Bolton gained revenge for their defeat in last season's FA Cup semi-final by hammering Stoke 5-0 at the Reebok.
Eagles and Klasnic at the double in Trotters romp
Bolton gained revenge for their defeat in last season's FA Cup semi-final by hammering Stoke 5-0 at the Reebok.
Bolton made a dream start when some quick-thinking from Ivan Klasnic allowed Kevin Davies to side-foot home the opener after just two minutes.
Chris Eagles then capitalised on a weak clearance by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to volley home the second on 23 minutes.
Bolton were rampant in the second half and some neat interplay between Eagles and Paul Robinson teed up Klasnic on the edge of the box for the third just after the hour.
Klasnic then turned provider to poke the ball through for Eagles to chip home his second and Bolton's fourth with 17 minutes left.
The rout was completed on 82 minutes when Klasnic diverted David Wheater's header beyond Begovic to help Bolton exorcise the ghosts of that Wembley defeat last April.
The Potters were no doubt drained from Thursday's Europa League trip to Tel Aviv but Bolton were in no mood to spare them.
The Trotters' decline can perhaps be traced back to that 5-0 drubbing by Stoke at Wembley last April, after which they had lost 13 of 16 league games ahead of today's encounter.
Manager Owen Coyle restored captain Davies to the side and handed a league debut to youngster Joe Riley as he sought a winning formula.
That it worked perhaps owed a little to fortune early on as Bolton controversially went ahead after two minutes.
Back pass
First referee Howard Webb penalised Begovic for a back pass after Glenn Whelan lobbed the ball into his own area and Matthew Upson left it to the goalkeeper.
The Potters had barely had time to contest the decision before Klasnic grabbed the ball and a tapped a quick free-kick for Davies - recalled after being left out last week - to roll into an unguarded net.
Several Stoke players raced to protest to Webb but the official let the goal stand.
Bolton had another chance when Eagles shot from distance but Begovic parried and Andy Wilkinson cleared.
Stoke responded as Jermaine Pennant raced through and pulled back from the byline but Peter Crouch failed to make clean contact and Jussi Jaaskelainen saved.
Bolton came forward again and Begovic saved well from a powerful Mark Davies drive.
Bolton doubled their lead on 23 minutes after another horror moment for Begovic.
The keeper slid in to clear from the feet of advancing Klasnic but succeeded only in finding Eagles and the former Burnley midfielder brilliantly fired into the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Stoke took time to recover from the loss of the second goal and it was Bolton who dominated possession as half-time approached.
Pennant did make one penetrative run but Nigel Reo-Coker broke up the attack on the edge of the area.
Scrambled
Jon Walters won a header as Pennant launched a free-kick into the area in the last minute of the first half but Jaaskelainen batted out and Bolton scrambled clear.
Walters created a chance for Stoke after the break but Cameron Jerome glanced over from the Republic of Ireland international's cross.
Jonathan Woodgate made a timely interception as Reo-Coker aimed a dangerous cross towards Kevin Davies and Klasnic blasted a free-kick wide.
Stoke's next opportunity came from a typical Rory Delap throw-in as Robert Huth aimed a firm header at goal but Mark Davies headed off the line.
After that Bolton took complete control.
Huth was out of luck again as he headed a clearance straight at Eagles, who had regularly troubled him, and quickly fed Paul Robinson.
Robinson played the ball inside and Klasnic brilliantly swept home with a left-foot shot from the edge of the area.
Bolton's confidence was evident and they poured forward again with Mark Davies having a shot blocked and Reo-Coker firing the rebound straight at Begovic.
The fourth goal came in the 73rd minute and was deserved reward for the excellent Eagles.
Kevin Davies flicked a long ball into the path of Klasnic and the Croatian instantly touched on for Eagles to race through and slip the ball past Begovic.
Bolton then began to run Stoke ragged and grabbed a fifth nine minutes from time when Klasnic diverted a David Wheater header past Begovic.
Substitute Tuncay was then inches away from turning in a Riley cross for a sixth in the closing moments.
| Bolton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Stoke City |
| 5 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 9 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 9 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 12 |
Corners |
4 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 69.3 |
Passing Success |
62.2 |
| 27 |
Tackles |
15 |
| 63 |
Tackles Success |
73.3 |
| 61.4 |
Possession |
38.6 |
| 54.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
45.6 |
| 430 |
Total Passes |
267 |
| 22 |
Total Crosses |
17 |
| 204 |
Lost Balls |
201 |
| 63 |
Recoveries |
40 |
|
