FA Premiership/West Brom 0 Bolton 0: West Brom failed to grasp the Premiership lifeline handed to them by Portsmouth as Diomansy Kamara's glaring second-half miss meant they had to share the spoils with Bolton.
Kamara stabbed wide their best opportunity when it looked easier to score in an uninspiring game which seldom moved out of second gear and leaves West Brom three points adrift of Harry Redknapp's side.
In the end they were relieved not to beaten with Bolton captain Kevin Nolan shot wide with the goal at his mercy in injury-time.
A point was also of little advantage to Bolton in their fading quest for a Uefa Cup spot although it did at least halt a sequence of five successive defeats.
Unsurprisingly there was a tense atmosphere around the ground given what was at stake for the home side and this was reflected in the play during an opening 45 minutes of few moments of danger.
The first clear-cut chance came after 37 minutes and it needed a reflex save from Jussi Jaaskelainen to keep Bolton on level terms. A throw from Steve Watson was flicked on by Kevin Campbell and Zoltan Gera got in a header which took a deflection of Abdoulaye Faye before Jaaskelainen was able to palm away to his right.
The home fans were finally stirred into life and Kamara almost broke through the Bolton rearguard with a run although in the end the ball ran harmlessly through to Jaaskelainen.
The first half-chance of the second period fell to Bolton midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata but he dragged his shot from the edge of the West Brom box across the face of goal.
Kevin Davies looked offside when he found some space on the right flank and his low cross only just eluded the run into the six-yard area of Stelios Giannakopoulos.
A quick break involving Kamara and Jonathan Greening almost found a way through the Bolton defence but Gera's control was lacking at the crucial moment.
After 72 minutes Kamara missed a golden opportunity to put Albion ahead. Gera's cross into the box was flicked on by Campbell and Kamara looked favourite to score at the far post but he prodded the ball wide.
Kanu replaced Campbell and announced his arrival with a fizzing drive which was just off target and then came that late Nolan miss.
WEST BROM: Kuszczak, Watson, Curtis Davies, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Quashie, Johnson, Greening, Campbell (Kanu 73), Kamara (Nicholson 75). Subs not used: Albrechtsen, Carter, Inamoto.
BOLTON WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, N'Gotty, Faye, Gardner, Okocha, Nakata, Speed, Giannakopoulos (Vaz Te 83), Nolan, Davies. Subs not used: Al Habsi, Campo, Pedersen, Borgetti.
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
