Wanderers succumbed by the slenderest of margins at Fratton Park as a goal credited to substitute Kanu sent Portsmouth on their way to a 1-0 win.

The winner, 12 minutes from time, was the only difference between the sides as Paul Hart's men avenged the 2-1 reversal at the Reebok earlier in the campaign.

Bolton battled hard from start to finish but were unable to conjure up the solitary goal which would have earned them a share of the spoils, with Johan Elmander's first half strike the closest the Whites came in an energetic contest.

Manager Gary Megson made two changes ahead of the game, with Andy O'Brien coming into central defence to partner Gary Cahill - an enforced change with Danny Shittu ruled out with a calf injury sustained in the defeat at Chelsea the previous weekend.

The other inclusion was that of young Chris Basham, who replaced Fabrice Muamba in central midfield following the exploits at Stamford Bridge in the final half hour.

Wanderers rearguard had to be alert right from the first whistle as Portsmouth, backed as always by their vociferous home fans, attacked from both flanks whipping in dangerous crosses which Gretar Steinsson, Gary Cahill and Andy O'Brien had to head to safety.

With just over ten minutes on the clock Bolton suffered an early setback when Ricardo Gardner had to be carried from the field with an apparent injury to his left leg. Fabrice Muamba was thrust into the action and Chris Basham was deployed in a more attack-minded midfield role.

The Portsmouth pressure continued although their first real effort on goal came 16 minutes into the game when Glen Johnson fired wide with his weaker left foot from outside the area after Wanderers had only half-cleared.

Johnson ambitiously again tried his luck from distance halfway through the first period as his attempted chip flew harmlessly wide whilst a devilish Matt Taylor free-kick resulted in a half-chance for Kevin Davies which he headed past the far post.

Johnson's third attempt on 25 minutes forced Jussi Jaaskelainen into action for the first time in the afternoon. The former Chelsea full-back picked the ball up on halfway, embarked on a powerful run and unleashed from 25 yards, but the Finnish keeper was alert and he moved to his right to palm the ball to safety.

Jaaskelainen kept Portsmouth at bay again shortly after when he repelled another Johnson effort following a break involving Kranjcar. Indeed it was a fine double save as Jussi had to be alert for a second time when his original save struck Andy O'Brien and landed back in his arms

Johan Elmander, deployed as a lone striker, almost grabbed his first goal of 2009 after half an hour when he stole a march on Sylvain Distin and forced England keeper David James into a fine diving save. It stemmed from a calculated lofted ball over the top of Pompey's defence by Kevin Davies which the Swede latched onto in a flash.

Glen Johnson continued to cause Wanderers all sorts of problems from his right-midfield role, this time striking the far post with a daisy cutter from the edge of the box. On closer inspection it was a fantastic save from Jaaskelainen once more as he denied Johnson with the faintest of touches with his outstretched fingers.

The final attempt of the first half came through Portsmouth's former Preston North End striker David Nugent, whose curling effort was slightly off target deep inside the five minutes of stoppage time signalled by the fourth official.

It was as you were following half-time as neither Paul Hart nor Gary Megson opted for any further changes.

Peter Crouch towered to head a corner over the crossbar minutes after the restart whilst a delicious cross from Younes Kaboul almost resulted in David Nugent bundling the ball over the line from close-range.

As the minutes passed, the more the game began to open up. The ever hardworking Johan Elmander was switched to the right touchline as Kevin Davies moved into a more central position.

The Swede's marauding run forward on 65 minutes brought a free-kick 30 yards out which Matt Taylor - who was looking for his second goal of the season against his former club - struck powerfully wide of the far post.

Paul Hart looked to spice up his attack by introducing veteran striker Kanu for David Nugent with 20 minutes remaining whilst he was again forced to introduce a substitute when Niko Kranjcar was carried off on a stretcher after sustaining an injury in a tackle with Gavin McCann.

Portsmouth got themselves ahead with a little under 12 minutes remaining when substitute Nadir Belhadj delivered a corner and Kanu was credited with the final touch. The ball appeared to strike the Nigerian on its route through to goal, but either way, substitute Belhadj had helped play his part in the goal only moments after being introduced.

Chris Basham curled an effort over the crossbar with his left-foot as Bolton looked to respond whilst Belhadj again was involved in the thick of the action, this time carrying the ball 30 yards before hitting a thunderbolt just wide of the target.

With all the second half substitutions and injuries, six minutes of stoppage time was indicated by the fourth official but Wanderers couldn't find a leveller as Pompey claimed all three points.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Kaboul (Pennant 89), Mullins, Davis, Kranjcar (Belhadj 76), Nugent (Kanu 71), Crouch (Subs not used: Begovic, Pamarot, Utaka, Hughes)

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Cahill, O'Brien, Steinsson, Taylor, McCann, Basham, Gardner (Muamba 11), Davies, Elmander (Subs not used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Puygrenier, Smolarek, Cohen, Makukula)