Fellaini fires late Everton winner

MAROUANE FELLAINI headed home in the last minute to give Everton their first win in nine games and heap more misery on under-fire Bolton manager Gary Megson.

The Toffees’ record £15m buy from Standard Liege followed his equaliser against Manchester United by scoring from a Steven Pienaar cross.

Pienaar and Fellaini both looked suspiciously offside but the goal was given and furious Trotters fans booed off their team, who have now failed to win at home since the opening day of the season.

The Trotters created next to nothing and Megson’s decision to splash out a club record £8.2m on Johan Elmander again looked seriously ill judged.

Everton looked bright and purposeful during the opening 45 minutes as Yakubu and Louis Saha dovetailed effectively up front.

Mikel Arteta swung in a dangerous cross from the left in the ninth minute and Yakubu planted a firm header into the ground from six yards but Jussi Jaaskelainen was not seriously tested.

Two minutes later, a delightful flick from Yakubu sent Saha clear from 20 yards and he raced forward before finding the net, only to have it ruled out for a clear handball.

Bolton wasted a golden opportunity to drive at the heart of the Everton defence in the 20th minute.

Summer signing Fabrice Muamba embarked on a fine run from inside his own half before slipping a neat pass to Kevin Davies.

The striker fed Gretar Steinsson on the right flank only to be hacked down by Joleon Lescott, who earned a yellow card, but Taylor’s dreadful free-kick from an excellent position was high and wide of the far post.

The misfiring Trotters looked woefully bereft of ideas but, in the 41st minute, Gary Cahill nodded a corner from Riga wide and Taylor also failed to hit the target with his head moments later.

Moyes replaced Yakubu with Cahill in the 63rd minute and the winner finally arrived in the last minute when Neville fed Pienaar down the right.

He looked suspiciously offside but crossed quickly and Fellaini headed home from six yards.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O’Brien, Samuel, Riga, Nolan, Muamba, Taylor, Davies, Elmander.

EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta (Rodwell 90), Fellaini, Osman, Pienaar, Yakubu (Cahill 63), Saha (Anichebe 83).

Referee: Phil Dowd.