EVERTON BEAT BOLTON

ABOVE: Pienaar delivers the killer blow

Everton 2 Bolton 0

THERE may be sinking ships across the park from Goodison, according to Liverpool’s Albert Riera.

But at Everton, they’re ­cruising along ­nicely – thanks to a one-man Spanish armada.

Mikel Arteta is his name and scoring is his game. Bolton must be as sick of Arteta as their boss Owen Coyle is of referee Alan Wiley – who sent off defender Gretar Steinsson for stopping Yakubu in his tracks in the 70th minute.

But that couldn’t spoil the day for Everton, who have now notched seven straight Goodison league wins for the first time in 20 years.

And there was celebration too for captain Phil Neville on his 200th game since joining from Manchester United – his 160th wearing the Everton armband.

Neville lapped up leading his side to this win as Steven Pienaar added a second to send ­Bolton home pointless.

There was no hint of the late goal-rush in a drab affair which looked to be heading for a scoring blank until Everton finally woke up.

The game opened brightly enough. After just five minutes Victor Anichebe was put through by Tim Cahill but he dithered over his shot and keeper Paul Robinson flew in to block.

That sparked Bolton into action and Chung-Yong Lee’s free-kick curled into the ­danger area but Zat Knight couldn’t find the net.

Anichebe, fouled by Robinson, was carried off in the 15th minute before Bolton produced a magnificent move.

It was begun by big striker Johan Elmander who involved Lee. He, in turn, found Jack Wilshere with a cheeky back-heel and when Jack-the-Lad fed Kevin Davies you would have put any money on the skipper scoring.

But his shot was saved one-handed by Tim Howard and the chance was gone.

Everton cranked up the pressure after the break with Arteta pulling the strings. He tried everything but Bolton stood strong.

The fans’ impatience grew with thumping fists on wooden barriers and plenty of cat-calls and jeers. It finally brought a ­reaction from the bench when boss David Moyes threw on striker Louis Saha for out-of-sorts Cahill.

Then came the flashpoint when Steinsson was sent off. Pienaar delivered a ball into the heart of the Bolton defence to Yakubu whose ­path was blocked by last man Steinsson and Mr ­Wiley immediately flashed his red card.

When peace was finally restored Arteta took the free-kick and sent a beauty over the wall and into the top corner.

It could have been two when sub Leon Osman hit the bar following up ­John Heitinga’s spilled shot.

But it really was all over when ­Osman pulled the ball back from the by-line and ­Pienaar drilled into the bottom corner for No.2.

Coyle disputed the sending-off and accused Arteta of moving the ball forward before firing in his free-kick opener.

He said: “Arteta moved the ball another four yards nearer our goal. He’s far more dangerous from that position.”

Moyes disagreed. “I didn’t see Arteta move the ball forward,” he said. “And I’ve seen the sending off again and the referee got it right.”

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