Poor finishing frustrates West Brom

West Brom 0 Bolton 0

Given that Pompey entertain bottom side Sunderland on Saturday, Albion may now need to win their last three games to retain realistic hopes of survival.

A point was also of little advantage to Bolton in their fading quest for a UEFA Cup spot although it did at least halt a sequence of five successive defeats.

Unsurprisingly there was a tense atmosphere around the ground given what was at stake for the Baggies and this was reflected in the play during an opening 45 minutes of few moments of danger.

Bolton, who were operating with a 4-3-3 formation, slowly gained the upper hand and looked the more likely to make the breakthrough.

Nigel Quashie, who had scored Albion’s goal against Arsenal on Saturday, tried his luck from 25 yards out but his drive flew high and wide.

The first clear-cut chance came after 37 minutes and it needed a reflex save from Jussi Jaaskelainen to keep Bolton on level terms.

A throw from Steve Watson was flicked on by Kevin Campbell and Zoltan Gera got in a header which took a deflection of Abdoulaye Faye before Jaaskelainen was able to palm away to his right.

The first half-chance of the second period fell to Bolton midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata but he dragged his shot from the edge of the Baggies box across the face of goal.

Kevin Davies looked offside when he found some space on the right flank and his low cross only just eluded the run into the six-yard area of Stelios Giannakopoulos.

A free-kick from Paul Robinson picked out the run of Steve Watson at the far post and he lobbed the ball back across goal but Kamara’s close control let him down.

A quick break involving Kamara and Greening almost found a way through the Bolton defence but Gera’s control was lacking at the crucial moment.

Greening produced some fine skill to create some space for himself on the left before delivering an inviting cross which no-one could connect with in the centre.

The Albion fans raised one of the biggest cheers of the night when substitute Kanu started to warm up midway through the half.

One sensed a growing frustration that their side had barely had a shot in anger from a match they needed to win.

But after 72 minutes Kamara missed a golden opportunity to put them ahead.

Gera’s cross into the box was flicked on by Campbell and Kamara looked favourite to score at the far post but he prodded the ball wide.

WEST BROM: Kuszczak, Watson, Curtis Davies, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Quashie, Johnson, Greening, Campbell (Kanu 73), Kamara (Nicholson 75).

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, N’Gotty, Faye, Gardner, Okocha, Nakata, Speed, Giannakopoulos (Vaz Te 83), Nolan, Davies.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).