GARY Megson invited the Bolton fans to direct their anger at him rather than his players and the Trotters boss got his wish after a lacklustre performance.

Megson came out fighting after being verbally abused during Sunday's dismal 2-0 defeat at troubled Tottenham.

And the Wanderers faithful vented their frustration once more after Megson's men allowed Everton to snatch an undeserved victory with a 90th-minute winner from Maroaune Fellaini.

Cries of 'you don't know what you're doing' resounded around the Reebok after the Trotters failed to kill off an Everton team that looked every inch a side that had gone eight games without a win, despite being good value for their point against United on Saturday.

Megson was an unpopular choice as Bolton boss just over a year ago and despite overseeing a creditable UEFA Cup campaign and steering the Trotters to a late escape act last season, he is yet to win over the Wanderers fans.

An uninspiring start to the season has seen his critics come out in force once more - the Trotters slipped into the bottom three after Newcastle's win over West Brom on Tuesday.

And a third game without a goal will have done little to convince Megson's critics that he is the man to secure another season in the Premier League.

Chants of 'attack, attack, attack' during the closing stages showed exactly why many have become disillusioned with Megson, whose team simply did not put the Toffees under enough pressure to warrant a first home win since the opening day.

Instead, Megson's battle for hearts and minds will continue against City on Sunday and what better way to endear yourself to the fans than inspiring a victory over one of your bitterest rivals.

Suspended

Mustapha Riga was handed his first league start in place of the suspended Gavin McCann and cut in from the right to test Tim Howard with an early low strike.

The Dutch midfielder then directed Jlloyd Samuel's left-wing cross back into the danger zone but Matt Taylor was unable to direct his header goalwards.

Johan Elmander had a tame effort on target as Bolton continued to attack with greater purpose in the opening stages, while Fabrice Muamba and Taylor also tested Howard from distance.

With Mikel Arteta and record signing Fellaini pulling the strings in the visitors' midfield, Everton engineered two half-chances for Yakubu and Louis Saha which were easy for Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Bolton keeper couldn't hold onto a firm 20-yard strike by Saha in the 25th minute, although there were no Everton players there to take advantage.

Fellaini then headed onto the top of the netting from Phil Neville's searching right-wing cross.

The home crowd began to get restless as one Bolton attack after another faltered after a mis-placed pass, although they were stirred by a speculative strike from Taylor, which was deflected over. The Wanderers winger headed narrowly wide after Kevin Davies flicked on a long throw, and the Reebok did its best to rouse the Trotters after the restart.

Muamba had a sight of goal while Taylor again tried his luck from distance but still Bolton failed to pose any serious questions of Howard.

Taylor's teasing free-kick was then bundled behind, although Bolton's inability to deliver the final ball frequently denied them a chance to break the deadlock.

Gretar Steinsson was guilty on more than one occasion and although his low cross in the 69th minute was right on the money, Taylor failed to direct the ball goalwards from six yards.

While Bolton continued to dominate possession, the best they could muster were long-range efforts by Muamba and Riga.

Everton had a rare chance when sub Victor Anichebe headed wide from Arteta's late cross.

Yet Bolton did not heed that warning as Andy O'Brien left Fellaini completely unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box to head home from Pienaar's right-wing cross.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen 6; Steinsson 7, Cahill 6, O'Brien 6, Samuel 7; Riga 7, Muamba 6, Nolan 6, Taylor 7; Davies 6, Elmander 7.
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Subs: Cohen, Gardner, Helguson, Hunt, Shittu, Smolarek, Al Habsi.

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