Jaaskelainen claws one away (MichaelSteele/Allsport)

The Republic of Ireland international raced from the chasing defenders and struck a low left-foot shot with impressive force, only for Jussi Jaaskelainen to dive smartly and pull off the save that keeps Bolton top of the Premiership.

The favourites for relegation at the start of the season may have lost their 100 per cent record but are still unbeaten, having conceded only one goal in their opening four matches.

At this rate the rest of the Premiership had better start taking Sam Allardyce's men seriously. They have now beaten Liverpool and drawn with Leeds to show they are more than capable of living with the best.

No-one expects the Lancashire side to stay at the top of the table for the rest of the season but all the evidence suggests they will continue to be a tough side to beat. Underestimate them at your peril is the message.

Allardyce said beforehand he would be happy to take away a point, and his tactics reflected that ambition. Bolton fielded their familiar 4-5-1 formation, flooded the midfield and defied Leeds' expensive side to break them down.

It was a measure of how effective they implemented their battle plan that David O'Leary's team, also unbeaten this season, rarely looked like claiming the expected home victory that would have enabled them to leapfrog the visitors.

Bolton were good value for their point, not only defending well but breaking out to provide some alarming moments in the Yorkshire team's penalty area.

For all that, it was hardly thrill-a-minute stuff as Leeds disappointed their supporters with an unimpressive performance, failing to pick up the tempo needed to find a way through the massed ranks of the opposition.

The best first-half chance fell to Jason Wilcox, making his first League start for seven months. But after the former Blackburn winger had been put clear by Mark Viduka he cut inside a defender only to see his close-range shot blocked by Jaaskelainen.

Nigel Martyn was virtually unemployed throughout though he was relieved moments before half-time to see Dominic Matteo make a desperate clearance in front of goal as Michael Ricketts closed in on a cross from Henrik Pedersen.

With their failure to open up Bolton's well-organised defence, in which captain Gudni Bergsson was outstanding, Leeds' best hope came from free-kicks around the edge of the penalty area. Dead-ball specialist Ian Harte could not get his range, however, making only one worthwhile attempt, which Jaaskelainen moved smartly to save early in the second half.

His final chance came in the fifth minute of injury-time after Simon Charlton fouled Harry Kewell inches outside the penalty area.

Although Harte struck the ball well it deflected off the defensive wall, dribbled past the post and Leeds' final chance had gone.