(AP Photo/Jon Super)

Bolton Wanderers 1, Newcastle United 0

By TIM SPIERS

LONDON (SE) - Substitute Ricardo Gardner scored the decisive goal as Bolton beat Newcastle 1-0 at the Reebok on Sunday.

The Jamaica international had only been on the field for two minutes when he guided home Matty Taylor's cross past Steve Harper following a flowing Bolton move.

The goal took the stuffing out of Newcastle, who didn't test Jussi Jaaskelainen enough to warrant a point and were punished for a stagnant display.

With Bolton announcing before the kick off that boss Gary Megson had signed a new rolling contract, it was a day of celebration for the Trotters who moved up to tenth in the Premier League table.

Trotters midfielder Taylor said the win was key to his side's relegation battle.

"I think it takes the pressure off. We're looking upwards instead of downwards," said Taylor. "We've been playing decent stuff. That's three wins on the bounce at home so we're very pleased."

Before the game both sides talked of continuing good recent form to pull clear of the bottom three, but it was all Bolton in the opening stages as Newcastle struggled to cope.

Johan Elmander was in the thick of the action for Bolton, and went close when his shot from a tight angle was cleared off the line by Jose Enrique.

The Swedish forward, who cost eight million pounds when he joined from Toulouse in the summer, then drilled a close-range shot comfortably over Steve Harper's bar after a good cross from Taylor.

And Elmander's misery was compounded by a third missed chance when he mis-hit a shot from Kevin Davies' pass.

Newcastle regrouped and started to press forward, led by the flying wing play of Jonas Gutierrez.

The Argentinian consistently had the beating of Bolton right-back Gretar Steinsson, and drilled a low shot at Jaaskelainen minutes after Peter Lovenkrands went close with a lung-bursting run and shot.Obafemi Martins, making his first start for over two months, was also looking threatening and went close with two headers, one from a corner which Jaaskelainen tipped wide, and then an unmarked attempt from eight yards which was criminally put wide.

The half time whistle was the last thing Newcastle wanted, and they had barely had time to regain the momentum after the break when Gardner gave Bolton the lead.

Gardner, on as a half-time substitute, side-footed an impressive finish past Harper after Taylor had crossed from the right.

As Bolton sat back on their lead, Newcastle struggled to make any headway and it was nearly 30 minutes until the next meaningful effort on goal from either side, when Shola Ameobi saw a daisy-cutter pushed wide by Jaaskelainen.

The visitors then thought they should have had a penalty when Fabricio Coloccini saw his shot blocked by the arm of JLloyd Samuel at close range, but referee Alan Wiley was unmoved and aside from Geremi and Lovenkrands shots which whistled just wide, Newcastle didn't threaten again.

Caretaker boss Chris Hughton was pleased with his side's performance, if not the result.

He said: "To come here against a direct side, a very strong side and be able to contain them for the large majority of the game speaks volumes."

Updated March 1, 2009