A brilliantly taken goal by Youri Djorkaeff six minutes from time salvaged an improbable point in a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at The Valley after the home side has squandered a number of excellent chances.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was delighted with the way his team kept going and Djorkaeff's class finish brought them what could at the end of the season be an important point.
It was former Bolton star Mark Fish, now the captain of Charlton, who scored the goal that looked as though it would send his former side to defeat.
The defender volleyed home with a shot that went in off the post a minute after half time for his first goal of the season and only the second of his Charlton career.
It came after Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had been penalised for taking the ball outside the area, the visitors failed to effectively clear Claus Jensen's free-kick to allow Fish to score.
Charlton had dominated the first half but Jensen, twice, and Fish were denied by excellent saves from Bolton's Finnish keeper and Bolton, who have found goals difficult to come by, failed to test Charlton keeper Dean Kiely.
Michael Ricketts went close with a header but that was as close as the Trotters came to scoring.
It was a similar situation after Charlton had made the breakthrough and Jason Euell should have made certain of victory for the home side when he was presented with a gilt-edged chance after a slip by Mike Whitlow, but he screwed his shot across the face of the goal.
Charlton will be frustrated that they failed to take the three points but credit Bolton for their persistence and manager Allardyce feels the relegation battle will go to the wire before we know who will go down.
Djorkaeff probably wishes he could play at The Valley every week as he scored the two goals which gave Bolton victory on the same ground last season.