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Nolan fires Bolton up to third

07/11/2005

Bolton have climbed to third in the Premiership after a 1-0 victory over Spurs at the Reebok Stadium.

Kevin Nolan's sublime first-half strike proved to be the only goal of the game as high-flying Spurs failed to breakdown a resilient Bolton side.

Nolan scored the game's first and only goal on 32 minutes and with a strike worthy of settling any match.

The Scouser hit a wonder strike past Paul Robinson from 25 yards after an interchange of passing between El-Hadji Diouf and Kevin Davies following Juusi Jaaskelainen's long punt up field.

Spurs would have been level almost immediately if it had not been for a marginal offside decision. Defoe had the ball in the net yet was perhaps harshly ruled offside.

Nolan almost doubled his side's lead just before half time. He beat Robinson for the second time of the night but his 18-yard effort came back off the post.

Spurs were largely restricted in front of goal in the first period, yet were brighter after the interval and twice hit the frame of Jaaskelainen's goal.

Mido was the first to hit the woodwork after the Bolton defence had failed to clear.

Paul Stalteri came close to equalising in stoppage time, his cross-shot beat the stranded Finnish keeper yet came back off the bar.

Bolton's victory lifts Sam Allardyce's side above local rivals Manchester United, with Spurs sixth in the table.

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