Late strike denies Wolves first win

Bolton 1 Wolves 1

Wolves came within five minutes of ending a 19-year wait for a victory in the top flight.

But Kevin Davies ended the premature celebrations by grabbing his third goal of the season.

Wolves had gone ahead with an Alex Rae thunderbolt after 30 minutes.

And they were in sight of their first win at this level since May 1984 when Davies made his mark on the game.

Wolves went into the match with only one point and one goal on the board in the league, not to mention a goal deficit of minus 16.

Yet they began brightly and took the game to Bolton before fading in the second half.

A poor clearance from Ricardo Gardner found Wolves striker Steffen Iversen 25 yards out in the third minute. However Iversen decided to try an ambitious half volley and his effort went high over the bar.

Then Colin Cameron picked out Ince after 13 minutes. But the former England midfielder hurried his shot and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was not troubled.

Youri Djorkaeff tried to get Bolton going in the 19th minute and flighted a ball in the direction of Kevin Nolan. But goalkeeper Michael Oakes read the situation well and got ahead of the midfielder to make a comfortable save.

Wolves were growing in confidence, however, and another chance fell to Iversen in the 22nd minute. He found space in the area only to see his volley go wide of the far post.

Bolton went on the counter attack and Pedersen got goal side of Lee Naylor in the 25th minute but Oakes cleared with his legs.

Rae made the breakthrough for Wolves in the 30th minute with a stunning 30-yard volley. He rifled an unstoppable shot beyond Jaaskelainen after a corner from Mark Kennedy had only been partially cleared by Jay Jay Okocha.

The goal was no more than Wolves deserved as they had looked the better organised of the two sides.

Certainly they had got a grip of midfield with Rae and Ince scrapping for every loose ball.

Bolton were being harried and pulled about, leaving their supporters anxious and frustrated.

Ince then tried to release Mark Kennedy after a good spell of pressure from the visitors. But Bruno N’Gotty read the situation well and managed to make a timely interception.

Bolton pressed forward before the break only for Oakes to cut out a dangerous cross from Gardner.

Scotland striker Kenny Miller made his first appearance of the season for Wolves at the start of the second half. He came on for Iversen, who appeared to have picked up a knock in the first half.

Wolves started where they left off and Shaun Newton got into a good position, only to be robbed by Charlton.

Bolton pushed forward and Emerson Thome raced forward but sent a shot over the top.

Then Djorkaeff flighted in a corner and Davies got away for his marker. However he failed to get any power or direction on his header.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce knew drastic surgery was needed if they were to turn things around.

He brought on Mario Jardel and Per Frandsen for Pedersen and Ivan Campo in the 61st minute.

Jardel was quickly in the action and Oakes did well to turn his close range effort around the post.

However Cameron and Rae nearly took advantage as Bolton pushed men forward in search of the equaliser.

Wolves were beginning to look shaky as Jardel began to impose his physical presence.

Oakes made another good save when he got down quickly to turn away a shot from Okocha.

Wolves goalkeeper Oakes was working overtime and turned away a powerful header from Thome after 74 minutes.

Jardel then missed a clear chance at the back post after substitute Glen Little had flicked on a corner from Djorkaeff.

Bolton drew level in the 85th minute when Davies got on the end of a cross from Little to rifle a shot beyond Oakes from close range.

Little, on loan, from Burnley, put in another fine delivery but Okocha fired the wrong side of the post.

Bolton continued to push forward but had to settle for a point after waking up late in the match.