Bolton started brightly and took an early lead when Ricardo Gardner got round Jeff Kenna but his left wing cross was met by Blues defender Kenny Cunningham. Howevever, Ireland international Cunningham could only divert the ball into his own net.

Bolton then sprung another almost instant attack and could've scored again but Danish striker Henrik Pedersen was blatantly hauled back by Cunningham although referee Dermot Gallacher failed to spot the offence.

As the first half wore on, however, the visitors came more and more back into the game and got their just rewards when they equalised a minute before half time when Robbie Savage, who was booed throughout by the Wanderers supporters, tapped home from a yard out. Prior to Savage's equaliser, former Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic defender Jeff Kenna missed a sitter.

Bolton came out determined for the second half and regained the lead almost instantly when Henrik Pedersen bundled the ball home.

Birmingham equalised though when Clinton Morrison foiled Bolton's offside trap to fire the ball home past Jussi Jaaskelainen who got a hand to the shot but couldn't keep it out. This sprung a period of Birmingham pressure as they looked to claim a vital victory but the Bolton defence held firm.

As Birmingham pressed forward in search of a winner, it left gaps in their defence and Bolton exploited this after the introduction as a substitute of former Huddersfield striker Delroy Facey. Facey had a part in Bolton's third goal when he chased down a backpass to Birmingham goalkeeper Ian Bennett which forced him to scuff his clearance which landed at the feet of Jay Jay Okocha who passed the ball to French magician Youri Djorkaeff on the edge of the box who turned and fired home. Okocha then helped clinch victory when after running from the half way line, he hit the post from 25 yards out from where the ball landed in front Delroy Facey who smashed the ball home to give Bolton a hugely vital, deserved victory which closed the gap on Birmingham in the table and also opened up a four point cushion above the relegation zone for Bolton.

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