Last-gasp Bolton thwart Everton

Paul Gascoigne's goal was his first for over two years

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Bolton 2-2 Everton

Michael Ricketts grabbed a late equaliser as Bolton fought back to deny Everton victory at the Reebok Stadium.

Paul Gascoigne's 57th-minute strike looked to have consigned Wanderers to a fourth successive loss at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton took a 10th-minute lead through Per Frandsen's 25-yard free kick.

  Key moments

10 mins: Frandsen gives Bolton the lead

43 mins: Stubbs hits the equaliser from 30 yards

57 mins: Gascoigne puts Everton ahead

87 mins: Diawara sent off

93 mins: Ricketts hits Bolton's second

But Alan Stubbs equalised against his old club with a spectacular 30-yard strike shortly before half-time.

Bolton threw men forward after Gascoigne's goal but were down to ten men after Djibrill Diawara's 87th-minute dismissal.

But then came Ricketts' injury-time equaliser with almost the last kick of the game.

Bolton suffered an early blow when goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, available again after suspension, injured his back during the warm-up.

That meant an unexpected debut for 38-year-old Kevin Poole, who signed a short-term contract last week.

Everton, with Gascoigne and Thomas Gravesen looking dangerous, had the better of the opening exchanges but soon fell behind.

Losing our fourth home game on the trot would have been devastating, but to come back in the 93rd minute when we are down to 10 men is a credit to the players

Bolton boss
Sam Allardyce

After a foul by Everton skipper David Weir on Kevin Nolan, Frandsen caught the visitors napping.

His quickly taken free-kick beat Steve Simonsen, making his Premiership goalkeeping debut for Everton.

Bolton almost added a second on 22 minutes when Ricardo Gardner headed goalwards from a Michael Ricketts cross, but Alessandro Pistone just managed to divert the ball to safety.

Everton's equaliser came against the run of play in the 43rd minute when Niclas Alexandersson rolled a free-kick to Gascoigne.

He held it up for defender Stubbs to lash home from long range for his first goal since joining Everton from Celtic in the summer.

That was a couple of points thrown away. We struggled to handle their set plays for a time when they were throwing everything in

Everton manager
Walter Smith

Bolton went behind through Gascoigne's first goal for Everton - his first since September 1999.

The former England midfielder swept the ball home from the edge of the area after Tomas Radzinski had flicked on a Gary Naysmith cross.

Diawara, on for Simon Charlton who was injured in a collision with Poole, was red-carded for a reckless challenge on David Unsworth.

He had almost gifted Everton a third goal when he allowed Radzinski to get goal side of him but he lofted his effort over the top.

But Bolton contined to press and finally got their just reward when Ricketts managed to get a touch to Bergsson's flick-on from a corner.

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Bolton: Poole, N'Gotty, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton, Nolan, Warhurst, Frandsen, Gardner, Wallace, Ricketts. Subs: Holdsworth, Farrelly, Diawara, Nishizawa, Banks.

Everton: Simonsen, Unsworth, Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Naysmith, Gascoigne, Gravesen, Gemmill, Alexandersson, Radzinski. Subs: Gerrard, Tal, Moore, Cleland, Cadamarteri.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)