Rate it!

2 votes

Bolton earned a precious three points with a last gasp 2-1 win over Birmingham City at St Andrews.

Tamir Cohen opened the scoring for Bolton after just 10 minutes and it appeared as if it would stay that way until Birmingham sub Kevin Phillips equalised with six minutes to go.

The home side didn't stay on level terms for long though - just over a minute in fact - as another substitute Chung-Yong Lee scored the winner from close range with four minutes remaining.

Bolton's opening goal came in the first real attack of the match by either side and it was a long throw by Sam Ricketts that allowed Cohen to score his third Premier League goal of the season.

Ricketts's right wing delivery was flicked on by the ever dangerous Kevin Davies at the near post and Cohen arrived unmarked to power a header past Joe Hart from around six yards.

The hosts were stung into action by going a goal down, but they were hampered by their lone striker formation that saw Christian Benitez rarely allowed a sight of goal by Zat Knight and Gary Cahill at the heart of the Bolton defence.

It took until just after the half hour mark for Birmingham to register a shot on goal, but when it finally came it was close to an equaliser from Teemu Taino.

Gregory Vignal was the provider down the left, whose cross found Taino all alone near the penalty spot and his instinctive first-time volley flew inches wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen's right-hand post.

Blues had further chances when a deflection off Cahill saw Jaaskelainen make a smart save and also when Barry Ferguson volleyed wide on the turn, but their best chance of the half came through a Keith Fahey effort.

The midfielder linked up well with Lee Bowyer and unleashed a powerful effort that hammered against Jaaskelainen's crossbar after 40 minutes.

The hosts also had their chances in the second half, but found Jaaskelainen in fine form once again, but it was Bolton who had an outstanding opportunity to take the lead when Lee took the ball past Hart on the hour mark, but his finish dribbled wide of the post.

Indeed, the visitors threatened again 15 minutes later when Cohen found another substitute Gavin McCann with a nicely judged pass and Hart needed to be alert to race off his line and smother McCann's attempted chip.

Birmingham's equaliser came out of nothing, but it was a well executed finish from veteran striker Phillips following a neat exchange of passes with Benitez.

Blues looked to have earned a point with that strike, but the visitors claimed the victory when a Matthew Taylor free-kick from distance thudded against the post and in the ensuing scramble Lee was the first to react and he calmly guided the ball home from close range to earn the three points for Bolton.

Sean Calvert / Eurosport