Yakubu´s debut strike helps Everton sink Bolton

AFP - 1 September 2007 19:20

Ayegbeni Yakubu is seen during a training session in May 2006. Joleon Lescott´s last minute winner gave Yakubu the perfect Everton debut as the Nigerian struck to help his side win 2-1 at Bolton on Saturday.

BOLTON, England (AFP) - Joleon Lescott's last minute winner gave Ayegbeni Yakubu the perfect Everton debut as the Nigerian struck to help his side win 2-1 at Bolton on Saturday.

Yakubu took just 10 minutes to get off the mark for his new club and, after Nicolas Anelka had levelled for Bolton, Lescott popped up to send David Moyes's side into second place in the Premier League.

Moyes will be relieved to see Yakubu make a immediate impact after splashing out a club record 11.25million pounds for the former Middlesbrough player.

His side have enjoyed a fine start to the season and could be on course to challenge for a place in the top four.

In contrast Sammy Lee will be feeling the heat at Bolton after a fourth defeat in five matches. Lee must thought things were looking up when he persuaded Anelka to sign a new four-year contract this week and also held onto El-Hadji Diouf.

Bolton had ended a three-match losing run by beating Reading last weekend, but there was no sign that victory had done much for their confidence.

Andy Johnson cut through the home defence early on and it took a crude tackle from Gerald Cid to halt his run.

It was a warning that Bolton failed to heed.

The size of Yakubu's transfer fee made the capricous forward something of a risky investment but Everton got an early repayment in the 10th minute.

Moyes has often played with one frontman but his decision to pair Yakubu with Johnson was rewarded as the England striker surged past Cid into the area

He unselfishly squared the ball to Yakubu, who gratefully tap home from close range.

It was the Nigerian's first goal since February 24, ending a 14-game barren spell with Middlesbrough prior to joining Everton this week.

Bolton finally came to life after that and Mikel Alonso's powerful shot forced a fine stop from Tim Howard.

El Hadji Diouf thought he had won a penalty when he appeared to be fouled by Lee Carsley that referee Peter Walton instantly waved away appeals.

Diouf was furious and his concentration may still have been elsewhere when he blazed Kevin Davies's flick over the bar.

A fiesty game came to the boil when Nicky Hunt was booked for a crunching challenge on Yakubu.

But Bolton have always thrived on a physical encounter and they kept the pressure on.

Alonso was unlucky not to equalise five minutes before half-time with a fierce long-range drive that crashed against the crossbar.

The home side only had to wait 10 minutes into the second half before they drew level. Everton's Phil Jagielka headed Diouf's chipped pass to Anelka and the France forward volley home the equaliser off the underside of the crossbar.

Kevin Nolan should have put Bolton ahead soon after but volleyed wide from Diouf's cross.

Bolton eventually ran out of steam and the match looked destined to end all square. But Lescott stole the points for Everton when he rose above Andy O'Brien and Jlloyd Samuel to head in Thomas Gravesen's corner in stoppage time.