Two late goals and a sending off for Bolton gave Everton a deserved 2-0 victory over Owen Coyle's side at Goodison Park.
In a first half notable for the absence of much style, Everton were dealt a blow when Victor Anichebe had to be stretchered off to be replaced by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
Mikel Arteta made frequent attempts to control the game for the home side but, with Louis Saha on the bench and Yakubu still a shadow of his former self, the Toffees could not trouble Jussi Jaaskelainen.
For all their dominance, it was Bolton that came closest to opening the scoring when Chung-yong Lee and Jack Wilshere released Kevin Davies but Tim Howard managed to come out and stifle the threat.
The second half chugged along at half pace until the 70th minute, when Gretar Steinsson was sent off for a professional foul on Yakubu. Arteta stepped up for the free-kick, beating the wall and the Bolton keeper to put Everton 1-0 up.
Bolton sent on Matthew Taylor in an attempt to get back into the game, but it was Everton that doubled their lead just before the end, Steven Pienaar slotting home after good work by Leon Osman.