Makeshift Trotters claim memorable win

The former Aston Villa midfielder scored the winner on the stroke of half-time to stun Red Star and give Gary Megson's side a chance of a place in the last 32. McCann swept the ball home from close range after Gary Speed had flicked on a corner from Andranik Teymourian.

Bolton manager Gary Megson rang the changes for the match. Only four of the team that lost 4-0 to Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday were named in the starting line-up - Nicky Hunt, Jlloyd Samuel, Abdoulaye Meite and McCann.

Bolton had a scare after nine minutes when Nicky Hunt carelessly lost possession to Nenad Milijas. The Red Star midfielder snatched at his shot, however, and sent it high over the bar. The home side kept up the pressure and, two minutes later, Dejan Milovanovic whipped a free-kick over the wall but wide of the post.

Bolton were taking their time to get into the game - hardly surprising given the amount of changes that had been made. They responded in the 21st minute when Hunt's free-kick found Christian Wilhelmsson but his effort was deflected to safety.

Red Star hit back in the 26th minute when former Portsmouth midfielder Ognjen Koroman raced forward - only to hit his effort from distance wide of Ali Al Habsi's left-hand post. Al Habsi, standing in for Jussi Jaaskelainen reacted quickly in the 31st minute and showed a safe pair of hands as Joao Lucas rattled in a shot.

Megson's men took the lead on the stroke of half-time when former Everton, Sunderland and Aston Villa midfielder McCann scored his first goal for the club, sweeping the ball home from close range after stand-in captain Gary Speed had got on the end of a corner from Andranik.

Bolton almost extended their lead in the 52nd minute when the influential Andranik delivered a free-kick to the back post. Stelios Giannakopoulos was unmarked but only succeeded in steering his header into the side-netting.

There was a huge police presence in front of the home supporters but the match was trouble-free on and off the pitch - although 100 "official" Wanderers fans were held at a hotel on the outskirts of the city ahead of the game for their own safety, according to a Foreign Office spokesman.

Stelios was putting in a hard shift, as was McCann, with Bolton still hopeful of a place in the next phase. And Red Star looked dispirited and Bolton held out for a superb victory given the circumstances.