Bolton Wanderers grabbed their first home win of the season beating a Stoke City side that have now lost their last two league games.
Two goals in the first half from Kevin Davies and Chris Eagles proved a taste of things to come for the Trotters fans who went on to see an inspired performance from their players against an insipid Stoke side.
Eagles got his brace during an outstanding man-of-the-match display from the winger, with Ivan Klasnic also grabbing two goals to give the Lancashire outfit a much needed lift in their first home league win since April.
Bolton briskly took the lead with the game’s first action following a pass-back handled by Asmir Begovic.
The free kick just inside the Stoke box was taken immediately by a sharp minded Klasnic and put through skipper Kevin Davies with an open goal to put the ball past a bemused Potters keeper.
Peter Crouch was given a great chance to equalise just minutes later as strong running from Jermaine Pennant allowed the former Liverpool man to pop in a low ball across the Bolton area.
The Stoke forward got a slight touch on the cross to poke it towards Jussi Jaaskelainen, but the Finnish keeper got just enough on it to deflect it clear.
Stoke enjoyed their fair share of possession after the game had calmed down, with the ever threatening long-throw from Rory Delap entering the Bolton box on numerous occasions within the first 25 minutes.
However, the Potters were eventually punished for not spending their time on the ball more wisely after a stunning strike from Eagles doubled the Trotters’ lead with less than half an hour played.
A hesitant clearance from Begovic found the winger and the former Burnley man blasted the ball from around 30 yards.
Eagles again got himself in the mix for the move that led to Bolton’s third after 61 minutes, with the midfielder putting the ball into Robinson’s feet, and the full-back then proceeding to lay the ball perfectly for Klasnic to sweetly thunder past Begovic.
It was four for Bolton after Eagles again put himself into the heat of the action, this time as the goalscorer, popping the ball past Begovic after being put through by Klasnic.
Stoke’s efforts to even grab a consolation were bettered by the Bolton defence who constantly kept on top of their game to keep them from getting even a sniff at goal.
The result was put beyond even further doubt after Klasnic scored his second from a close-range effort in the Stoke box, with a floundering Begovic failing to get a proper touch on the ball, sending the Bolton faithful into raptures.
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