Stoke City 2-0 Bolton

The smile was back on the face of Stoke manager Tony Pulis as goals from Danny Higginbotham and Matthew Etherington gave his side victory against Bolton at the Britannia Stadium.

Before kick-off Pulis was shaken by the news his proposed move for Demba Ba for a reported £7.1 million had broke down after Hoffenheim's Senegal striker failed a medical.

But the manager's mood would soon have changed thanks to a comfortable win with the goals coming either side of half-time.

Even though they were bolstered by the return of midfielder Stuart Holden, Bolton were always second best as they slumped to their fifth successive defeat on the road.

Bolton 1-1 Wigan

Ronnie Stam scored an 80th-minute equaliser to salvage a precious point for Wigan and leave high-flying neighbours Bolton bitterly frustrated with a 1-1 draw.

When on-loan Benfica forward Rodrigo Moreno produced a delightful finish to put Owen Coyle's men ahead in the 54th minute, the stage was set for the Trotters to emerge victorious.

Wigan had already lost on-loan playmaker Tom Cleverley to injury in the 12th minute and saw goalkeeper Chris Kirkland carried off on a stretcher shortly after the hour mark.

Yet Latics boss Roberto Martinez has fashioned a side with guts.

His men refused to lie down and Dutchman Stam, a summer signing from FC Twente, stabbed home at the far post in the 80th minute to claim his first Wigan goal and earn a booking for his celebrations in front of the visiting supporters.

Liverpool 2-1 Bolton

Liverpool earned manager Roy Hodgson some breathing space, but nothing more, with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bolton at Anfield.

With reports suggesting owners New England Sports Ventures are now actively seeking a replacement, the 63-year-old knows he is living on borrowed time after a woeful six months in charge.

When Kevin Davies headed in Matt Taylor's 43rd-minute free-kick things looked even worse for Hodgson, but a revitalised Torres volleyed home an equaliser before Cole tapped in his first league goal for the club he joined in the summer.

The result came as a welcome relief to Hodgson after back-to-back Premier League defeats, but it may only give the Reds boss a temporary stay of execution.

Chelsea 1-0 Bolton

It was ugly, scrappy and lucky, but Chelsea will not care one jot as they ended their worst Barclays Premier League run for more than a decade by beating Bolton 1-0.

Florent Malouda scored his first league goal for more than two months to send the faltering champions back into the top four and ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Didier Drogba also hit the post but was forced to clear off the line as Bolton had more than enough chances to snatch a point.

Chelsea's first league win in seven lifted them back to within four points of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.

Bolton 2-0 West Brom

Goals from Matt Taylor and Johan Elmander gave Bolton a Boxing Day victory over a West Brom side who were made to pay for failing to take their chances.

The Baggies had by far the better of the chances in both halves, with Peter Odemwingie squandering three great opportunities and Chris Brunt heading against a post.

But they simply could not find the net and, after Taylor gave Wanderers the lead with his first goal of the season in the 40th minute, Elmander made the points safe four minutes from time.

Defences were certainly on top in the early stages and it took until the 16th minute for the first shot of the match, Graham Dorrans firing straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Sunderland 1-0 Bolton

Danny Welbeck's fifth goal of the season saw Sunderland leapfrog Premier League surprise package Bolton and strengthen their claims on Europe.

The striker, on loan from Manchester United, stooped to head home from close range after Jussi Jaaskelainen had turned away Darren Bent's 32nd-minute shot.

However, keeper Craig Gordon had to pull off a superb 45th-minute save to deny defender Zat Knight an equaliser. Victory saw the Black Cats climb above the visitors into sixth place to cement their excellent start to the season as they gave a crowd of 35,101 something to cheer on a bitterly cold Wearside afternoon.

Bolton 2-1 Blackburn

Stuart Holden fired home a dramatic late winner for 10-man Bolton at the Reebok Stadium just seconds after Mame Biram Diouf appeared to have snatched Blackburn a point.

The American drilled home a stunning 88th-minute finish while the visitors were still celebrating their equaliser by substitute Diouf at the other end moments earlier.

Owen Coyle's men had played with 10 men since Mark Davies' 56th-minute dismissal for an apparent elbow, but they still grabbed a 65th-minute lead through Fabrice Muamba.

And just when Rovers appeared to have made their desperate pressure tell, American Holden raced on to a neat header down from Kevin Davies to smash his rising shot past Paul Robinson.

Kevin Davies slams Manchester City's conduct

Bolton striker Kevin Davies has branded Manchester City's conduct as "embarrassing'' and questioned the apparently fragile team spirit at Eastlands.

Kevin Davies believes Manchester City's players were going down to easily on Saturday

City moved just three points off top spot with their 1-0 weekend win over the Trotters at Eastlands. Carlos Tevez's early goal did the damage, although the Argentinian's petulant reaction to being substituted late in the game was an even bigger discussion point.

