The Australian midfielder took his tally to seven goals in 13 games in all competitions to bring down Bolton.

With Phil Neville also on target, it was just the result manager David Moyes was looking for after Manchester United ended their 13-match unbeaten run on Sunday.

However it took them a while to get going with Cahill's goal and the opener from Neville coming in the second half.

Bolton were looking to kick on after moving up the table under manager Gary Megson.

But they were guilty of gifting Everton both goals and have yet to win away on the road in the league this season.

Bolton carved out the first half chance of the match in the 15th minute when full back Ricardo Gardner tried his luck from distance.

However the Jamaica international's effort went high over Tim Howard's bar.

Gardner then released El-Hadji Diouf but the Senegal striker was crowded out as he shaped to shoot.

Everton suddenly sprung into life in the 20th minute and Mikel Arteta's effort took a deflection to safety after he had been set up by Joleon Lescott.

That brought Goodison Park to life after a lacklustre start by the home side.

Arteta was coming more into the game after missing the United game through illness and picked out Ayegbeni Yakubu after 33 minutes.

However the Nigerian striker seemed to be off-balance and headed wide at the near post.

Everton stepped up the pressure and Lescott delivered a good ball into the area after 38 minutes but there was no one on hand to take advantage.

Thomas Gravesen thumped in a volley in the 43rd minute that was blocked by Kevin Nolan.

Yakubu did find the net a minute before half time but his effort was ruled out as Cahill was offside.

Everton almost took the lead a minute into the second half when Yakubu released Cahill.

He looked certain to score but goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made a marvellous point blank save.

Everton stepped up the pressure and Jaaskelainen turned away Lescott's effort with his knee.

Jaaskelainen was left red-faced, however, in the 52nd minute when Everton opened the scoring.

He came racing off his line to prevent Neville's delivery from the right reaching Cahill and clambered on the back of the midfielder.

But he took his eye off the ball and Neville's cross ended up behind the Finn and in the net.

Everton found themselves on the back foot in the 66th minute when substitute Gavin McCann sent in an ambitious overhead kick.

However England defender Lescott was handily placed and cleared the ball to safety.

Everton extended their lead in the 70th minute when referee Rob Styles played the advantage rule after McCann hand bundled over Gravesen.

With Bolton static, Lescott raced to the byline and pulled it back to Cahill, who rifled a shot home.

Megson would have been furious at the way his side had gone to sleep and Gravesen almost added a third in the 77th minute, only for his effort to go wide of the target.

Bolton, however, continued to make a decent fist of it and Anelka broke clear seven minutes later but goalkeeper Howard made a good block.