Allardyce laments Bolton defending

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was left "dejected and disappointed" after seeing his side throw away a two-goal lead at Sheffield United.

The Trotters appeared poised to end a three-match losing run as they led 2-0 at Bramall Lane courtesy of goals from El Hadji Diouf and Kevin Davies.

But Allardyce was forced to settle for a point as the Blades hit back with two goals in 133 seconds from Rob Hulse and Colin Kazim-Richards.

"We should have been home and dry," insisted Allardyce.

"A comfortable game from our point of view has left us with only a point and has left everybody completely and utterly dejected and disappointed.

"At 2-0, life was easy for ourselves and it could have been easier given the other chances we had, although two goals away from home in Premiership match should be enough anyway.

"But then the need for ordinary, good, basic defending went out of the window in the space of just two and a half minutes.

"They scored two goals by throwing balls up as far and as long as they could, and then by winning the knock-downs on the edge of our box.

"Our defenders and goalkeeper just could not cope with it, which is surprising when our two centre-backs are 6ft 3ins and 6ft 4ins.

"We came storming back and created two of the best chances in the game and we should have won.

"The first of those was from Kevin Nolan with a header he should have placed either side of Paddy Kenny, while the second from Abdoulaye Faye should have broke the net.

"If one of those had gone in then we would have come away with a deserved win, but a draw is very sad from our point of view."

Diouf, out on police bail this week following an alleged assault on his wife in the early hours of last Sunday, put his problems behind him by opening the scoring in the 34th minute.

The Senegal striker latched on to a raking ball out in defence, from Henrik Pedersen that spun away from covering defender Phil Jagielka before despatching a crisp shot past Kenny.

Just before the hour it was 2-0, with Davies scoring his first goal since the opening day of the season with a powerful drive from the edge of the area past the statuesque Blades goalkeeper.

But in the 70th minute United gave themselves a lifeline when the club's leading scorer in Hulse powered home a header following a cross from half-time substitute Kazim-Richards.

Bramall Lane then erupted just over two minutes later when the 20-year-old, a £150,000 deadline-day buy from Brighton, curled a sumptuous 25-yard right-foot shot into an unguarded net.

United manager Neil Warnock was understandably elated, and believes Kazim-Richards is a player for the future.

"I don't think anybody expected Colin to do what he did," commented Warnock.

"When the ball came to him I thought he would just control it, but he is one of the coolest men on the pitch.

"He has that little bit of arrogance about him - in fact it was probably too much when he first arrived.

"But he has changed and he had learned you cannot be an individual, that you have to be part of team.

"He knows his work ethic has to be for the team and I am delighted to say his attitude has been good.

"He will enjoy this moment and be on cloud whatever it is, but by Monday I will make sure his feel are back on the floor."

The result was enough to life United back out of the bottom three, although Warnock concedes the rest of the campaign is likely to be a yo-yo affair.

"I think we have done well so far this season apart from all those penalties we have failed to convert," reflected Warnock.

"I think we should have had 15 or 16 points by now, but then most managers will feel they should have more than they actually have.

"But this was a great result - a tremendous fight back and think we have spoiled a few headlines."