Two managers struggling to emerge from the shadows cast by those who have gone before them met at the Reebok Stadium, with the game’s outcome reflecting the respective efforts of Gary Megson and Tony Adams to cope with the legacies of Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp. On the day that Allardyce’s latest managerial adventure started in such spectacular fashion a few miles down the road, Megson had his team well prepared.

So well that they scored after 49 seconds through the impressive Matt Taylor, who set up Ricardo Gardner for the second goal two minutes later.

Peter Crouch’s twentieth-minute header prevented the deluge that had seemed inevitable, yet of more significance for Portsmouth may have been Lassana Diarra’s 30 minutes as a substitute, an attempt, presumably, to prove to Real Madrid or Manchester City that he is fit to complete a £20 million transfer next month.

“All the talk doesn’t bother me,” Adams said of the supposed exodus of players from his club next month. “I find it hilarious and just get on with my job. I haven’t had an offer for one of my players, apart from Diarra, honest . . . and, the way they played today, I don’t expect to be getting any.”

Megson’s predecessor, if one ignores the instantly ignorable reign of Sammy Lee, is also tipped to return to his former employers with an offer for some of their players. Though Bolton put on an inspired display, Megson pointed out that he had only 14 fit senior first-team players for the game with the Bolton board quick to confirm that there will be money to spend in January.

Kevin Nolan, the captain, gave the club a boost Saturday by ruling out leaving the Reebok and confirmed the similarity between Allardyce and his current manager. “Sam gave me my debut and obviously I hold special thoughts for him,” Nolan said. “I’m delighted to see such a great figure back in the game but we’re now trying to build the Gary Megson era.”

Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): J Jaaskelainen 6 – G Steinsson 7, G Cahill 7, A O’Brien 7, J Samuel 7 – M Taylor 9, K Nolan 6, G McCann 6, R Gardner 8 (sub: F Muamba, 83min) – K Davies 8, J Elmander 6. Substitutes not used: A Al Habsi, D Shittu, E Smolarek, M Riga, C Basham, T Obadeyi. Booked: Steinsson. Next: Liverpool

Portsmouth (4-4-2): D James 6 – N Pamarot 5, S Campbell 5, S Distin 6, H Hreidarsson 7 – P Bouba Diop 5 (sub: D Nugent, 75), R Hughes 5 (sub: L Diarra, 62 6), S Davis 7, N Kranjcar 8 – J Defoe 7, P Crouch 7. Substitutes not used: J Ashdown, G Little, Kanu, A Traoré, M Wilson. Booked: Defoe. Next: West Ham

Referee M Atkinson Attendance 19,884