Bolton Wanderers 2 Newcastle United 1

IT'S no coincidence Newcastle United's recent renaissance has coincided with the return to fitness and form of Kieron Dyer and, perhaps it was no surprise the Magpies had their wings clipped and crashed to defeat yesterday when he left the Reebok Stadium pitch.

Dyer gave United a deserved lead against Sam Allardyce's side only for a calamitous mix up between goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek - making his first start for the club in over nine years - and Peter Ramage to allow the home side back in the game when they looked dead and buried.

The 23-year-old defender nodded past Srnicek after Ivan Campo had headed a speculative ball into the Magpies box.

Dyer was withdrawn ten minutes into the second half and two minutes later the home side wrapped up the points when Nicolas Anelka tapped in at the far post.

The goal had Bolton Wanderers stamped all over it. A long throw into the box was flicked on by Kevin Davies, a goalmouth scramble ensued and, after the Premier League's chief agitator El Hadji Diouf helped it on, Anelka was lurking to apply a finish.

Dyer has been nothing short of outstanding following his return to the United side after two years punctuated with injury. His pace and trickery has found a willing partner in striker Obafemi Martins, who has relished the former Ipswich man's inclusion.

The pacey strikers carried on where they left off in Saturday's win over Tottenham, causing all sorts of problems to the Bolton defence in the opening period.

Dyer returned to manager Glenn Roeder's line-up for the first time since Easter Monday as a 56th minute substitute in the 0-0 draw at Manchester City on November 11.

In the following fixture his sparkling performance, his first start for seven months, nearly resulted in an unlikely victory at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal when he netted the opening goal in a 1-1 draw.

Until yesterday the Magpies had not lost a Premier League fixture Dyer has been involved in this term. Technically they still remain unbeaten while he was on the field.

But if Dyer has been the catalyst for the United revival then the foundations of the recent turn around in fortunes have been built on the burgeoning partnership of Newcastle's young centre half pairing of Steven Taylor, 20, and Ramage.

The precocious, yet inexperienced, pair have been superb since injury robbed Roeder of his preferred partnership of Titus Bramble and Craig Moore. They have been admirably supported by another academy product in Paul Huntingdon and Nolberto Solano, who missed out yesterday with a groin injury.

The Peruvian playmaker's position was occupied by a fourth academy student yesterday in David Edgar, son of former Magpie goalkeeper Eddie, and he impressed in difficult surroundings. The teenager's inclusion brought the average age of the visitors' back four down to a little over 20.

Newcastle had got away to a certain extent playing an inexperienced defence in the last six weeks, but there was always the possibility that for all their youthful exuberance and zeal, an experienced and wily outfit such as Bolton would find them out.

This sadly turned out to be the case.

Bolton hardly looked a side who had enjoyed three consecutive victories. They were atrocious in the first half but they were handed a way back into the contest following the unfortunate mix up between Srnicek, who had earlier treated away fans to his trademark dribbles inside the box, and Ramage.

Prior to the equaliser Newcastle almost carved the Trotters open at will with Dyer and, in particular, Martins torturing the Bolton back four with strong running and mazy runs.

James Milner saw good efforts go wide either side of Dyer's goal, Martins flashed an effort wide and Scott Parker had a goalbound header blocked by Antione Sibierski.

The home side improved after the break and took the lead in the 57th minute. The United defence were unable to deal with Campo's long throw and Anelka kindly obliged.

From then on the visitors, who had lined up in a 4-3-3 formation to match the home side, chased the game. But by then Bolton had grown in confidence and were always comfortable protecting their lead.

Butt headed over a decent opportunity following good work from Martins on the wing on 65 minutes and substitute Emre went close five minutes later but the Magpies could find no way back.