The hosts could have taken all three points on reflection, but their inability to take their chances and make their possession count means that they still languish in and amongst the Premier League drop zone.

Kevin Nolan and Gary Cahill both passed fitness tests in order to play for Bolton prior to the game and the latter in particular was once again a commanding force alongside fellow defensive partner Andy O'Brien.

Striker El-Hadji Diouf had the first attempt on goal within the first minute of the game but visiting keeper Joe Hart was right behind the shot by the Wanderers front man.

City looked to use the pace of Darius Vassell and Benjani Mwaruwari to open Bolton up in defence but despite being a dangerous threat early on the pair could not keep the momentum going throughout the ninety minutes.

On seven minutes the Wanderers had a good chance to open the scoring, firstly when Danny Guthrie's right wing cross was nearly met by Matthew Taylor and then from a resulting Diouf corner the excellent Gretar Steinsson saw his header strike the angle of Hart's right hand post.

Midfielder Stephen Ireland went close for City with a volley which was cleared off the line by Ricardo Gardner at the last moment, whilst a curler from Kevin Nolan and a powerful effort from Kevin Davies did not test goalkeeper Hart.

Ten minutes before the break the industrious Danny Guthrie threaded through a fine ball to his Bolton team mate Diouf who's execution was disappointing and easy for youngster Hart to gather.

The Wanderers suffered a big injury blow more or less on the stroke of half time when their Jamaican wing back Gardner was stretchered off after suffering what appeared to be a rib injury.

Gardner obviously didn't come out for the second half and his place was taken by the versatile Joey O'Brien who filled in as a makeshift left back despite being predominantly right footed.

Snow began to fall down at a bitterly cold Reebok although the Bolton crowd could have been warmed up had Taylor managed to steer his 58th minute header on target instead of over the crossbar.

Manchester City brought on their Brazilian playmaker Elano Blumer and the South American, who scored earlier on in the season against Bolton, forced Wanderers keeper Ali Al-Habsi into saving the ball at the second time of asking.

Steinsson was getting forward well for Bolton throughout the game and the Icelander once again got in an attempt on the City goal, this time a shot with his left foot which deflected out for a corner.

Bolton pushed for a winner in the final quarter of an hour and a raised hand in the area from City defender Javier Garrido prompted penalty appeals which where ignored by the officials.

City's response was another shot by Elano which Al-Habsi just about dealt with and thereafter lively young substitute Felipe Caciedo saw his effort cleared off the line by Joey O'Brien.

Benjani should have stolen the points for City in the 88th minute but the Zimbabwe striker headed over from close range following a good cross by full back Vedran Corluka.

Wanderers nearly went one better right at the death when Kevin Davies header from a Stelios corner was cleared off the line by Martin Petrov, the third goalline clearance of the game.

Next weekend sees title chasing Arsenal visit Bolton and this will then be followed by a Wanderers trip to European hopefuls Aston Villa.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Ali Al-Habsi, Gretar Steinsson, Gary Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Ricardo Gardner (Joey O'Brien), Danny Guthrie, Ivan Campo (Gavin McCann), Kevin Nolan, El-Hadji Diouf, Kevin Davies, Matthew Taylor (Stelios Giannakopoulos)

SUBS NOT USED: Grzegorz Rasiak, Ian Walker (GK)

MANCHESTER CITY: Joe Hart, Vedran Corluka, Richard Dunne, Nedum Onuoha, Javier Garrido, Stephen Ireland (Elano Blumer), Gelson Fernandes, Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov, Darius Vassell (Felipe Caciedo), Benjani Mwaruwari

SUBS NOT USED: Sun Jihai, Nery Castillo, Andreas Isaksson (GK)

REFEREE:

Andre Marriner

ATTENDANCE:

22,633

BOOKED:

Nolan (Bolton)

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes