Bolton 2, Watford 1

IN A proverbial game of two halves, Bolton battled back from an early shock to beat Watford and move level with the Hornets on points. Second half goals from Ricardo Gardner and Ian Marshall ensured the points stayed in the North West.

The Hornets stung their hosts with a gifted goal inside three minutes. Paul Warhurst tamely passed towards his keeper. Tommy Smith nipped onto the loose ball, rounded Jussi Jaaskelainen and slotted home.

Wanderers' tactic of playing Michael Ricketts as a lone striker restricted them to the long ball and they rarely looked like breaking down Watford's solid defence. Gardner came the closest on 20 minutes forcing Norwegian keeper Espen Baardsen to tip his 20 yard effort over.

Watford dominated the first half forcing Bolton boss Sam Allardyce to change formation for the second period. Marshall replaced Ricketts and Bo Hansen moved up front with him.

After seeing seven corners wasted, Bolton finally found the breakthrough on 70 minutes. Farrelly's persistence down the left forced Watford skipper Robert Page into an error, the ball squirted out to Gardner who sidefooted into the top of the net. Nine minutes later it was two. Another Page slip was fed through to Hansen. Slipping one challenge his shot was saved by Baardsen but the loose ball fell to Marshall who tapped in from two yards.