Davies gives Bolton a night to remember

The forward, who has become a talisman for all things good during Bolton's rise to prominence, will be forever remembered with fondness after his goal eight minutes from time secured one of the best results in the club's recent history.

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His strike was certainly against the flow of play as he silenced a mammoth crowd in the Allianz Arena with an equaliser that for long periods never looked remotely like happening.

Bayern's £200million stadium is bathed in an incredible shocking red light whenever they are at home.

But Davies goal exposed Hitzfeld's shortcomings as the legendary coach gambled . . . and lost, leaving a grateful Gary Megson as the beneficiary of an evening that will linger long in the memory of the 4,000 supporters who made the trip to Bavaria.

Ricardo Gardner's eighth-minute deflected strike had given Wanderers something to cling on to.

But, prompted by Franck Ribery, Bayern had coasted into the lead shortly after the interval thanks to two class finishes by Germany's Lukas Podolski.

But with an important Bundesliga game against Stuttgart kicking off just 43 hours after this tie finished, Hitzfeld decided to withdraw the outstanding Ribery, Podolski and the influential Bastian Schweinsteiger.

It still took an incredible stop from stand-in keeper Ali Al Habsi to prevent Bayern from strolling to the finish line. But as the clock ticked down, Bolton grew in confidence.

And when the time came, Davies seized the moment. Bayern's defence switched off after Gardner's throw.

It exposed their central defenders and the bounce of the ball allowed Kevin Nolan to lift the ball over one, then the other.

Davies waited patiently at the far post then lashed the ball under Oliver Kahn.

"The talent in that Bayern side is exceptional," admitted Megson, still not quite sure of how to react to such an outcome.

"Sometimes you have to get into your opponents. Give them no respect.

"I'm delighted for the players. We have a good side on the treatment table back home. But I'm not sure I expected this."

Bolton's support, a small patch of white breaking up a sea of red, erupted in delirium when their favourites perhaps stunned even themselves by taking an eighth-minute lead.

Nolan's long throw was aimed for Davies at the near post. Daniel Guthrie flicked the ball on, Daniel Braaten held off Daniel van Buyten to tee up Gardner.

His right-foot shot would have caused Kahn a problem anyway, but a deflection took the former Germany keeper out of the equation altogether.

Bayern had been shoved out of their stride. In the 28th minute Gavin McCann's through-ball left Davies to step inside Lucio and fire a low shot across Kahn but narrowly wide.

At this point, Bolton's supporters were enjoying themselves. "Megson, give us a wave" was followed by "Are you watching, Allardyce?"

There were one or two smiles at the next number, a chant of "Are you Wigan in disguise?" no doubt ringing around the Allianz Arena for the first — and possibly only — time.

But with Ribery given free rein, one feared for the English side. It was no surprise that the France international was at the heart of the equaliser.

He darted in from the left, his pass to Miroslav Klose was played back into Podoloski's stride, and the striker drilled a low shot into the bottom corner with the outside of his left foot.

From then on, everyone at Bolton discovered the pedigree of keeper Al Habsi. The Omani was an unknown quantity, having only played one first-team game in nearly two years.

To the visitors' delight, former boss Sam Allardyce had chosen well.

He saved once from Ribery and Schweinsteiger apiece but his best moment came in the 59th minute, seconds before Hitzfeld withdrew the Ribery — a one-handed stop that denied Bayern's £12m summer signing.

By that stage, the hosts had assumed control after Podoloski's second, four minutes after the break. Gerald Cid was given precious little cover all evening from the raiding Schweinsteiger and Ribery, who made use of too much space to pull the ball back for Podolski to claim his second of the night.

BAYERN MUNICH (4-4-2): Kahn 6; Lell 5, Lucio 5, Van Buyten 5, Jansen 5; Schweinsteiger 6 (Altintop 72min, 6) Van Bommel 6, Ottl 6, Ribery 9; (Kroos 60, 5) Podolski 7 (Toni 57, 5) Klose 6.

BOLTON WANDERERS: (4-5-1) Al Habsi 7; McCann 6, O'Brien 6, Michalik 6, Cid 5; Gardner 6, Alonso 5, (Stelios 56, 5) Nolan 7, Guthrie 6, Braaten 5; (Andranik 78, 6) Davies 8. Booked: Davies, Braaten, Cid, O'Brien.

Man of the match: Franck Ribery.

Referee: Jaroslav Jara (Czech Rep).