his luck from 30 yards but keeper Nigel Martyn reacted superbly to tip his shot over the top. The England international then had to look alert to turn away a well struck effort from Ricardo Gardner.

Leeds were looking comfortable, however, and Dominic Matteo tried to pick out Fowler but he slightly over-hit the pass.

With Michael Ricketts missing because of a neck injury, Dean Holdsworth was forced to go it alone up front for Bolton. Holdsworth had found it hard going in the first half and got little change from Woodgate.

Bolton knew that if they were to salvage something from the game they needed a good start to the second half.

Kevin Nolan almost pulled them back into the game in the 47th minute when he found space down the right. He curled the ball in with some power and Martyn did well to steer his effort to safety.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce decided to go for broke on the hour when he brought on another striker. Henrik Pedersen replaced Gareth Farrelly and joined Holdsworth in an attempt to get the goals they needed.

Bolton couldn't be faulted on their work-rate but Leeds looked too street-wise for them. Leeds looked dangerous every time they broke on the counter with Fowler looking to get his first hat-trick since arriving from Anfield in a £11million move.

Viduka skipped away from Diawara only for Jaaskelainen to turn his effort around the post.

Then a minute later Wilcox rattled the base of the post as Bolton were exposed again.

Fowler was becoming increasingly anxious about getting his hat-trick and got away from Anthony Barness in the 78th minute only to send his shot high into the crowd.

Bolton hit back and substitute Henrik Pedersen fired wide from a good position then Nolan saw a header go over.

Fowler fluffed a glorious chance of getting his hat-trick when he dragged a penalty kick wide of the post after Diawara had tripped Bowyer six minutes from time.

But Fowler made amends two minutes from time with a cool finish after Alan Smith had played the ball into his path. Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen seemed to have got control of the ball but Fowler got away from him and then Diawara to sew things up.

Teams:

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness (Southall 85), Whitlow, Diawara, Charlton, Gardner, Frandsen, Warhurst (Johnson 70), Nolan, Farrelly (Pedersen 60), Holdsworth.

Subs Not Used: Poole, N'Gotty.

Booked: Warhurst.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate, Ferdinand, Matteo (Harte 45), Bowyer, Batty, Smith, Bakke (Wilcox 6), Viduka, Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, McPhail, Duberry.

Booked: Matteo, Wilcox, Smith.

Goals: Fowler 2, 16, 89.

Att: 27,060

Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).