THOSE of us lucky enough to witness this opening day annihilation of Leicester City are still pinching themselves in disbelief.

No report can do complete justice to this amazing team performance. Not one player shirked his duties.

We all arrived expecting a gritty struggle.

Instead, we were treated to a magnificent display of passionate attacking play.

The true fans won't be fooled by this result. Premiership soccer is going to be a daunting challenge but on this evidence not one to induce terminal fear.

The five goals scored could have been doubled such was the rapier-like thrust of Bolton's attacking play. Even the injury situation seemed to favour us, as Big Sam was forced to send out those who had done us proud for most of last season.

The absence from the starting eleven of his new signings meant those given the task of kick-starting our campaign knew each others' play inside out - and oh, how we made that advantage pay!

When have Per Frandsen and Paul Warhurst performed better in a white shirt? This was truly the Frandsen of old.

Ricketts will frighten the life out of defences this campaign with his pace and strength and two goal Kevin Nolan can only improve as he gets more top flight experience.

I have just opened the Sunday papers and on the 19th August 2001 Bolton Wanderers sit proudly on top of the English Premier League. Thanks Sam!

Man of the Match: Per Frandsen - closely followed by 10 others. Steven Battersby