Everton 1-2 Bolton: keeper Howard scores

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For Bolton, at last it is an ill wind that blows no good.

Owen Coyle's side must have thought their incredible misfortune this season had plumbed new depths when they trailed to a gale assisted goal from Everton keeper Tim Howard.

But for once, the forces of nature that have contrived to thwart Wanderers this season could not prevent them from recording only their second away win of the season.

Impossible goal or not, that most unlikely goal of this or any other season served not to destroy them, but this time rouse them into what will surely be a vital victory in their battle for survival.




And just for good measure, their winner was scored by defender Gary Cahill, who put aside his impending departure to make what could be one final massive contribution to the club.

A victory seemed the last possibility though, for Bolton when Howard managed the first goal of his illustrious career, and quite possibly the most remarkable this famous old stadium has witnessed.

Fielding a backpass from defender Sylvain Distin, he launched a kick upfield, and watched in studied amazement as the wind caught hold of the ball on the bounce outside the visiting penalty area, and carried it in an impossible arc over Adam Bogdan.

That came in the 63rd minute, and seemed to sum up Bolton's desperately unlucky season. Given their form in recent weeks, a comeback seemed an impossibility.

But perhaps roused by the perversity of the Gods, their anger translated into a remarkable fightback, and within four minutes they were level, when Mark Davies' ball found itself to David Ngog via a poor Louis Saha attempt at a block, and the former Liverpool man finished perfectly for only his second goal for his new club.

If that seemed unlikely, then Cahill proved that the ill wind isn't blowing in just one direction for Wanderers. He has been the subject of much fevered speculation over a move to Chelsea and latterly Spurs - with their boss Harry Redknapp an interested spectator last night.

Many thought he shouldn't even play, but he proved his value to the club he skippers by popping up 12 minutes from time to move onto a fine reverse pass from Chris Eagles to finish emphatically from close range.

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