A new Manchester City star was born in winger Adam Johnson as the Blues nudged up towards the top four with a 2-0 victory over Bolton.

Strike duo Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor might have scored the goals that leave City trailing fourth-placed Liverpool on goal difference, but there was no doubt Johnson was the real star.

Signed for £8million from Middlesbrough on deadline day, the 22-year-old left to a standing ovation six minutes from time after providing most of the thrills on a chilly evening.

It was Johnson who won the penalty that Tevez converted to put City ahead after 31 minutes. And although fellow new-boy Patrick Vieira set up Adebayor to seal victory, it was Johnson who kept Bolton on the back foot and ensured there was no second away point of the season for Owen Coyle, whose only other one came on this ground in November when he was still at Burnley.

It is a run that must end quickly given Bolton could easily find themselves in the drop zone after Wednesday`s games and facing Coyle with a massive job to prove it was not a mistake to bring him in to replace Gary Megson.

What the Trotters can certainly do without is the kind of rash tackle Paul Robinson made to chop down Johnson, when the only place he seemed to be heading was over the goal-line.

Referee Mike Jones had no doubt it was a penalty despite Robinson's protests, TV replays indicating the Bolton full-back was engaging in a cover-up exercise given the ridiculous nature of his challenge.

Adebayor added a second in the 73rd minute as he ran onto Vieira's elegant chipped through ball.

A chest control and crisp, volleyed finish came straight out of the textbook and Adebayor raced away to celebrate.