Five-star Bolton shoot down Newcastle

High-flying Bolton thrashed 10-man Newcastle United 5-1 at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday to go fourth in the English Premier League table.

The rout began and ended with Kevin Davies penalties, with Sweden striker Johan Elmander also scoring twice and South Korea midfielder Lee Chung-Yong netting the other. England debutant Andy Carroll scored a consolation goal for the visitors.

Fabricio Coloccini was sent off for elbowing Elmander to the ground in the 75th minute to pile on the misery for the Magpies.

The win left Bolton in the final Champions League spot ahead of Sunday’s matches, which could see Manchester City overtake them. Newcastle are now in ninth place.

The Trotters have earned 10 points from their last four matches, while the Magpies taken just one from their last three outings.

Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan missed a good chance against his old club in the first minute and the match got no better for him and his side from then on in.

He handled a Lee cross in the penalty area and England forward Davies slotted the resulting penalty past Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul to give the hosts an 18th-minute lead.

A foul on Elmander led to the second goal in the 38th minute, with Matt Taylor blasting the free kick against the bar and Lee pouncing to strike as Newcastle failed to clear the ball.

It got no better for manager Chris Hughton’s side in the second half.

In the 50th minute, Lee passed to Davies, who played in Elmander. The Swede dribbled round Kuhl to make it 3-0.

Two minutes later, Carroll continued his excellent scoring run by notching his eighth goal of the season.

The imposing striker, who made his international debut in England’s 2-1 friendly defeat at home to France on Wednesday, made the best of a rare chance with Newcastle’s only shot on target of the game.

Indeed, while the Trotters rained in 18 attempts on Krul’s goal, there were just five attempts in Jussi Jaaskelainen’s.

An attempted pass from strike partner Shola Ameobi deflected off Stuart Holden’s legs to Carroll, who made no mistake with his opportunity.

That encouraged the Magpies to go on the attack and Gary Cahill sent a shot just wide.

But Owen Coyle’s team cut out the resurgence in the 72nd minute as Elmander got on the end of a Jaaskelainen long ball, brushed off Argentina defender Coloccini and fired past Krul.

Three minutes later, Coloccini was shown the red card by World Cup final referee Howard Webb for appearing to elbow Elmander.

Davies sealed the thrashing with his second penalty deep into injury time. The striker won the spot kick when he tumbled under a challenge from Jose Enrique, though television replays showed the Spanish defender got the ball.

Krul went the right way but Davies’ penalty was too good and Newcastle’s luck was well and truly out long before the coup de grace.