Mixed day for Wright-Phillips after red card and goals

Manchester City 6 Bolton 2

Manchester City midfielder Shaun-Wright Phillips experienced pleasure and pain today.

The 21-year-old opened his account in the Premiership this season with two goals.

However he was red-carded by referee Steve Bennett after picking up two yellow cards.

Nicolas Anelka also grabbed a double to take his tally to 10 with Bolton’s normally reliable goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen having a match to forget.

It was just the result City manager Kevin Keegan wanted after the UEFA Cup defeat of Lokeren in midweek.

Paulo Wanchope, who won the crucial penalty in Belgium, had to settle for a place on the bench with Robbie Fowler recalled.

Midfielders Claudio Reyna and Joey Barton were also back in the team at the expense of Trevor Sinclair and Paul Bosvelt.

Bolton striker Kevin Davies picked up a booking inside the first minute by sliding in on Sun Jihai.

City were the first to show. Steve McManaman tried to release Fowler after nine minutes but Simon Charlton made a timely interception.

Michael Tarnat then flighted a free-kick into the area for the home side but Sylvain Distin was unable to get a vital touch.

Bolton almost took the lead after 17 minutes in their first attack of the game.

Stelios Giannakopolous got clear and fired in a shot that goalkeeper David Seaman did well to parry.

Bolton were growing in confidence and two minutes later Bruno N’Gotty flicked a header wide of the post following a free-kick from Giannakopolous.

Play switched down the other end and Fowler managed to get a shot on target only for Ricardo Gardner to clear.

Bolton took the lead after 26 minutes when Bruno N’Gotty launched a long ball forward and City defender David Sommeil got the slightest of touches.

It arrived at the feet of Kevin Nolan four yards out and he made no mistake.

City equalised two minutes later with a marvellous goal from Wright-Phillips, who chipped Jaaskelainen from an acute angle.

It was the first goal by Wright-Phillips in the Premiership this season and he took his shirt off in celebration to earn a booking from referee Steve Bennett.

Anelka should have put the home side ahead but dragged his effort wide of the post.

There was little to choose between both sides approaching the interval with chances at both ends.

Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen reacted swiftly to push away a shot from Anelka, whose pace had taken him clear.

Bolton hit back immediately and Ivan Campo sent a header wide of the post following another good delivery from Giannakopolous.

It was a poor effort by the Spaniard as he had been left completely unmarked.

City took the lead three minutes into the second half after a moment of inspiration from Anelka.

He spun away from Emerson Thome and raced clear before picking out Distin.

The French defender kept a cool head, considering he had not scored for the club.

He produced the kind of finish any striker would have been proud of to stun Bolton.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce then introduced Mario Jardel for the ineffective Per Frandsen.

City extended their lead with two goals in two minutes and Jaaskelainen will be disappointed with both of them.

He got a hand to a shot from Wright-Phillips in the 57th minute but could not prevent it going into the net.

Then the Finnish goalkeeper allowed Anelka to open his account when he was beaten at the near post.

Bolton pulled a goal back through Campo on the hour when he delivered a powerful shot beyond Seaman.

Wright-Phillips was then sent off after picking up his second yellow card for a challenge on Simon Charlton.

Anelka grabbed his second goal of the game in the 72nd minute to make it 5-2 to 10-man City.

That took the French striker’s tally to 10 and his surging runs gave Bolton a harrowing afternoon.

Reyna completed the scoring in the 84th minute, knocking the ball in at the far post.

It was devastating result for Allardyce, who chalks up four years in charge on his 49th birthday on Sunday.