A late penalty from Matt Taylor rescued a point for Bolton as they were held 1-1 at home to Stoke City.
Potters gift Trotters a point with late penalty
A late penalty from Matt Taylor rescued a point for Bolton as they were held 1-1 at home to Stoke City.
A fine individual goal from in-form striker Dave Kitson had given Stoke the lead early in the second-half after an uninspiring first period.
The diving debate dominating football recently looks set to continue as both Ricardo Fuller and Kevin Davies were handed yellow cards for simulation during a dire first-half.
The game sprung into life in the second period, however, as the introduction of Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Klasnic sprung life into Bolton's attack
It was the away side who took the lead however as Kitson received the ball on the edge of the area before beating Tamir Cohen and curling the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal on 53 minutes.
Bolton pressed for an equaliser but looked destined not to find one until a minute from time, when Danny Collins was judged to have tripped Cohen in the area and Taylor stepped up to send Thomas Sorensen the wrong way and snatch a point for the Trotters.
First period
Stoke were the brighter of the two teams in a dull first half and made a break inside the first minute when Fuller got clear down the right flank.
He delivered the ball into the area only for Fabrice Muamba to get there ahead of Matthew Etherington and make the clearance.
Fuller was then incensed after being booked in the seventh minute for going to ground in the penalty area following a challenge from Gavin McCann.
Stoke then found themselves on the back foot in the 15th minute when goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen launched the ball forward.
Kevin Davies won the aerial battle with former team-mate Abdoulaye Faye, leaving him dazed on the floor.
McCann tried his luck from 25 yards in the 20th minute but Sorensen was able to make a comfortable save before Gary Cahill sent a header wide for the home side.
Stoke, however, almost took the lead after 32 minutes when Cohen was punished for a challenge on Fuller.
Glenn Whelan tried to curl the free-kick from 25 yards beyond Jaaskelainen only for the goalkeeper to react swiftly and push his effort to safety.
Stoke kept up the pressure and a long throw from Rory Delap caused Jaaskelainen problems.
He could only parry the ball to Kitson but the striker could not get a decent enough touch and the chance was lost.
Bolton responded and Taylor came close in the 51st minute when he clipped a shot wide of the post after substitute Gardner had carved out the opening.
Breakthrough
A minute later Stoke made the breakthrough with a fine goal from Kitson. He latched on to a ball from Fuller and showed good skill to get away from Sam Ricketts.
Kitson then steadied himself before rattling a shot into the corner.
It was a clinical finish from a player who did not score for the club last season and was loaned back to Reading.
It was just the boost Stoke were looking for after the home defeat by Chelsea last weekend.
Bolton kept pressing forward in search of the equaliser and substitute Ivan Klasnic saw his close-range effort turned over by Sorensen in the 68th minute.
Then Zat Knight cleared the bar with a volley when it seemed easier to score.
Stoke were looking to extend their lead and Fuller made space in the penalty area after 72 minutes but his effort failed to trouble Jaaskelainen.
Bolton kept working away but the visitors were looking well organised at the back.
Stoke were also dangerous on the counter attack and substitute Danny Pugh saw his effort turned away by Jaaskelainen in the 88th minute.
A minute later Bolton grabbed the equaliser through Taylor but Jaaskelainen had to make a brave block from substitute Liam Lawrence in stoppage time to prevent him snatching the winner.
However this is a difficult time for the home side, who have managed just one win in five league games.
