Bolton stung by Lescott

Nicolas Anelka, who signed a new four-year contract with Bolton this week, had volleyed home a 55th-minute equaliser as just reward for the home side's domination up to that point.

That cancelled out Ayegbeni Yakubu's 11th-minute opener as the striker made a perfect start to his Everton career following his £11.25million move from Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

It is now four defeats in five games for Bolton boss Sammy Lee, while Everton are hot on the heels of Merseyside rivals Liverpool at the top of the table.

Despite Bolton controlling the opening 10 minutes, Everton broke and the ball fell to Andy Johnson, who first rode a sliding challenge from Gerald Cid before driving into the penalty area.

Johnson side-footed to the Nigerian Yakubu had no trouble in despatching the opener from eight yards, his 62nd goal in 154 Premier League appearances.

Finally the breakthrough came for the Trotters after 55 minutes, with Anelka rifling a right-foot volley in off the underside of the bar after Phil Jagielka had tried to clear an El Hadji Diouf cross.

Thomas Gravesen was introduced just after the hour, the Dane making his second debut for the Toffees after signing on loan from Celtic.

With the game end to end, Abdoulaye Meite then forced a reaction save from Tim Howard, prior to Leon Osman sidefooting over the bar from 12 yards.

Then, just 75 seconds from the end of normal time, Lescott grabbed the winner as he rose in between half-time sub Andy O'Brien and Jlloyd Samuel to nod home a Gravesen corner