For what we paid for him which was £1m we've bought a very good player for at today's

"For what we paid for him, which was £1m, we've bought a very good player for, at today's prices, nothing," Robson said.Acuña is one of several Newcastle players carrying knocks He has a calf problem but is expected to be fit.. Gareth Farrelly scored the first goal of the new year as Bolton stamped their authority on promotion rivals Preston and maintained their position in the second automatic First Division promotion spot. Gareth Farrelly scored the first goal of the new year as Bolton stamped their authority on promotion rivals Preston and maintained their position in the second automatic First Division promotion spot. Thanks to the early kick-off, Farrelly scored 2001's first goal after only seven minutes, reacting quickly to a half-cleared corner to let fly with a 25-yard shot which gave goalkeeper David Lucas no chance.Bolton, with manager Sam Allardyce returning to his old club, should have been out of sight, but squandered a number of chances. Typical of the action was a chance which fell to Bo Hansen after a Colin Hendry through ball. Hansen did all the hard work by easing past a challenge, but then blasted over rather than placing his shot into the net.Preston's back four seemed to have seized up in the cold and their passing and decision-making was appalling. With their captain Sean Gregan pushed into midfield, Preston threw together Colin Murdock and Michael Jackson at the back, and they struggled badly.

Murdock lost the ball to Hansen who set up Dean Holdsworth for a tap-in that he instead fired straight at Lucas.North End were also frustrated by the referee Mike Riley, who was far too fussy and yet missed Jussi Jaaskelainen's clear handling outside his box. Riley also failed to spot Hendry stopping an Iain Anderson shot with his arm.Preston only threatened when David Healy, their new arrival from Manchester United, came on for Jon Macken, injecting pace and belief into a weary performance. He soon forced Jaaskelainen to make a smart save, the former United man creating a chance for himself with a touch of skill.However, Bolton were more menacing and Per Frandsen fired wide before Ricardo Gardner had an effort disallowed for offside after more poor defending. Even in a quieter second half, Bolton, happy to sit back, had the more telling moves, with Holdsworth failing to make the most of his chance after Kevin Nolan's cross.Gudni Bergsson had to head an inswinging Michael Appleton corner off the line and Paul Warhurst escaped with some slack moments, but still Wanderers looked comfortable. The Preston manager David Moyes tried to change the pattern of the game by pushing Gregan back into defence and throwing Steve Robinson into attack.Robinson hit an angled shot which Jaaskelainen tipped over, and the Finnish keeper then cleared the stand when he beat Healy in the race to a through ball. Healy had a powerful low drive hacked away by Warhurst and Jaaskelainen scrambled another Robinson effort away as Preston pushed forward.Bolton's three points were sealed when Allardyce sent on Michael Ricketts who produced his customary clincher, heading in a Farrelly free-kick.

It was his ninth goal as a substitute."Michael isn't too pleased. He should be delighted, but he's not happy that it was off the bench again," Allardyce said "He hates being left out and rightly so. He is our leading scorer but he's had a virus that has knocked him back. I think he will get 20 goals this season." The Bolton manager also praised his defence.

"We've got experienced internationals in there and it showed. In the end that told, but we should have won by half-time."Meanwhile, Moyes said: "No complaints, we didn't play well by our standards and we didn't defend well. It's been a worry to me for quite a while."Preston North End: Lucas; Parkinson, Jackson, Murdock (Rankine, 60), Kidd; McKenna, Gregan, Appleton, Anderson (Robinson, 69); Macken (Healy, 28), McBride. Substitutes not used: Cartwright, Moilanen (gk).Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Bergsson, Warhurst, Hendry, Elliott; Nolan (Passi, 61), Frandsen, Farrelly; Hansen (Ricketts, 83), Holdsworth (Marshall, 60), Gardner. Substitutes not used: Banks (gk), Fredgaard.Referee: M Riley (Leeds).. The festive period may be nearly over but there is no doubt that one thing - good luck - was missing from Birmingham's Christmas stocking last week.