Portsmouth 2 Bolton Wanderers 3

The Premier League match between Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers at Fratton Park on Saturday Sept 12 2009.

Gary Cahill capped a marvelous week when the Bolton Wanderers he claimed his club’s first away win since November at Fratton Park.

And the 89th minute header handed Portsmouth their fifth successive defeat – the club’s worst ever start in 89 years as a League club.

It had seemed that Kevin-Prince Boateng had capped his Portsmouth debut by earning his new side their first Premier point of the season but Cahill, called up for England duty a few days earlier, stole the winner.

Bolton took the lead when Tamir Cohen gave the visitors a 13th minute advantage and after Younes Kaboul had responded for the home side, former Portsmouth favourite Matthew Taylor regained the lead from the penalty spot, before Boateng responded.

Bolton were quickly in control and after squandering one good chance, they took the lead. Earlier Gretar Steinsson’s superb through ball had set up Matthew Taylor but the former Portsmouth midfielder’s first touch was poor and his second worse, the ball flying painfully wide.

But that was a warning and, two minutes later, another finely threaded pass from Steinsson fell to Cohen and the Israeli international struck a delightful shot, the ball flying beyond David James.

Portsmouth gave debuts to no fewer than five newcomers and one of them, Spurs loanee Jamie O’Hara, made the equaliser, in the 25th minute. O’Hara’s left wing corner dropped invitingly inside the Bolton area and Kaboul had the the freedom to send a downward header past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Kaboul almost scored again three minutes later. O’Hara’s corner from the opposite side flew across goal and the defender just failed to make contact. Now Portsmouth were in charge and when Kaboul crossed from the right Frederic Piquionne should have done better with his wayward header.

Another newcomer, Boateng, was impressing from midfield and when he set of on an impressing run he was denied a goal only by a defensive block.

But before the interval Bolton regained the lead in controversial circumstances. After Nadir Belhadj lost possession to Fabrice Muamba, former Bolton defender Tal Haim, another debutant, upended the striker and Taylor converted the 41st minute penalty, his fourth goal in six games since leaving for the Reebok Stadium.

With two minutes of the restart Portsmouth had a penalty claim rejected when, after a mistake by Zat Knight, Jaaskelainen appeared to bring down Tommy Smith.

Portsmouth pushed for the equaliser with Michael Brown’s shot deflected over while Boateng and Smith forced Jaaskelainen to stretch.

And in the 63rd minute Portsmouth got the equaliser they deserved. O’Hara’s shot was blocked by Knight but Boateng sent the rebound into the bottom corner.

But in the 89th minute, Jlloyd Samuel’s long throw in was headed on and Cahill converted at the second attempt.