Bolton were denied victory on their debut at the new £25 million Reebok stadium because a linesman did not notice the ball was six inches over the line. And Bolton's bad luck was compounded by a horror injury to Robbie Elliott.

The £4.5 million former Newcastle defender, signed in the summer, was carried off and taken straight to hospital for X-rays with a suspected double fracture of his right leg.

Elliott had collapsed in agony after a challenge by Tony Thomas, and Everton players near him were immediately aware of the severity of the 23-year-old's injury, Slaven Bilic smashing the ball straight out of play.

Elliott was taken off on a stretcher with his legs strapped together, and early reports suggested he had broken two bones in the right leg.

The night had started with a solemn minute's silence in memory of the Princess of Wales, this being the first English soccer match played since her tragic death.

The game ended with frantic action at both ends as these two Lancashire rivals battled for victory.

But Bolton could feel aggrieved with television evidence confirming that a header from Gerry Taggart had dropped at least six inches behind the line after 50 minutes.

Bolton players stood transfixed as Barnsley referee Stephen Lodge failed to signal the goal.

Taggart had risen high in the box to send a lopping header dropping into the far corner.

Neville Southall failed to get a clean contact on the ball under pressure from Nathan Blake, and, as the ball bounced down, Terry Phelan hooked it clear. But slow motions showed the ball at least six inches over the line.

If that did not knock the stuffing out of Bolton, the terrible injury to Elliott certainly did. His obvious pain did not make pleasant viewing.

Everton dominated the first half as Bolton looked stage struck by their new, space age surroundings.

Their defence contributed to the chaos by constantly giving the ball away, in some crazy situations. Jamie Pollock gifted Graham Stuart possession 20 yards out, and the striker's 25-yarder sailed just wide.

They were all at sea when Tony Thomas curled over a cross from the right but both John Oster and Gary Speed failed to convert after Duncan Ferguson had created the opening by unsettling Keith Branagan in the air.

Young Oster, a combination of youthful naivety and bubbling enthusiasm, constantly cut in from the left to worry the life out of Bolton's backline. Branagan blocked one Oster shot, and then could only watch as the 18-year-old clipped the bar with the follow-up.

Only a superb chip from Per Frandsen, which put Nathan Blake away, threatened to break Everton's stranglehold.