Bolton Wanderers 4, Bury 0 IT was billed as 'Beauty and the Beast' -- but nobody could have predicted the happy ending in store for born-again Wanderers. Colin Todd's pass masters produced an epic performance while roughhouse Bury lost the plot completely.

It was fairytale stuff for Bolton as the Rumble at the Reebok the Shakers had planned for never materialised. Quite simply, Bury couldn't get close enough to their super slick derby rivals to impose their strongarm tactics.

This was Bolton at their formidable best and for the second time in four days they turned in an awesome display which will make their promotion rivals sit up and take notice.

They were in a different class to Neil Warnock's brave band of cut price battlers who are today sitting sunning themselves on a mid-season Caribbean break knowing that when the heat was on at the Reebok they simply had no answer.

"Bolton's movement is unbelievable," admitted Shakers midfielder Nick Daws. "The passing is quality and they rarely give the ball away.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they go on a roll now and get themselves up there with Sunderland. They will be in the top four without a shadow of a doubt.

"They are a good side and they don't give you a second chance."

Magnificent

That was certainly true on Saturday as Wanderers denied Bury the faintest hope of a way back into the game after Michael Johansen unleashed a magnificent rising left foot drive into the top corner after just 22 minutes.

It was the vital early goal Bolton needed to open up Bury's notoriously tight defensive system and create the space to make their extra quality count. And that they did in a manner which had their manager drooling about the overall team display in which every individual played his part.

"I have got to be proud because they have played in the manner that I expect them to play," he enthused.

"Our strengths are moving the ball and that's what we did and in the end we could have won by more. But I must stress it was an excellent team performance.

"I always felt that we would turn Bury over if we played to our strengths when we were in possession and work hard when we lost the ball."

Johansen's second guided missile into the top corner 12 minutes after the break broke Bury's resistance and it was just a case of how many Wanderers would score after that.

"It was all about damage limitation for us after that goal," rued Shakers boss Neil Warnock.

"We probably got Bolton a week too late because they were full of confidence after their two away wins.

"I thought we were in with a chance until the second goal which was fantastic - I even found myself clapping it which is unusual for me.

"We didn't lack for effort, my players gave everything but their ability came through." Wanderers have taken an instant liking to the new yellow ball, winning all three games since it was introduced and yet to concede a goal.

And it is that new ring of steel around Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal which is behind the revival.

Jon Newsome, in his third outing, and fellow loan ace Paul Warhurst, on his debut, formed a classy and commanding core to a defence that barely broke sweat.

Suddenly the department Wanderers' critics have constantly labelled their weak point has become the solid foundation on which their revival has been built . . . and there is Mark Fish and Gudni Bergsson ready to return which will give the manager a selection headache he will be delighted to have.

The midfield also had a formidable balanced look with the improving Claus Jensen impressing in his favoured right of centre role, Per Frandsen dominant next to him and Johansen and Scott Sellars ever willing to provide width.

As well as running Bury ragged, this quartet also made a mockery of claims Wanderers are too lightweight in the middle as they won the physical as well as the technical battle.

Up front the Arnar Gunnlaugsson--Bob Taylor partnership continued to pay dividends, Taylor making sure that when the ball reached the strikers it stayed there and Gunnlaugsson making sure it reached the back of the net.

The latter provided further evidence of his multi-million pound class with another spellbinding show capped by another two goals which takes his tally for the season to 14.

He oozed skill and composure for his 64th minute first when Neil Cox's left wing cross (what the right back was doing there is anybody's guess) eluded everyone but the Icelander on the far post and he coolly sidestepped keeper Dean Kiely before ramming home. His second four minutes later showed his predatory instincts when Kiely fumbled Johansen's cross and Gunnlaugsson pounced to make him pay.

Successful

The striker could have had a quickfire hat-trick if he hadn't slipped when Cox played him clean through in between the two successful strikes. But he wasn't complaining.

"That was one of the best games we have played," he said.

"I thought before the game that if we could score the first goal then they would break down.

"We were playing against a strong defensive team and to score four goals was very good. But the most important thing was to keep another clean sheet.

"I have to compliment Paul Warhurst who came in for his first game and played tremendous. He was solid along with everyone in the back four."

Fellow goal hero Johansen was equally quick to deflect the credit to the defence, adding: "We will always get goals so not conceding is important for us.

"Clean sheets are the major thing and the back four are all doing tremendous. After keeping three clean sheets in the last three games the mood is good again."

On his magnificent double strike he added: "The first one went in so when the second chance came along I thought why not take a chance.?"

Bury could argue it might have been a different story had Chris Swailes' close range header been on target rather than inches wide with the score still 1-0.

But the plain truth is that they could only muster two chances all afternoon, the second from sub Andy Preece bringing a spectacular save out of Jussi Jaaskelainen but coming too late to make any difference anyway.

This was the day that Wanderers finally put the record straight at home to Bury, who had won on four of their previous six visits, and the home fans were more than happy to rub salt into the wounds with taunts of: "We only laugh at Bury," and "You only came to see the Reebok." Now, when the teams square up again at Gigg Lane on April 24 it will be the Shakers who will have a point to prove.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.