Nolan goal ends Pompey run

Portsmouth 0 Bolton 1

Portsmouth suffered their first defeat of the season tonight, conceded their first goal in 472 minutes of Premiership play and saw their flying start to the campaign pulled down to earth by Kevin Nolan’s strike and Bolton’s rearguard action.

It came on a sad day for the south-coast club, with former chairman Milan Mandaric waving his farewell to fans and the news former Pompey and Uruguay striker Dario Silva had been involved in a road crash resulting in him having a leg amputated.

Bolton came to Fratton Park for the battle between two clubs whose managers had both been featured in the controversial Panorama investigation last week which alleged illegal practices within the game.

But neither Harry Redknapp or Sam Allardyce looked to be distracted from their focus and it was an absorbing contest resulting in Bolton moving into the top six.

Pompey set the early pace on an emotional night. Mandaric waved goodbye to the fans after seven years at the helm having bought the club out of administration in 1999 and propelled it into the Premiership within four years.

Mandaric, 67, has handed Pompey over to new supremo Sacha Gaydamak, the property magnate whose money has helped turn Pompey into a new Premiership force.

Their massive improvement showed in the opening moves from the hosts which were slick and confident and stretched Bolton to the limit.

Twice in the opening 20 minutes goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had to produce splendid saves to deny wide midfielders Matt Taylor and Gary O’Neil.

Sol Campbell cruised into the area to plant a header just wide from Taylor’s second-minute corner.

And three minutes later Sean Davis’ low drive came back off a post straight into the goalkeeper’s arms after Benjani Mwaruwari nodded down a Kanu cross.

Ivan Campo was booked trying to cope with the awkward but lively Kanu and the big Nigerian turned full circle to test Jaaskelainen again.

But Bolton, with Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf and comeback striker Kevin Davies inter changing cleverly in attack took the lead somewhat against the run of play when Nolan struck from 18-yards.

Portsmouth Linvoy Primus headed Tal Ben Haim’s 45-yard free-kick back out to the fringe of the penalty area and Nolan struck it powerfully and low past David James for the first goal Pompey have conceded in six league games, preserving Chelsea’s clean-sheet record of six in a row from the start of a season.

It subdued the Pompey crowd for a while and their team struggled to find a foothold back into the match.

Davis chipped his through pass too long for the lurking Kanu in the 32nd minute, skipper Dejan Stefanovic had a low shot smothered and Anelka had a heading chance at the other end but nodded Diouf’s pass straight at James.

Fortune favoured Bolton’s bravery six minutes before the break when defender Abdoulaye Faye allowed Glen Johnson’s long ball to bounce past him towards Jaaskelainen but did not reckon for Benjani’s pace.

The striker stuck out a foot to lift the ball over the keeper but saw it slip past a post.

And Jaaskelainen celebrated the escape with another good stop from Davis just before the break.

Benjani made himself a chance early in the second half when taking Johnson’s pass and pushing past Abdoulaye Meite but finished disappointingly wide of the near post.

It was clear by now to Redknapp that Pompey needed the dynamic qualities of Lomana LuaLua and the Congo striker was sent on from the bench with more than 30 minutes still to go.

His first two attempts at running through came to grief and Bolton’s defensive screen looked ominously strong as Kanu and Benjani faded.

Nolan could have put them out of their misery with a second goal on 73 minutes but he stabbed over the bar from close range after Campo’s long throw skimmed off Primus’ head into the six-yard box.

It was Pompey’s last throw of the dice when Manuel Fernandes, the 21-year-old Portuguese international, came on as a sub with 15 minutes to go.

Although he showed some flamboyant touches Redknapp’s side were reduced to a series of goalmouth scrambles in search of an equaliser that rarely looked like coming.