Megson hails great display

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Bolton boss Gary Megson was delighted after his side blew Portsmouth away in the opening stages to win 2-1 and claim a crucial three points.

Pompey were left stunned by Matt Taylor's first-minute strike, before Ricardo Gardner doubled the advantage soon afterwards.

Bolton then swamped Pompey but could not get a third before the visitors got one back with their first attack in the 20th minute via a Peter Crouch header from an exquisite Niko Kranjcar cross.

Bolton then dominated the second period, despite failing to add a third goal to still win comfortably to move up to ninth in the table.

Megson told Sky Sports that the blistering start did not particularly surprise him.

"We have always started really well in every game we have played - I can't remember the opposition starting better than ourselves and at Middlesbrough a few weeks ago we got off to a two-goal lead in the first 10 minutes so that doesn't particularly surprise me and certainly over the week that we've had in training, they've been flying since the defeat at Villa Park," he said.

"But we've got into a two-goal lead really early on which is unusual, not from our point of view but from football's point of view, and probably and should have made it even more in that beginning before Portsmouth got their first goal."

Megson thought the quality of the football was very good right the way through the game against a Portsmouth side which was unbeaten in three away games and is packed full of quality.

"We've managed to turn them over which is a big, big thing for our players and not just in a manner where we've got away with it, I thought we thoroughly deserved that today," he said.

The victory was only his side's third in the league at home this term but Megson believed that Bolton have played some tough games at the Reebok.

"From Bolton's point of view, we have had some really good results here - I can't remember any really poor performances other than when we've had a little bit of a football lesson for 20 minutes from Arsenal and the same from Liverpool for a 20-minute spell but we are doing fine," said Megson, who praised Taylor after he scored and made the assist for Gardner's goal, believing his work rate stats will be the highest from the game.

"He has got great quality, he scores goals, his set pieces are sublime and he works his socks off - he does whatever you ask him. He has played three different positions today," said Megson.

"I spoke to him in the week and just said that I wouldn't be surprised if England are looking for that kind of player that they could do worse than have a look at Matthew just to see what they think.

"But he wouldn't let anybody down, he's a great lad, a great player."
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