Megson stand-ins meet their match

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Much-changed Wanderers were looking to emulate neighbours Manchester United, Champions League winners here earlier this season and the only English club to triumph at Jose Alvalade Stadium, but a late goal from Bruno Pereirinha ended the dream.

Despite the Portuguese starting as clear favourites to halt Bolton's march following the 1-1 draw in the first leg, Sporting had no real edge over their opponents.

Megson's UEFA Cup irregulars suddenly found themselves flying the cross of St George as the last English team standing in the competition after Everton and Tottenham were put to the sword.

Given that Bolton were the least-favoured Barclays Premier League side to make an impact in Europe, the irony of the mantle they were handed will not have been lost on pragmatic manager Megson.

His mix-and-match teams had fought the good fight to great effect this season, holding Bayern Munich in Germany and leaving such grand old names as Red Star and Atletico Madrid in their wake.

This latest combination of Wanderers represented Megson's greatest tightrope walk yet in trying to balance the great European tour with the flames of relegation licking at the club's back door.

His decision to leave behind a raft of internationals to train on at the Reebok reflected the imminent switch from foreign fields to Wigan's ploughed field of a pitch in Sunday's crucial relegation six-pointer.

Definitely not the Dog and Duck, insisted Megson as the fans ran out of fingers to count the missing men. He was hoping for the White Lion, of course, and Bolton's courage has never been an issue.

Each tie in the team's UEFA Cup saga has produced a hero, but with Gavin McCann — Belgrade match-winner and first-leg scorer last week — suspended, goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi looked a candidate.

The Oman player, who plays second fiddle to Jussi Jaaskelainen but, like the Finn, could join another band this summer, was the star of Bolton's 2-2 draw in Munich with a string of impressive saves.

Al-Habsi was called into action with just a minute on the clock, turning aside a well-delivered curling free-kick from Simon Vulkcevic, who had snapped up Sporting's equaliser at the Reebok a week earlier.

The Montenegro striker, with his Brazilian sidekick Liedson fit again after injury, was less accurate soon after when he rushed a shot that flew harmlessly well wide of the right-hand post.

Ricardo Vaz Te started for the first time since the opening day of the season in his home city, and the Portugal Under 21 striker smashed a fierce early shot into the side-netting to show his intent.

Bolton knew that they had to score as well as keep Sporting goalless, and Jlloyd Samuel stepped up to chance his arm with a decent goal-bound shot that unfortunately flew wide off team-mate Stelios's chest.

Bolton were by no means stretched in the first half-hour, and the crowd, apart from 1,500 impeccably behaved visiting fans, were beginning to get anxious at the missed passes and other errors.

Marat Izmailov had a chance to put that right, but when a long cross from Pereirinha reached him at the far post, the Russian managed to hook the ball over the bar with Al-Habsi scrambling for once.

Iran midfielder Anranik Teymourian went into the French referee's book for a second-half foul on home skipper Joao Moutinho, himself shown the yellow card in the first half for catching Vaz Te from behind.

With six minutes to go, Sporting hit Bolton on the break and Pereirinha slotted past Al-Habsi after cutting in from the right.

Sporting Lisbon (4-4-2): Rui Patricio 6; Abel 7, Tonel 6, Polga 5, Grimi 5; Pereirinha 6, Moutinho 6, Romagnoli 6 (Adrien Silva 75min, 6), Izmailov 6 (Gladstone 87); Vukcevic 5 (Tiui 66, 6), Liedson 5. Booked: Moutinho. Bolton (4-1-4-1): Al-Habsi 7; Hunt 7, Cahill 7, Meite 7, Samuel 7; J O'Brien 8; Helguson 6, Andranik 6 (Braaten 71, 6), Guthrie 7, Stelios 6; Vaz Te 6. Booked: Teymourian, Guthrie. Man of the match: Joey O'Brien. Referee: Bertrand Layec (France).