West Brom’s hopes of Premier League survival were left looking slimmer after a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Bolton.
The Baggies went into the match knowing that only three points would allow them to entertain realistic hopes of mounting a late surge off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.
But after Matt Taylor had given the visitors a fully-deserved lead shortly after the restart, it required an own goal by Bolton substitute Danny Shittu to earn Tony Mowbray’s side a share of the points.
After a bright start by West Brom, it was Bolton who began to dominate and only the heroics of goalkeeper Scott Carson had prevented West Brom from falling behind before the interval.
Matt Taylor was first to test the England goalkeeper, striking a sweet left-foot drive after 21 minutes.
Carson was then called upon to palm a dipping free-kick from Taylor around the post and, from the resulting corner, it required a point-blank save to prevent Kevin Davies’s header finding the net.
Taylor went close with another free-kick, a swerving effort from all of 35 yards that Carson had to be alert to keep out.
Bolton continued to dominate after the break and they were finally rewarded in the 67th-minute after Jussi Jaaskelainen launched a huge punt into the opposition area.
Jonas Olsson’s headed clearance did not get the ball out of the area and Taylor was able to find the net with a fine, controlled volley.
Bolton had done enough to earn all three points but they were forced to settle for a draw when Shittu deflected a Robert Koren shot past Jaaskelainen eight minutes from time.
The frustration was evident as Bolton boss Gary Megson got himself sent from the dug-out in injury time after a verbal altercation with referee Howard Webb.
