Bolton Wanderers 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs fight back to hold Trotters

Updated: October 3, 2009, 8:24 AM UK

Tottenham's long-standing jinx at the Reebok Stadium continues but at least manager Harry Redknapp saw his side get some reward for a battling display as they drew 2-2 against Bolton.

• Megson hails Trotters' performance

Twice behind in an open game they secured a point thanks to a goal from Vedran Corluka in the 73rd minute.

Tottenham went into the match without a win in nine attempts at the ground and then got off to a terrible start. Ricardo Gardner opened the scoring in the second minute and that could have been the cue for another bad day in Bolton.

Instead Tottenham regrouped and equalised 30 minutes later through Niko Kranjcar. Even though Kevin Davies put Bolton back in front Spurs refused to lie down.

Bolton got off to a flying start when the visitors failed to deal with a long throw from Jlloyd Samuel. Lee Chung-Yong was unmarked at the back post and helped the ball on. Gardner then got a vital touch to send his effort beyond Carlo Cudicini.

Bolton were playing some good football and Gardner skipped away in the 13th minute before releasing Tamir Cohen with a neat through-ball. The Israel midfielder got a good touch inside the area but his effort was diverted to safety - much to Tottenham's relief.

Cohen was then booked in the 31st minute for a challenge on Wilson Palacios which left the Spurs player writhing on the floor. Palacios made a quick recovery, however, and had a hand in their equaliser. He delivered the ball to Peter Crouch, who nodded it on and Kranjcar sent a stunning shot into the net.

Bolton responded and Zat Knight met Matt Taylor's free-kick in the 38th minute but was off-balance and headed wide. Then Cohen clipped the ball wide after good link-up play involving Davies and Taylor.

Tottenham were left badly exposed on the stroke of half-time when Taylor sprung the offside trap. He homed in on goal but Cudicini was alert to the danger and was happy to concede a corner.

Bolton carved out a good chance after 50 minutes when Davies got away from Tom Huddlestone down the right. The tenacious striker played the ball into the path of Lee, who was lurking in the penalty area. However the Korean opted to try and release Taylor instead of shooting and his pass was easily cut out.

Tottenham should have taken the lead five minutes later following a blistering run from Aaron Lennon. The England winger fired in a shot that Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to beat away but only to Palacios six yards out. Palacios was well placed in front of goal but only succeeded in sending his effort closer to the corner flag.

Jermain Defoe, suffering from two dislocated fingers, was then called up in the 67th minute for Robbie Keane, who had been ineffective.

Bolton then took the lead when Cohen chipped the ball to the back post and Davies headed in his third goal of the campaign.

Tottenham, however, almost drew level in the 72nd minute after Jaaskelainen spilled a shot from Defoe. The ball landed kindly at the feet of Crouch but his effort hit the bar.

A minute later the visitors drew level for the second time in the game. Corluka was left unmarked as Kranjcar delivered a corner and headed high into the net.

Tottenham finished strongly. Lennon then surged into the area after linking up with Kranjcar only to see his effort blocked by Sam Ricketts.

The Bolton full-back again carried out his defensive duties in the 85th minute to get in a timely challenge on Crouch.

Megson hails Trotters' performance

Gary Megson believes Bolton deserve praise for the brand of football they are now playing.

''There is a perception of this club of what people expect,'' said the Bolton boss. ''The reality of what is going on, you have seen it. There was some really good stuff. We don't just hoof it. Our average height is smaller than Tottenham's. We are trying to win games playing decent football.

''The way we went about our work from minute one to 94 should have won us the game. I am really pleased with the performance but we had enough chances to have sealed a victory.''

Megson took issue with referee Mike Jones over his treatment of Davies, and said: ''I told him at half-time, 'I don't want Kevin Davies looking after but he doesn't need persecuting as he is a big strong lad. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and he competes'. The referee said, 'I have only given two fouls against him. Have you seen his record?'

''It is not a referee's job to be looking at someone's record. They must look at the game going on and judge how they see fit.''

With national team coach Fabio Capello looking on, Megson felt Gary Cahill's performance at the back would have done his England chances no harm at all. He continued: ''You could not help but go away with a really good impression. Peter Crouch terrorises back fours when he plays, with his height and his quality.

''Yet Gary has won nearly every ball he has got up for today and played some good stuff aside from winning the ball.''

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp confirmed striker Jermain Defoe will be ready for England duty in Ukraine next weekend if called on. He said: ''It is great to bring on someone like Defoe and he will be okay for England. It has been difficult, though, to get him on the training pitch.

''We have five lads on standby: (Jermaine) Jenas, (Tom) Huddlestone, (Aaron) Lennon, Defoe and Crouch. How many will get in I don't know.''

Crouch squandered a glorious chance in front of goal a minute before Corluka's equaliser, and Redknapp said: ''He should have scored but the keeper has performed a miracle. To come back twice was fine. Obviously you want to pick three points up but when we were 2-1 down I would certainly have taken a point.

''We deserved a draw. They started brightly while we were slow getting going. But we came back strongly.''