Jussi Jaaskelainen(credit:
Wikipedia)
Bolton shrugged off the first-half dismissal of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to hit back from 2-0 to clinch a point with a 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham.
It took just four minutes for the hosts to take the lead when Roger Johnson poked the ball home after Cameron Jermone managed to flick on from James McFadden’s cross.
Martin Petrov and Paul Robinson both wasted chances for Bolton beofre the main talking on 36 minutes when Jaaskelainen received his marching orders. The keeper took offence to a challenge from Johnson and took it upon himself to lash out with his hand and he was promptly dismissed.
The Blues extended their lead on 50 minutes when Craig Gardner, fresh from his brace last weekend, fired home with Bolton appealing for offside against Jerome.
Bolton veteran Kevin Davies gave the Whites a glimmer of hope on 71 minutes when he slotted home from the spot after being fouled by Johnson.
The Trotters then grabbed an unlikely point with 10 minutes remaining substitute Robbie Blake unleashed an unstoppable free-kick past Ben Foster to deny his former club the win.