Bolton Wanderers 1 Derby County 0: Bolton got off to a winning start in 2008 in what could be Nicolas Anelka's last match for the club. Strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, he played his part in a victory that could be so important come the end of the season.
Bolton managed only eight victories in 37 Premier League games, so there was something to celebrate thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Stelios Giannakopoulos in front of 17,014 fans, the club's lowest ever crowd for a top flight game at the stadium.
Derby bossed the first half in terms of chances created but were left cursing their luck. They almost took the lead in the fourth minute when Jay McEveley released Craig Fagan. He raced on and drilled a 20-yard shot that goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to parry.
Bolton goalkeeper Jaaskelainen prevented his side going behind when he tipped over a header from Fagan in the 38th minute after Eddie Lewis had swung in the corner.
Two minutes later Derby were again cursing their luck when Johnson's effort from the edge of the area beat Jaaskelainen but came back off the bar.
Danny Guthrie should have put Bolton ahead in the 65th minute but skied his shot from close range over the bar after a poor clearance from Tyrone Mears. Diouf did find the net a minute later after being released by Anelka, only for his effort to be ruled offside. The pressure was building and Lewis Price did well to push a shot from Anelka onto and over the bar.
Nolan was guilty of one of the misses of the season in the 80th minute. He was clear three yards out when Anelka played the ball in but somehow only succeeded in sending his effort high over the bar.
Bolton grabbed the winner in stoppage time when substitute Giannakopoulos latched on to a long clearance from Jaaskelainen. He chipped the ball over Price and headed into an empty net.
BOLTON WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Davies (Wilhelmsson 46), Nolan (Giannakopoulos 82), Campo, Guthrie, Diouf, Anelka. Subs not used: Al Habsi, Samuel, Michalik. Booked: Davies, Andrew O'Brien.
DERBY COUNTY: Price, Mears, Moore, Davis, McEveley (Johnson 21), Teale (Macken 65), Fagan (Feilhaber 85), Oakley, Barnes, Lewis, Miller. Subs not used: Hinchliffe, Holmes. Booked: Fagan, Mears, Feilhaber.
Referee: Howard Webb(S Yorkshire).
