.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Rockbottom West Brom seem set for a quick return to the Championship after only gaining a point from a 1-1 draw with Bolton at The Hawthorns. Former Albion boss Gary Megson returned to the Black Country with his Trotters, and saw them take the lead on 67 minutes when a long punt from Jussi Jaaskelainen was headed out by Jonas Olsson to the dangerous Matt Taylor on the edge of the 18-yard box, from where he coolly converted a right-footed shot past Scott Carson. England goalkeeper Carson had earlier denied Taylor twice from two goalbound free-kicks, but could do nothing to stop his clinical opener. Baggies hitman Marc-Antoine Fortune was a handful for the visiting defence and had a first-half goal ruled out for offside. But the hosts grabbed an equaliser on 82 when Robert Koren drifted in from the right flank and saw his left-footed strike take a big deflection off Danny Shittu before nestling in the net. Albion huffed and puffed in search of a winner, but it never came and they are now seven points from safety after Saturday wins for Portsmouth and Stoke. West Brom boss Tony Mowbray had targeted the successive home matches with Bolton and Stoke as possible lifelines in the bid to avoid a quickfire return to the Championship. And it was the same old story for Albion as they knocked the ball around in a fluent and confident style, but were could do little damage in the final third. Bolton goalkeeper Jaaskelainen did not have to make a worthwhile save but was powerless to keep out Shittu. In contrast, Taylor was always a threat to the home defence from dead-ball situations and his runs into the box. Megson, who twice steered Albion to promotion to the top flight, received a warm reception from the home fans when he took his place in the Bolton dug-out before kick-off. The first glimpse of an opportunity fell to Albion striker Jay Simpson after he had controlled a long pass from Olsson. The on-loan Arsenal player cut back inside but, before he could line up a shot, Jlloyd Samuel nipped in to shepherd the ball back to Jaaskelainen. Marc-Antoine Fortune then headed a deep cross from Chris Brunt back into the path of James Morrison but his shot flashed across the face of the Bolton goal. Brunt almost broke the deadlock after 16 minutes when he cut into the Bolton box after collecting a pass from Fortune. The Northern Ireland international struck his low shot well enough but it flashed inches wide of the far post. For all of Albion's territorial dominance, it was Carson who was called upon to make the first meaningful save of the game after 21 minutes. Kevin Davies got to the by-line and cut a low cross back to Taylor whose rising left-footed drive was parried by the England squad player. Fortune did have the ball in the net shortly afterwards but had strayed marginally offside. Bolton were gradually getting a foothold in the game and Carson tipped another dipping free-kick from Taylor around the post. Taylor delivered the resulting corner into the danger area and Carson did well to block a close range header from Davies. Carson continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers and had to be alert to push behind a swerving 35 yard free-kick from Taylor. Jonathan Greening became the first player to be yellow-carded after 50 minutes for a clumsy aerial challenge on Ricardo Gardner inside the Bolton box. Bolton midfielder Gavin McCann had a volleyed deflected wide and there was a more determined look about the visitors after the break. Mowbray made his first substitution after 57 minutes with leading scorer Roman Bednar replacing Simpson. Megson brought on Shittu a couple of minutes later in place of the injured Sebastien Puygrenier. There was a rare moment of excitement when Carson got his body behind a 20-yard drive from Gardner and then dealt with a low shot on the turn from Taylor. But Taylor was not to be denied and after 67 minutes he put Bolton in front. A long Jaaskelainen clearance was headed clear by Olsson and Taylor was first to react as he volleyed home from just inside the box. But after 82 minutes the home side got back on level terms when Koren's drive was deflected by Shittu past his own goalkeeper. Carson denied Taylor a second goal when he came off his line to block his shot from close range. And the Trotters saw out five minutes stoppage time to earn a point.
