Steve Watson kept Everton in sight of Europe at the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday.

Watson made it four goals in four starts since reverting to a midfield role with a brace against struggling Bolton.

Watson's first was superb - his second showed a striker's nose for the target.

Bolton were left to reflect on a couple of missed chances at the start of the game and have now won only two out of their 12 home league matches.

Transfer-listed Michael Ricketts should have put Bolton ahead in the first minute when he got away from his marker as Henrik Pedersen floated in a cross from the right.

Ricketts got enough power on his effort only to see it go wide of the target.

Everton had another scare in the fourth minute when Scot Gemmill tripped Ricardo Gardner 20 yards out.

Youri Djorkaeff shaped to play the free-kick short to Per Frandsen but instead delivered a cross into the box.

Ivan Campo latched on to it, only to find the wrong side of the post from a good position.

Everton hit back and Tomasz Radzinski played the ball into the path of Brian McBride but he was crowded out.

Ricketts then tried to release Djorkaeff after Bernard Mendy's long delivery. However goalkeeper Richard Wright was alert to the danger.

Frandsen was out-numbered after Ricketts played the ball in but somehow managed to get a shot in that was deflected to safety after 24 minutes.

Everton were relying on counter attacks and Radzinski got clear only to send a header into the hands of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Then McBride tried his luck on goal after Alessandro Pistone had delivered the cross but the Finnish shot-stopper was not troubled.

Everton took the lead after 33 minutes with a spectacular goal from Watson.

He got on the end of McBride's flick to send an overhead kick from just inside the area beyond Jaaskelainen and into the corner.

Bolton were rattled and Gardner almost pulled them level only for his header to end up in the roof of the net after 38 minutes.

Everton extended their lead a minute later with Watson getting his second of the game.

The midfielder was on hand to tuck the ball home from close range after McBride's shot had been beaten away by Jaaskelainen.

Djorkaeff then clipped the ball over Wright but Alan Stubbs cleared off the line.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce made one change at half-time, bringing on Kevin Nolan for Pedersen.

Allardyce knew if his struggling side were to get back into the game they needed an early goal to boost confidence.

But Watson's efforts had seemed to knock the stuffing out of his team, who are fighting to avoid the drop.

Radzinski got goal side of Campo but the move broke down when he tried to release Gemmill.

Certainly Bolton looked uncomfortable at the back with Radzinski and McBride, on loan from Columbus Crew, playing with a lot of intelligence.

Bolton almost pulled a goal back on the hour when Bergsson got on the end of Simon Charlton's free-kick but steered his header wide.

Everton continued to look dangerous every time they moved forward and nearly extended their lead in the 63rd minute.

Gary Naysmith advanced on goal and cracked in a 25-yard drive that Jaaskelainen did well to turn over the top.

Frandsen was putting in a solid shift for Bolton and his effort from the edge of the area tested Wright.

Allardyce then sacrificed defender Bruno N'Gotty for striker Delroy Facey in the 68th minute.

Everton defender Alan Stubbs was shaken up after a clash with Gardner and was replaced by Joseph Yobo.

Gardner got back to head away a dangerous free-kick from David Unsworth in the 85th minute with Watson ready to pounce on any mistake.

Then Yobo linked up with the attack and got in a downward header, only for his effort to finish wide of the target.

Bergsson pulled a goal back from close range in stoppage time but it was too little too late.

Teams:

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Mendy, Bergsson, N'Gotty (Facey 68), Charlton, Gardner, Frandsen, Campo, Djorkaeff, Pedersen (Nolan 45), Ricketts.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Whitlow, Barness.

Booked: Mendy, Gardner.

Goals: Facey 90.

Everton: Wright, Pistone, Stubbs (Yobo 78), Weir, Unsworth, Watson, Li, Gemmill, Naysmith (Pembridge 84), McBride, Radzinski.

Subs Not Used: Campbell, Gravesen, Gerrard.

Booked: Watson.

Goals: Watson 33, 39.

Att: 25,119

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).