Davies is not convinced that gave off the correct signals and he was even less impressed at so many of the City players collapsing in mock agony during a keenly-fought duel.

Manchester City 1-0 Bolton

Carlos Tevez sealed Manchester City's victory with his 10th goal of the season to keep up the pressure on the Premier League leaders.

However the Argentina striker seemed ill at ease as Bolton's five-match unbeaten run came to an end.

Tevez picked up his fifth booking of the campaign and will miss the match against West Ham on Saturday.

So too will Aleksander Kolarov who is also banned after being dismissed by referee Andre Marriner after picking two yellow cards.

Tevez ended the game giving manager Roberto Mancini an ear-bashing when he was replaced by James Milner in the final minute.

City should have won by more than one goal with both Mario Balotelli and David Silva seeing shots come back off the woodwork.

Bolton 2-2 Blackpool

Bolton's famous battling qualities were on full show in the home draw against Blackpool as they dug deep to come from 2-0 down late on to salvage a point.

The hero was Mark Davies, who would not have been in the side had it not been for Stuart Holden's thigh injury, who fired home in the 89th minute to round off a glorious team move and snatch what seemed an unlikely result with 15 minutes remaining.

Substitute Martin Petrov had pulled one back for Wanderers in the 76th minute.

Bolton Wanderers 5 - 1 Newcastle United

Kevin Nolan's big return to Bolton turned sour in spectacular fashion as he gave away an early penalty and could do nothing to prevent his old club soaring to the dizzy heights of fourth in the Barclays Premier League with a sensational 5-1 win.

Kevin Davies hit a brace from the spot and in-form Johan Elmander also scored two as Owen Coyle's men brushed aside the beleaguered Magpies, who finished with 10 men after the late sending-off of Fabricio Coloccini.

Nolan's first appearance at the Reebok Stadium since his £4million move to Newcastle in January last year had started with a rousing reception from the home fans but quickly turned sour as Chris Hughton's men slid to a dismal defeat.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 3 Bolton Wanderers

Bolton survived a late comeback by Wolves to take all three points from a thrilling contest at Molineux.

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Wolves dominated the opening period but shot themselves in the foot - as they had in their previous game - by conceding a goal in the first minute, Richard Stearman heading past his own goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

Second-half strikes from Johan Elmander and Stuart Holden gave Bolton a 3-0 lead, and although Kevin Foley and Steven Fletcher swiftly reduced the deficit, Mick McCarthy's side were unable to find the equaliser.

Everton 1 - 1 Bolton Wanderers

Jermaine Beckford hit a brilliant late equaliser as 10-man Everton snatched a point in a 1-1 draw against Bolton.

The Toffees were destined for their first defeat in seven Premier League games when the former Leeds striker fired over Jussi Jaaskelainen deep into injury time at Goodison Park.

Ivan Klasnic had come off the bench to give Bolton the lead 11 minutes from time and worse followed as Marouane Fellaini was sent off for kicking Paul Robinson.

Bolton Wanderers 4 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham, conquerors of Champions League holders Inter Milan in midweek, had to settle for second best at the Reebok Stadium despite a rousing comeback.


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Trailing 3-0 they scored twice in the last 11 minutes thanks to Alan Hutton and substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko.

However Martin Petrov stepped off the bench to seal Bolton's victory in stoppage time with a fine solo effort.

Klasnic re-bailed in rape probe

Bolton Wanderers striker Ivan Klasnic was re-bailed on monday over an allegation that he raped a 17-year-old girl.

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Ivan Klasnic: Questioned by police

Bolton Wanderers 0 - 1 Liverpool

Maxi Rodriguez struck a late winner at Bolton as relieved Liverpool finally climbed out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.
 
The Argentinian latched onto a brilliant Fernando Torres backheel to settle a competitive encounter at the Reebok Stadium four minutes from time.

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Both sides created numerous chances in an evenly-matched contest but Liverpool left satisfied knowing their near month-long stay in the bottom three was over.

Unsuprising Premier League Successes

With John Terry and Rio Ferdinand both looking uncertainly at their futures as age and injury begin to take their toll, two much criticised central defenders who would hardly have been in the thoughts of England fans until now and who would probably bring any England manager who dared pick them far more criticism even than the recent choices of Kevin Davies and Shaun Wright-Phillips in Fabio Capello’s most recent England squad, have both been enjoying a renaissance in their club football so far this season. I speak, somewhat unexpectedly, of Sunderland’s Titus Bramble and Bolton’s Zat Knight.

Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers 2 - 1 Stoke City

An American in Bolton

Whenever an American player heads overseas, the move is fraught with questions. Will he settle in quickly and crack the starting lineup, or will he find himself in purgatory, forgotten, and left to rot on the bench?

Fortunately for Bolton Wanderers and U.S. international midfielder Stuart Holden, getting playing time at a top club hasn't been a problem.