BOLTON'S answer to the style critics was a wonder goal and the prospect of a wonderful player to light up the Premiership.

A single goal victory over a Portsmouth team in crisis might not have been the most convincing of arguments to silence the game's detractors, but Kevin Nolan's acrobatic match winner and Hidetoshi Nakata's performance in his first league start in England certainly gave Wanderers fans value for money.

Just try telling them the Premier League is boring, when they have seen their team claim a fourth win in seven games to go third in the table, clear of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

The fact that equally modest Charlton are the team ahead of them in Chelsea's slipstream suggests the current race order may only be an early-season surge and that normal service will eventually be resumed, but it is not to be sniffed at.

Wanderers reaped the benefits of a flying start last season and, with 14 points from seven games, they are on course to do even better this time.

The only question is whether they will have the resources to sustain the challenge as they run a European campaign alongside their domestic duties. Injuries have already forced them to make do and mend but Nakata, who might still be waiting for his debut had Sam Allardyce not opted for a rotation policy to get the best out of his meagre squad, has given Reebok fans much to look forward to.

The much-celebrated Japanese international - an icon of Beckham proportions in the Land of the Rising Sun - has breezed into town like a breath of fresh air.

Sprightly and slight of frame, he might have the appearance of a fashion model, but looks can be deceptive. And Allardyce, who signed him on a season-long loan from Fiorentina, admits he has discovered there is more to Nakata than first meets the eye.

"He's such a model professional that I didn't think he'd take long to get up to speed," the manager said, "but I didn't know how professional he was - not just on the field but off it too.

"I see him every day, somewhere, doing something extra, whether it be a little bit of football, a little bit of weights, a little bit of stretching. He's a great example to the rest of the players here, particularly the younger end, not to just go home as quickly as they do and to do something extra on their own.

"This guy's mobility and flexibility is unbelievable, and that helps him on the football field with his trickery and change of direction, which allows him to see the sort of pass and play the sort of pass that he does.

"He's only just joined us but he's already shown a cutting edge to his play that will make us even better as an attacking force. If he continues to improve in the way that he has, he will be a major asset for us."

The Japanese phrase, which best describes Nakata's greatest asset, is loosely translated into English as "the ability to produce the killer pass" and, although he did not have a hand in Nolan's 25th minute party-piece, the exquisite second half delivery that gave Kevin Davies his best sight of goal bore that particular hallmark. Unfortunately, Dejan Stefanovic had spotted the danger and got in a block that kept the game in the balance and the fans on the edge of their seats.

Nerves should have been settled five minutes later when Davies produced a pass of equal quality to send Nolan clear of the Pompey defence, but his miss was as spectacular as his first half hit - a perfectly-executed overhead kick teed up by a Davies header on the end of Henrik Pedersen's deep cross.

"I was really happy with the goal but more disappointed with that miss," Nolan said of the chance he dragged wide of the target. "I'm quite embarrassed about it."

No need. Even Allardyce, who spent the closing minutes making frantic, vein-popping appeals for his players to stay solid and see out time, was in forgiving mood as he took stock.

"By rights Kevin should have seen the game off for us with the easiest chance of the match, but that goal he scored was of the highest quality -an absolutely delightful piece of technique and skill that gave their keeper no chance," the manager said.

"I hope he gets the credit for it that he deserves.

"Try to tell me that we don't have skilful players and I'll laugh at you because we have."

Allardyce is excited by what he describes as the "awesome" prospect of Nakata and Jay Jay Okocha pooling their creative skills. But the captain, back after the ankle injury that kept him out of the win at Manchester City, still looks out of sorts at a time when, with injuries biting so hard, his talent and experience are most needed.

For while they had the luxury of starting with two of their most effective attackers - El-Hadji Diouf and Stelios - on the subs' bench, the absence of Ivan Campo, Abdoulaye Faye and Radhi Jaidi left Wanderers desperately short-handed in defence, a problem exacerbated by the loss of Gary Speed with a back problem after just 10 minutes.

There was little option other than to send on Joey O'Brien to play the holding midfield role. Fortunately, the 19-year-old Dubliner held his own in a game Portsmouth might have got something out of, had Dario Silva, Brian Pirske and Laurent Robert finished better the latter's failings delighting the barracking Bolton fans who didn't take kindly to the Frenchman having snubbed a Reebok move when he left Newcastle in the summer.

But there was to be no respite for Pompey's beleaguered French manager, Alain Perrin, whose despairing touchline gestures gave the impression of a man who believes the world is against him.

There was some justification in his claim that the goal had a touch of offside about it, but his refusal to let the matter drop ended with him being banished from the touchline in injury-time after a spat with the fourth official, to which he reacted Rooney-like by sarcastically applauding referee Mark Clattenburg.

Although delighted to have points in the bank as insurance against a hectic and potentially harsh winter, Wanderers are keeping a sense of perspective.

Bruno N'Gotty, who contributed much to the fourth clean sheet of the season, said: "It's a very good effort, a very good start, similar to last year.

"But we still need to take more points. The defence has worked hard to get another clean sheet and the team has worked to get high up the table, but we need to push again. The team is doing well, for the moment, but the league is long."