Time running out as Bolton seek cure for domestic ills

After a glorious UEFA Cup march through Munich, Belgrade and Madrid, Megson's men are in weary retreat and this wretched point from a 'must win' fixture does not make the outlook any less bleak.

Bolton never lack heart, but they need big performances from the few players capable of winning a match.

Frustrated team-mates have made that point forcefully to El-Hadji Diouf, who has been subdued since Nicolas Anelka's departure to Chelsea.

Diouf, who was hauled off at Wigan a week earlier, came in for criticism at a no-holdsbarred midweek team meeting and was much better against City without being able to make the difference.

Bolton must also hope that veteran midfield general Ivan Campo, fuming when Megson took him off on Saturday, will quickly come to terms with that decision and that Kevin Davies is on top of his natural, physical-butfair game for Arsenal's visit in five days.

Bolton, third bottom with rivals pulling away, are running out of matches and Kevin Nolan, one of the players who upsets the big clubs, is now banned for two games after his 10th booking.

Wanderers must be more aggressive, not less, if they are to reproduce previous victories over Arsenal. Skipper Nolan epitomises the committed Bolton approach that makes Arsene Wenger twitch.

Nolan said: "I've been struggling with my back, so I'll get a rest, ready for the last four or five weeks. We have the squad to stick in there. I have faith that the lads can get the results we need without me."

City owner and former Thailand premier Thaksin Shinawatra, on leave from his Bangkok corruption trial to 'tighten the bolts' at his football club, knows that 'nice' usually figures low in a winner's priorities.

Sven Goran Eriksson, one of the game's nice guys, got tough with enigmatic star Elano and was almost rewarded when the Brazilian midfielder came off the bench to transform City in the closing stages.

City's manager said: "He was very disappointed. He is a very proud man and wanted to show me that he should start against Birmingham. We had to battle first. But if you bring Elano on, something can happen."

It almost did. Benjani beat Gary Cahill for once to head inches over. But Bolton rightback Gretar Steinsson was closere with an early header that thudded against Joe Hart's post.