Premier League: Bolton 2 West Brom 2

Bolton gave up a two-goal lead to concede what could prove a vital two points as West Brom salvaged a 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Mark Davies won a penalty converted by Martin Petrov against the run of play in a first half controlled by West Brom, and got a lucky second after fortunate deflections of Petrov’s cross from Liam Ridgewell and Billy Jones.

But Roy Hodgson’s side went on to get the reward their play deserved later in the game when Chris Brunt fired in from the edge of the box and then substitute Simon Cox set up fellow arrival James Morrison for the late equaliser.

Chris Eagles gave Bolton a bright start by hitting the side-netting inside two minutes with an audacious swerving shot from outside the box.

However it was West Brom who saw more of the ball in the opening few minutes, exerting greater control in midfield.

Bolton had some success with a more direct route of attack down the flanks seeking to find strike duo Kevin Davies and David N’Gog, and they saw the first genuine chance of the game when Dedryck Boyata switched play with a long ball to Petrov, whose low cross evaded N’Gog but reached Kevin Davies at the back post but he could only blast over under pressure from the defence.

West Brom went closest just inside 20 minutes when Adam Bogdan had to turn Shane Long’s effort onto the post after the Irish forward turned quickly to scuff his shot at goal.

Bolton, however, took the lead against the run of play after winning a penalty when Mark Davies went down under in the box under pressure from Keith Andrews and Youssouf Mulumbu. Petrov drilled his penalty into the left corner where it found its way into the net despite a touch from the diving Ben Foster.

Marc-Antoine Fortune forced an error from the hesitant Bogdan towards the end of the half as he reached a long diagonal ball ahead of the goalkeeper, but rushed his shot and blasted over.

West Brom continued to pursue goals after the break as Liam Ridgewell threatened on several occasions.

However Owen Coyle’s side got a second goal shortly after bringing on top-scorer Ivan Klasnic, who found Petrov running down the left flank for the Bulgarian to send in a low cross that Ridgewell intercepted only for it to be cruelly deflected past the despairing Foster by Billy Jones.

Brunt got a goal back almost immediately for West Brom after connecting sweetly with the ball on the edge of the box to fire into the bottom left corner.

The late goal heralded 15 minutes of backs-to-the-wall defending from Bolton punctuated only by the substitute addition of Lee Chung-Yong following his long absence with a broken leg.

Their hopes of a crucial three points were shattered when, with 30 seconds of normal time remaining, the impressive substitute Simon Cox threaded the ball from the edge of the box into his fellow arrival Morrison who rifled in from the far post to leave the Trotters two points below safety.