Trotters held by City

Bolton Wanderers remain in the bottom three after being held to a goalless draw by Manchester City.

Trotters stay in drop zone following goalless draw

Bolton Wanderers remain in the bottom three after being held to a goalless draw by Manchester City at The Reebok. With Birmingham losing at Reading, a much-needed win would have moved Gary Megson's side out of the bottom three to safety. However, despite having the better of the chances at The Reebok, the home side were unable to snatch an all-important winner against City. Gretar Steinsson saw an early header hit the woodwork, but in truth neither side deserved to go in at the break in front. City had chances of their own after half-time with substitutes Elano and Felipe Caicedo going close while Kevin Davies saw a header cleared off the line in injury-time. El Hadji Diouf started brightly and sent in crosses that Nedum Onuoha and Vedran Corluka, the second from just in front of the lurking Davies, had to clear.

Positive impression

Senegal international Diouf hit his target when he delivered a corner to the near post after seven minutes but Steinsson's header rebounded off the post. Ivan Campo also tried his luck from distance but shot well over as Bolton maintained their positive early impression. City's first chance came from a 17th-minute corner when Ricardo Gardner headed away Stephen Ireland's powerful long-range shot. Yet Bolton, recognising the seriousness of their situation, continued to force the pace and captain Kevin Nolan typified their urgency. Nolan, returning after missing the midweek defeat at Manchester United with a back injury, held off Gelson Fernandes to force his way into the box and shoot but Michael Johnson blocked. Bolton continued to force the pace and Diouf again shot at Joe Hart from distance in a replica of an earlier attempt at goal. The hosts suffered a blow in the last minute of the first half when Gardner was carried off on a stretcher after landing awkwardly under a challenge from Darius Vassell. He was replaced at the start of the second period, just as it began to snow, by Joey O' Brien. One mistimed tackle allowed City to break as referee Andre Marriner played advantage after Danny Guthrie caught Benjani Mwaruwari.

City chances on break

Martin Petrov raced clear down the left but a sliding Ireland was unable to meet his low cross into the box. Benjani also broke into the area and substitute Elano shot after O'Brien inadvertently passed to him in an effort to clear but Ali Al Habsi saved. Bolton then won a corner after Steinsson's shot was deflected and City were grateful Javier Garrido was standing in the way as Davies got a header in on target. Diouf then went through on goal from a Davies flick-on but Hart flung himself at the ball and saved with his legs as the former Liverpool striker tried to lift it over him. Taylor also shot wide as Bolton again failed to make the most of openings in the City defence. City had a chance late on as Caceido had a shot blocked on the line but Marriner blew for an infringement in the box. Benjani might also have snatched the game for City with just two minutes remaining but headed over from Corluka's cross. Davies almost had the final say in injury-time as he met a Stelios Giannakopolus corner but Petrov, placed at the far post, cleared his header off the line.

Bolton Wanderers	Team Statistics	Manchester City
0	Goals	0
0	1st Half Goals	0
4	Shots on Target	3
10	Shots off Target	3
9	Blocked Shots	2
12	Corners	12
8	Fouls	17
6	Offsides	1
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
64.4	Passing Success	72.5
28	Tackles	18
82.1	Tackles Success	72.2
49.5	Possession	50.5
60.3	Territorial Advantage	39.7