Bolton Wanderers ended their miserable run of five successive Premier League defeats with a hard-fought goalless draw against Manchester City.

On a bitterly cold afternoon in the Northwest both teams had glorious chances to to aid their relative causes - as City chase European qualification and Bolton fight to avoid relegation.

But desperate defending, excellent goalkeeping and poor finishing prevailed to ensure an unlikely stalemate.

For Sven-Goran Eriksson's visitors, Stephen Ireland's rasping left-foot shot on 15 minutes appeared destined for the top corner, but Ricardo Gardner leapt to goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi's aid and headed clear.

If Gardner was to be credited as Bolton's saviour, it was Joe Hart who ensured City left the Reebok Stadium unscathed.

With ten minutes remaining, the young goalkeeper reacted sharply and stood tall to deny El Hadji Diouf, after the striker broke free inside City's area.

It was the culmination of a highly-polished performance from Hart, who dealt comfortably with the torrent of high balls that rained down through the sleet and snow, and emerged with a deserved cleansheet.

In what was a disjointed game, Bolton set off at frantic pace. Ivan Campo and Kevin Nolan exerted their physicality in midfield, and Diouf and Matthew Taylor marauded down opposite flanks.

With just six minutes gone, the home side came close to a deserved lead when Gretar Steinsson crashed a powerful header against the post.

City struggled to employ the fluid style responsible for their lofty league position, and were limited to counter attacks.

As conditions worsened, both sides increasingly opted to by-pass midfield and neither held possession for long enough to dominate.

The result was a scrappy, end-to-end affair resembling a cup tie - in which chances continued to fall, but neither side could capitalise.

As the final whistle approached, however, both sides spurned opportunities to settle the game.

For City, Elano saw his 30-yard piledriver parried by Hart, then Felipe Caicedo was denied by a desperate clearance from Bolton's Joey O'Brien.

Bolton's golden opportunity fell to striker Kevin Davies, whose firm header was blocked by City's Martin Petrov.

Ultimately, in was not to be for Bolton, who closed the gap with Birmingham to a single point, but remain in the bottom three.

Gary Megson's men are also facing up to the possibility of being without the influential Gardner for much of the run-in - after the midfielder was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs.

Will Tidey / Eurosport