Bolton Wanderers 3 - 0 Reading

Bolton 3-0 Reading

Updated: August 25, 2007, 12:39 PM ET

Sammy Lee celebrated his first victory as Bolton manager, after succeeding Sam Allardyce at the end of last season, with a 3-0 home win over Reading.

Five games in to his tenure, the former Liverpool coach saw his team secure a crucial three points thanks to goals from Gary Speed, Nicolas Anelka and substitute Daniel Braaten.

After losing three on the trot, Lee knew it was imperative they had to take something from this Barclays Premier League match.

He must have been encouraged at seeing Bolton raise their game after losing to Newcastle, Fulham and Portsmouth in quick succession.

They set the tempo from the start and Reading found it difficult to handle Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf.

• Coppell slams international friendlies

The two players showed good skill as well as pace and movement to continually trouble their opponents.

Diouf released Gavin McCann with a clever reverse ball in the sixth minute. The midfielder, though, failed to make the most of the opening after a poor first touch and Ulises de la Cruz was able to clear.

Two minutes later Anelka broke clear, only for Reading's Andre Bikey to block his effort.

Bolton almost took the lead in the 24th minute when Anelka fired in a powerful shot only for goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to make a superb block. The ball broke to Diouf, but Bikey was able to make another good block much to Reading's relief.

Bolton made the breakthrough after 31 minutes thanks to veteran midfielder Speed. Making his 525th Premier League appearance, he beat Bryn Gunnarsson to the ball when Diouf delivered the corner and found the net with a firm header.

Speed, 38 next month, continues to defy the years and it was his speed of thought that enabled him to find the target. The player-coach's first goal of the season was no more than the home team deserved.

Bolton were growing in confidence and McCann tested Hahnemann in the 48th minute following a neat one-two with Diouf.

Reading hit back in the 53rd minute and De la Cruz carved out an opening for himself in the area. However, he hurried his effort and saw it nestle in the sidenetting much to his frustration.

It was a brief respite for Reading as a minute later Anelka raced forward and whipped in 25-yard shot that went narrowly wide of the post.

Reading, however, failed to heed the warning and the France striker extended Bolton's lead in the 55th minute.

Released by Diouf, he managed to evade a weak challenge from De la Cruz to score his third goal in four games.

Bolton were spraying the ball around well and Diouf delivered a superb cross in the 61st minute that Golbourne did well to head away.

Anelka found the net again in the 64th minute following good work by Kevin Nolan, but his effort was ruled out for an infringement.

Bolton continued to dominate the game and Nolan saw a superb volley go narrowly wide of the post in the 81st minute.

Three minutes later Anelka got on the end of a free-kick from Diouf, but Hahnemann was able to take his header cleanly.

Braaten added a third for Bolton in stoppage time with a clinical finish following a superb cross from Anelka.

It was his first goal for the club since arriving from Rosenborg in the summer and he savoured the moment.

The Norwegian's effort capped a fine performance by Bolton, but Reading manager Steve Coppell must be concerned at his side's dismal display.

Coppell slams international friendlies

Reading manager Steve Coppell believes international friendlies should be scrapped and replaced by get-togethers instead after his side fell to a 3-0 defeat to Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Coppell claimed his players were leg-weary after playing in midweek and was particularly aggrieved at being without the services of influential full back Nicky Shorey, who suffered a knee injury in England's defeat by Germany at Wembley.

Former England winger Coppell said: 'Everyone was moaning about there being only six substitutes so my player (Shorey) gets injured and has to stay on.

'It means he was unavailable for today. It was a situation exacerbated by having to play on. He wants to create the right impression when he should not have to.

'They (England) are on a money-making agenda, we are on a preparation for the season agenda. I suggest international matches should be meaningful.

'Real purpose and value would be get-togethers and a series of training sessions. At a time when players need a rest after three games in a week they were heading across Europe.

'All these things took the sting out of our legs if you like.'

Shorey was one of a number of Reading players in action during the week and Coppell said: 'They were mickey mouse internationals.

'(Andre) Bikey was in Tokyo and played for 60 minutes. The manager (of Cameroon) said he had an arrangement with me but I do not know who he is.

'Players should be proud of playing for their country but do not tell me these games are preparation for the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

'It is a different agenda and it is not the fault of the national team managers but the system.

'The result was that my players had no energy and it wasn't helped either in that we had to travel.

'Yet Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal were all at home.'

Reading were not at the races and Bolton secured their first victory under manager Sammy Lee thanks to goals from Gary Speed, Nicolas Anelka and substitute Daniel Braaten.

Making his 525th Premier League appearance, Speed beat Bryn Gunnarsson to the ball in the 31st minute when El-Hadji Diouf delivered the corner and found the net with a firm header.

France striker Anelka extended Bolton's lead in the 55th minute. Released by Diouf, he managed to evade a weak challenge from Ulises de la Cruz to score his third goal in four games.

Braaten added a third for Bolton in stoppage time with a clinical finish following a superb cross from Anelka.

It was his first goal for the club since arriving from Rosenborg in the summer and he savoured the moment.

Lee said: 'I was pleased to get the victory as I have said all along we needed to be patient.

'But I am not going to get carried away. That would be wrong as one success does not cancel out three defeats.

'For me it is all about the players and the way they responded to those setbacks has been superb.

'Clean sheets are vital to any team and that was the most pleasing aspect of our performance.'