Meite secures draw for Trotters

It came seven minutes from time and may just act as a catalyst to kick-start their troubled season.

Bolton were heading for their sixth defeat in seven games when Meite toe-poked the ball home after goalkeeper Filip Madzovski fumbled a free-kick from Nicolas Anelka, after Nemanja Milisavlevic had sent the hosts into raptures in the 53rd minute.

Bolton struggled to assert their authority, and the defence looked vulnerable when Rabotnicki went on the counter-attack. They almost opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Jussi Jaaskelainen spilled a shot from Nderim Nedzipi.

Kevin Davies got clear of his marker in the 27th minute but failed to test the goalkeeper with his header, and El-Hadji Diouf squandered a good chance five minutes later as he sent his effort high over the crossbar.

Anelka should have put Bolton ahead on the stroke of half-time when he latched onto a pass from Gary Speed. He rounded the goalkeeper but sent his effort into the side-netting.

Anelka wriggled clear again in the area in the 52nd minute only for Lazar Stanisic to make a crucial block and Bolton were stunned a minute later when Milisavlevic opened the scoring, showing a cool head to rifle a shot into the corner.

Rabotnicki almost grabbed a second in the 59th minute after a long ball from the back by Ertan Demiri. Trickovski got a good touch but clipped his effort narrowly over the crossbar after Jaaskelainen had raced off his line.

Bolton were stung and Diouf raced forward in the 64th minute only to see his effort deflected to safety.

Nolan sent a volley wide for Bolton and Anelka headed over as they went in search of an equaliser - and it finally came in the 83rd minute through Meite, who could hardly hide his delight as his last and only goal last season came in February.