Bolton turn the corner

Bolton 4 Charlton 1: Sam Allardyce won the battle of the prospective England managers with Alan Curbishley hands down.

From a domestic point of view as well Allardyce will just be delighted that his Bolton side are back on track.

This was their first win in seven games and a place in the UEFA Cup for a second successive season remains a possibility.

As for Charlton boss Curbishley his side only began to get into the game in the second half when they were 3-0 down.

If only they had shown as much ambition as their manager in hoping to step onto the international stage then it might have been a different story at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton were in charge right from the off and Hidetoshi Nakata whipped in a shot after three minutes that went narrowly wide of the post.

The Japan midfielder threaded the ball through to Jared Borgetti a minute later but he was slow to react and the chance was lost.

Bolton kept up the pressure and Ricardo Vaz Te headed into goalkeeper Thomas Myhre's arms after a long free kick from Ben Haim.

The breakthrough came in the 13th minute with Vaz Te scoring his first goal in the top flight.

The 19-year-old Portuguese striker got on the end of a delightful cross from Nakata to flight a header beyond Myhre.

Vaz Te then picked out Borgetti, who had drifted into the area, but his shot was blocked.

Bolton extended their lead in the 20th minute when Kevin Davies scored from close range after Borgetti's header had come off the post.

Charlton were being stretched at the back and this was a worrying spell for the visitors.

Bolton almost added a third in the 28th minute but Nakata's shot from an acute angle was saved at the second attempt by Myhre.

The home side did not have to wait long though with Borgetti finding the target three minutes later after a clever flick from Davies.

The Mexico striker showed a clean pair of heels to Perry before finding the corner with his effort.

Considering they had not scored in their previous four games this was a remarkable show of finishing power by Bolton to move into a 3-0 lead.

Bolton were able to spray the ball around at will and Curbishley was left looking on in disbelief at his side's lack of ambition.

Darren Ambrose and Dennis Rommedahl paid the price for a poor first half display by being replaced by Jonathan Fortune and Jay Bothroyd.

Ivan Campo almost added a fourth for Bolton in the 51st minute when he rattled in a shot from distance.

Myhre, however, stood tall and showed good reflexes to parry the ball to safety.

England prospect Darren Bent, who had been anonymous, then needed treatment following a challenge from Nakata.

Charlton were looking bit more solid at the start of the second half but it was goals they needed more than anything.

Gary Speed strode forward for Bolton on the hour but his pass to Borgetti, in a good position, was too strong and the chance was lost.

Then Speed tried to pick out Davies at the back post with a cross only to put too much weight on the ball again.

The home crowd were anxious for another goal in the second half but entertainment was now at a premium.

Davies should have made it 4-0 in the 71st minute but scuffed his shot in front of the posts.

Charlton pulled a goal back in the 76th minute when Bent converted a penalty after Bothroyd had been clattered by goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Bent sent his effort into the corner to take his tally for the season in the league to 18.

Davies had the last word for Bolton, though, getting his second goal of the game two minutes from time after a mistake by Myhre.