10-man Bolton snatch draw with Albion

Bolton 1, West Bromwich Albion 1 (full-time)

Per Frandsen swooped to snatch a priceless late equaliser for 10-man Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

The rock-bottom Trotters were heading for an abject home defeat against the side immediately above them in the Premiership table.

But Frandsen leapt to head substitute Simon Charlton’s 89th minute cross past West Brom goalkeeper Russell Hoult and save Sam Allardyce’s side from embarrassment.

Bolton had been a man short since the 19th minute when Bruno N’Gotty was sent off for apparently aiming an elbow at Jason Roberts as the pair lay on the turf.

And it looked like Scott Dobie’s second goal of the season two minutes earlier was going to earn Gary Megson’s men their first Premiership win for almost two months.

Bolton had piled on the second half pressure despite their numerical disadvantage with Ricardo Gardner, Michael Ricketts and Youri Djorkaeff all coming agonisingly close.

But it looked like being all in vain until Frandsen stuck and left Albion’s resolute defenders holding their heads in desperation as the points were finally denied them.

N’Gotty’s sending-off lit up the game after tame opening exchanges between two clubs who clearly had a lot to lose.

Bolton pushed forward better through Gardner and Jay Jay Okocha but Albion’s counter-attacking policy almost paid dividends in the 10th minute when James Chambers dispossessed home keeper Juusi Jaaskelainen on the edge of his box and set up a chance for Igor Balis which was blocked.

Frandsen had the home side’s best early chance moments later when he hit a long-range volley inches wide and Okocha followed that with a 30-yard free-kick high over Hoult’s bar.

Bolton’s response to Dobie’s fine goal was to push forward and Anthony Barness’ persistence almost paid off before he was stopped by Hoult on the Albion goal-line.

But the red card – which provoked fury on the pitch and in the stands - briefly threatened to send the game spiralling out of control.

Kevin Nolan’s introduction turned the game back in Bolton’s favour and Okocha produced two efforts which troubled Hoult as the home side turned their anger to good effect.

Moore produced a great saving tackle deep in his own box to deny Djorkaeff an equaliser.

But Albion were swift on the break and despite being left alone Roberts was finding it embarrassingly easy to race past Bolton’s flat-footed back four.

He should have increased Bolton’s lead in the 44th minute when he skipped around Ivan Campo but saw his attempted chip superbly tipped over the bar by Jaaskelainen.

Bolton dominated the second period as Albion sat deep and looked to catch them on the break.

First Frandsen drilled a low shot from 12 yards which Hoult did well to gather at the second attempt.

Then after Dobie’s break had been blocked by Gardner, substitute Michael Ricketts flashed an overhead kick just over the bar.

Roberts had a close-range shot blocked by Jaaskelainen before Ricketts produced Bolton’s best equalising chance of the game.

The big striker whipped in a perfect cross from the right and Djorkaeff stole unmarked onto the edge of the six yard box where he fired a powerful shot which was brilliantly saved by Hoult.

Gardner blazed a cross-shot across the face of goal but as Bolton pressed so Roberts and Dobie were afforded more space at the other end.

Dobie sought his second goal with a fine run in the 73rd minute which ended with a cross from the right which Barness almost bundled into his own net.

Despite all their late pressure Bolton were continually denied by poor final balls and resolute defensive work until Frandsen proved their saviour.