Diouf keeps Bolton’s Euro hopes alive

Manchester City 0 Bolton 1

The controversial Senegal international was only rated doubtful for the game as he had an ankle injury - but he seized his chance just before the break to give his side the points at Eastlands.

Robbie Fowler had the hosts’ best chance but they failed to capitalise on a lively start and looked meek in attack without the injured Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Robbie Fowler went close to opening the scoring early on, the City striker almost taking advantage of calamitous defending from Vincent Candela - but Trotters ‘keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen recovered to tip the effort over.

Kevin Keegan’s side had the better of the opening chances in a fixture Bolton rarely perform well in.

City were without seven first-team players but welcomed back Claudio Reyna after more than three months out.

The 31-year-old had recovered from a groin injury to replace Shaun Wright-Phillips, who earlier in the day had successful surgery on his knee.

Tempers threatened to boil over in the 12th minute when Danny Mills and Diouf, both controversial for their aggressive styles, clashed near the halfway line.

Kevin Davies then flashed a volley wide a minute later after Richard Dunne had needlessly given the ball away in defence.

Mills committed a foul on Diouf in the 35th minute, and Hierro’s free-kick from the left had to be fisted away by James.

Diouf, on loan from Liverpool then scored the opener in injury time, finishing from close range from Stelios Giannakopoulos’ cross from the left.

City boss Kevin Keegan responded by bringing on former England winger Steve McManaman at the break.

Musampa led an attack in the 62nd minute, but groans roared around Eastlands when the move broke down. The jeers grew louder a minute later as Diouf shimmied past Dunne but fired wide with just James to beat.

Dunne and Diouf continued their battle, with Dunne receiving a caution for bringing down Bolton’s scorer. From the resulting free-kick Bruno N’Gotty had a free header but could not direct it to a team-mate.

Bradley Wright-Phillips was brought on for Bosvelt with 23 minutes remaining as City chased the game.

The youngster had a chance to run at the visitors’ defence straight away, but it came to nothing.

Davies was almost rewarded for his hard work but James saved the striker’s powerful volley in the 72nd minute. The former Southampton marksman then headed just wide from the resulting corner.

Three minutes from time Musampa found himself free in the penalty area but headed agonisingly wide - it was not City’s night.

Bolton’s Giannakopoulos then missed from close range in stoppage time.

MAN CITY: James, Mills, Distin, Dunne, Sommeil, Flood, Bosvelt, Reyna, Musampa, Fowler, Sibierski.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Candela, N’Gotty, Ben Haim, Gardner, Nolan, Okocha, Hierro, Giannakopoulos, Davies, Diouf.

Referee: A Wiley.