It was forward Ivan Klasnic who stole the show after sealing a thrilling 3-2 victory over David Moyes' Toffees with a goal three minutes from time.

The Croatian's strike - his first in English football - gave Gary Megson's team their first home win of the season in the Premier League and lifted them above the Toffees into 12th place in the table.

But at 2-2, it could have been a different story had Muamba not prevented Dan Gosling from scoring at the other end.

The defensive midfielder raced back as Gosling broke clear with the ball in the 76th minute and kept his head to make an expert interception at the vital moment.

It was a sign of the growing maturity that Muamba, a former Arsenal trainee, has shown since arriving at the Reebok Stadium from Birmingham in a £5million deal in 2008.

Although his star may be on the rise, the 21-year-old is happy to stay out of the limelight.

"I just try to do the job for the team really," Muamba said.

"In my position I have to be aware of all that is around me and he (Gosling) was a yard or two yards ahead of me.

"I knew if I couldn't tackle him right I could have been sent off but I did everything tidily.

"It's about when and when not to tackle and I think that was just the perfect timing, when I got the ball off him.

"I enjoy what I do and I don't mind being in the background with everybody else getting the praise.

"I'm just here for the team and the most important thing is that we keep winning."

Bolton appeared to be cruising towards their first league win of the campaign at the Reebok Stadium when goals from Chung-Yong Lee and Gary Cahill gave them a two-goal advantage after only 27 minutes.

Everton were allowed to get back into the game though, and after Louis Saha's wonder-strike and Marouane Fellaini's fierce effort had brought the scores level, the visitors almost walked away with all three points before Klasnic's late decider.

Megson praised his team for hitting back again after surrendering their initial lead, but was under no illusions as to the importance of Muamba's contribution.

"The response was terrific and it was really what I would expect of ourselves," Megson said.

"But we were pushing on so intent on getting that winner that we nearly lost it in doing so.

"Fab (Muamba) has his critics and there are some things he needs to improve on.

"But I don't think there was anyone else on that pitch that would have got back to Gosling and rob him, six yards out - rob him cleanly and actually take it away and pass it out.

"In trying to win it, we have to make sure we don't lose it in the process."

Muamba and all three of Bolton's goalscorers were signed by Megson, who celebrated two years in charge of the club yesterday and admitted it had taken time to remould the side to his liking.

"I didn't realise it (the anniversary) was today - I knew it was around here," Megson said.

"But it's not really something you look back on and say 'this has happened, that has happened'.

"It is a terrific club to work for, terrific people that I work for and with.

"There were a lot of problems that needed sorting out initially but I think that's normal when things change.

"It needed to change but what we don't have is the financial clout to be able to change it as quickly or readily as we like - we still haven't, there are still things in there that I know I have to do and want to do, and I wanted to do them two years ago.

"But we haven't got what (Manchester) City have got - when they need to make changes they can go out and do it their way. We have to do it a little more slowly."