Team news

O'Brien set to return for Trotters Bolton manager Gary Megson is hopeful Andy O'Brien will be fit for selection for Sunday's Barclays Premier League encounter with Everton.

Defender O'Brien should be available to play at the Reebok Stadium after overcoming a groin problem, but striker Johan Elmander remains a doubt having not yet fully recovered from his hamstring injury.

Joey O'Brien and Sean Davis are both long-term absentees with knee injuries.

Zat Knight believes Bolton are ready to secure their first home win of the season in the Premier League.

Wanderers have received plaudits for their recent form, which has included a five-match unbeaten run and impressive performances against Tottenham and Manchester United, but so far a league victory at the Reebok Stadium has eluded them.

Having opened the campaign with two defeats, the team's improvement since then has been encouraging. But Knight knows that winning home fixtures will be essential if they are to push on - starting with the visit of Everton.

"I think we can do it on Sunday," said Knight.

"I believe in the Premier League that if you can win your home games, that is a big part of survival in the league. But it is also a big part of the other goals you want to achieve, if you want to finish in Europe or in the top half.

"You have to start doing things at home, and then on the road you can pick up a point here and there. It all stems from the matches at home." Everton's displays over the last couple of weeks suggest they could be the perfect opponents for Bolton right now, in their quest for a home win.

The Toffees have disappointed in consecutive 1-1 draws at home to Stoke and Wolves in the league and were thrashed 5-0 by Benfica on Thursday in the Europa League, but Knight for one will not be under-estimating David Moyes' side.

"We can look back at their weaknesses and where they got punished, but obviously they are going to want to bounce back and get something on Sunday against us," said Knight.

"I think we just have to go into it with our own game and be strong-minded.

"If we can bring the form that we showed in the second half against Man United, I'm sure we can beat them." Everton manager Moyes finds himself in the middle of an injury crisis.

Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is the latest casualty, suffering a thigh problem in the 5-0 defeat by Benfica.

Joseph Yobo (head), Leon Osman (ankle) and Leighton Baines (calf) remain doubtful after sitting out the game after being injured following the draw against Wolves at the weekend - but Lucas Neill and John Heitinga are are available again after being ineligible for Thursday night's game.

Moyes has a chilling warning for his Everton stars - 'keep making mistakes and you will be axed'.

The Everton boss admits he cannot afford to take such action at the moment due to the injury crisis.

But he warns that when he is able to choose from a full-strength squad, some players will be punished for their mistakes.

Moyes said: "We must make sure we do not have any loss of confidence after what happened against Benfica. We did pretty well in the first half - we did not 'park the bus' and just defend.

"I told them after the game that they must learn from their mistakes. But they kept going - and even when we were 4-0 down, we were trying to get forward to score.

"But in truth, if you keep making mistakes you won't be in the team. You cannot play for Everton and make mistakes.

"Maybe at the moment, when we do not have too many to choose from, you will stay in the side even if you are making mistakes.

"But when we do get our squad strength back, we will not be tolerating mistakes. We will be a lot tougher on that than we can be now." There is mitigation for Everton's current troubles on the pitch.

"Injuries hurt everyone," Moyes notes.

"All clubs have them, but even Liverpool have shown that you will lose matches without your best players.

"We have been without some of our best players since half-way through last season. Eventually that takes a toll in terms of results and performances.

"Everton do not do defeats. We don't lose twice on the trot. That is our attitude, to be tough and bounce back.

"But we are introducing too many new players all at once. There are not too many who know yet the way we do things and the way we work.

Bolton vs Everton

Last modified 18:49 25/10/09

Pause Play

Left

Right

View thumbnails View full screen Turn captions on/off

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Prev

Next

• Page 1
• Page 2
• Page 3

Klasnic gives Trotters first home win Bolton survived a comeback from Everton before winning 3-2 to seal their first home win of the season in the Barclays Premier League.

Gary Megson's side triumphed at the Reebok Stadium as substitute Ivan Klasnic scored his first goal for the club with the decisive strike in the 87th minute.

The hosts had been well in control as goals from Lee Chung-Yong and Gary Cahill put them 2-0 ahead.

Everton hit back with a wonder-strike from Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini's second-half equaliser, but Klasnic settled the issue late on.

Megson named the same starting XI for Bolton that had performed so creditably at Old Trafford a week earlier.

John Heitinga and Lucas Neill returned to the Everton defence after being cup-tied for the Europa League fixture against Benfica on Thursday, and with Ayegbeni Yakubu ruled out, Saha came back into the starting line-up to play up front with Jo.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who scored his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw against Wolves last week, did not make the squad after injuring his calf in Lisbon, while youngster Seamus Coleman dropped to the bench.

The 2-1 defeat to Manchester United had been Bolton's first for six matches and the hosts looked set to continue their good run in the opening stages, making a positive start to the game.

Jlloyd Samuel floated a cross in for an unmarked Tamir Cohen in the third minute, but the Israeli sent his header across goal and two minutes later Kevin Davies connected with a delightful free-kick from Matt Taylor, only for the captain to direct his header down into the turf, the ball bouncing up over Tim Howard's goal.

Everton attempted to hit back but Jo lost his footing on the edge of the box and shot tamely at Jussi Jaaskelainen before sending a glancing header wide from a corner.

With 17 minutes on the clock, it was Bolton who made a deserved breakthrough, Sam Ricketts beating Tony Hibbert on the right and sending a bouncing ball across the box which evaded the Everton defence and found Lee, who coolly slotted past Howard.

Again Everton attempted to rally but the visitors were showing little conviction in front of goal and Bolton doubled their lead on 27 minutes.

Taylor sent in another wonderful delivery from a free-kick on the left and centre-back Cahill rose tallest from a crowd of players in the area to loft the ball over Howard.

Everton looked like they might crumble completely, yet within five minutes, they had found a response out of nowhere.

There appeared to be little on when Neill found Saha in space midway into the Bolton half, but the Frenchman caught the entire ground by surprise as he advanced a few yards before rifling the ball into the top corner to put the Toffees back in the match.

Everton finished the first half the stronger side and having emerged for the second looking similarly purposeful, drew level within 10 minutes of the restart.

Neill was the provider once again, lofting the ball towards the Bolton box where Fellaini brought it down, turned Cahill and then smashed it into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Suddenly Everton were in the ascendancy and as Bolton's passing game broke down, their frustration became apparent, with Cahill and then Samuel both booked for rash tackles in quick succession.

David Moyes' side looked like they might win it with 15 minutes to go when Dan Gosling broke clear, but he ran out of steam before getting a shot away and, having survived that scare, Bolton managed to regain their composure.

Davies wasted a glorious opportunity from six yards after misdirecting a header from Lee's inswinging corner, but Wanderers' tails were up and it was the substitute Klasnic who had the final say with just three minutes remaining.