Bolton clung on for a desperate 1-1 draw at Tottenham, withstanding a monumental second-half onslaught to keep alive their hopes of Premier League survival.

Stelios Giannakopoulos's 46th-minute strike put Gary Megson's side ahead, before Steed Malbranque brought Tottenham deservedly level five minutes later, signalling a spell of pressure which did everything but produce a goal.

The result leaves Bolton precariously placed on 33 points, ahead of Reading on goal difference and just a point in front of Birmingham City in 17th. With a trip to Chelsea following next week's home game against Sunderland, defeat at White Hart Lane was unthinkable.

Despite glorious sunshine, and turf so perfectly manicured it resembled the fairways of Augusta National, both sides were woefully ineffective in a dour first half.

While Tottenham at least tried to play, however, Bolton sat impossibly deep and barely touched the ball in their opponents' half. This was not the performance of a team galvanised to avoid relegation.

Gary Megson's men conceded the lion's share of possession, and lacked their usual physicality in midfield. Kevin Nolan was far from his rampaging best.

While Spurs dominated territory, they lacked cutting edge and created just one genuine opening in the opening period - Gilberto's free-kick deflecting off Robbie Keane and onto the post.

Desperate to turn the tide, Bolton manager Megson made two changes at half-time, replacing Ivan Campo and Grzegorz Raziak with El Hadji Diouf and Giannakopoulos. The effect was immediate.

Barely a minute into the second period, Danny Guthrie capitalised on good work from Diouf and sent a low cross into the near post. Spurs goalkeeper Radek Cerny scrambled to gather, but Giannakopoulos reacted quickest and gleefully slid home to give Bolton the lead.

The visitors could not have been less deserving of their advantage, but these are desperate times and suddenly their first-half showing was all but forgotten. Bolton found their drive, and tackles began to fly in.

Suddenly the match burst into life. Spurs found a new sense of urgency, and soon restored parity.

Just five minutes after conceding, Jermaine Jenas found Keane with his back to goal on the edge of the box. The Irishman turned and shot in a single movement, and Malbranque was in the right place, at the right time, to steer the ball home.

Five minutes later, Keane drifted from right to left in the Bolton box and drew a sharp save from Ali Al-Habsi. Spurs were starting to click.

Soon after Malbranque should have scored his second, following excellent work from Keane on the right. Spurs' captain cut back and clipped a left-foot cross to the unmarked midfielder, but he could not find a finish.

Bolton were reduced to the occasional foray on the break. Diouf blasted wide on 69 minutes, an effort to prove the closest the visitors would come to a second of their own.

As the clock ran down, Spurs missed two glorious chances to win the game - Guthrie cleared on the goal-line from substitute Darren Bent's powerful header, and Dimitar Berbatov headed over with the goal gaping.

Somehow, Bolton survived and earned a point which could prove crucial in ensuring their Premier League status.

Will Tidey / Eurosport