Duncan dares to endanger Everton

Moyes flatly refused to accept that his first objective had been achieved and cautiously claimed that at least one more win was needed to dispel any doubt.

Everton are as good as safe, though, after putting more distance between themselves and the bottom three in a manner that has so often been reserved for the final day of the season.

Of all the instances of near-misses, slipshod defending and sitters that were passed up, Moyes' nerves suffered most at the hands of one striker who lacked punch and another who showed too much.

Scot Gemmill had already spurned a glorious opportunity in front of goal in the seventh minute when Ferguson took exception to Bobic's close marking and left the German striker in a heap with a right-hander to the rib cage.

It increased the burden on Tomasz Radzinski's slender shoulders - and they showed every sign of buckling as he drilled a shot against Kevin Poole's legs in a oneon-one with the Bolton goalkeeper in the 45th minute and followed up with an irresistible claim for miss of the season in the 52nd.

Miss of any season, in fact, as Jesper Blomqvist broke clear down the left and cut in before teeing up the unmarked Radzinski barely two yards from an unguarded Bolton line.

Poole, stranded at the near post after trying to block Blomqvist's path to goal, frantically retrieved his ground and could hardly believe his luck as Radzinski miscued an attempted sidefoot finish straight into his hands.

Everton were desperately hanging on to a 41st-minute lead, given them by Alessandro Pistone's first goal since signing from Newcastle, and the howls of derision could have seriously undermined the former Anderlecht front-runner's morale.

Instead, they were banished within five minutes as, with admirable persistence, Radzinski continued to accept responsibility and fired Everton further in front, admittedly with the aid of a deflection.

An instant left-foot volley from Gemmill's cross may have been going in anyway, and few would have begrudged the persevering Radzinski his slice of luck.

Frayed nerves remained on edge, though, as Bolton pulled a goal back with a 75th-minute header from Bruno N'Gotty after hitting the post twice in quick succession through substitute Rod Wallace and Ricardo Gardner.

With tension rising palpably, the outcome was eventually settled by an assured piece of finishing that belied 19-year old striker Nick Chadwick's lack of experience.

The goal may have been gaping, as Radzinski skipped past the charging Poole and Mike Whitlow before pulling the ball back across the 18-yard line, but so was an expectant Gwladys Street end as the teenager took aim. He was unfazed by the spotlight, or Paul Warhurst's presence on the line, as he calmly stroked a first-time shot into the bottom corner.