Tweet
Not much goalmouth action at The Reebok, where Ricardo Gardner wrestles for possession with Joao Pereira
Bolton 1-1 Braga
By Owen Phillips
El-Hadji Diouf had only just come on when he gave Bolton the leadBraga scored a late goal to deny Bolton a morale-boosting victory in a turgid Group F Uefa Cup tie.
Nicolas Anelka wasted a glorious first-half chance before substitute El-Hadji Diouf nodded Bolton ahead from a Kevin Davies cross after the break.
But the home side, with new boss Gary Megson looking on from the dugout before he officially takes over on Friday, struggled throughout.
And substitute Jailson drew Braga level with a looping 85th-minute header.
Despite the timing of the goal, it was a result the visitors probably just about deserved.
Neither side created much in front of goal and the game only provided a modicum of excitement in a frantic final 20 minutes.
606: DEBATE I am a Nottingham Forest Fan, I feel so sorry for Bolton. It is kicking the fans when they are down, taking him on as manager.
msbiddy06
If Megson's appointment was hardly the big-name manager Bolton fans were crying out for ahead of the game, then the on-pitch fare would have done little to raise their spirits either.
Megson might also have been wondering quite what he had let himself in for after hearing chants of 'You don't know what you're doing' directed at the board as he took his watching brief before the game.
But whatever angle you came at it from, there was precious little to get excited about in a completely forgettable opening 45 minutes.
Bolton's best chance came courtesy of a terrible defensive blunder when Alberto Rodriguez gifted possession to Anelka.
But instead of racing through on goal, the striker, back in the starting line-up after a thigh injury, attempted to chip the ball home from 40 yards and only succeeded in guiding it straight to relieved keeper Paulo Santos.
The home side's only other likely source of a goal came when Gary Speed and Nicky Hunt hurled in long throws towards the ever-willing Davies.
After the break Jorginho had Braga's first notable chance but his fierce left-foot shot was well saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
But with the sparse crowd of a little under 11,000 fans getting increasingly frustrated, Bolton took the lead.
Megson gets an early taste of life in the Bolton dugoutDavies floated a delightful cross in from the right wing and Diouf, on the pitch for less than five minutes, headed the ball down and into the net from six yards.
And the home side rode their luck as Braga poured forward in the final 15 minutes.
Cesar Peixoto's swerving strike forced Jaaskelainen to pull off a fine one-handed save and Braga were denied what seemed a blatant penalty when Andy O'Brien slid in recklessly in the penalty area but the protests were waved away.
Davies then had the chance to wrap up the win but sliced his shot against the woodwork.
And Bolton were made to pay when Joao Pereira crossed from the right and Brazilian Jailson was left unmarked to nod a fine equaliser past Jaaskelainen from 15 yards.
Bolton caretaker boss Archie Knox:
"Considering we had got into a winning position it was disappointing we couldn't get over the line. But at least we gave a good account of ourselves.
"A bit of switching off in defence cost us but there is no problem with the effort of the players.
"We needed to try to get a couple of goals in the lead as when you're 1-0 up anything can happen. They pushed everyone up to try to get an equaliser and we have got to be more resilient when defending."
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Andrew O'Brien, Meite, Cid, Gardner (Teymourian 82), Guthrie (Diouf 61), McCann, Speed, Davies, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Nolan, Alonso, Joey O'Brien, Braaten.
Booked: Cid.
Goals: Diouf 66.
Braga: Paulo Santos, Joao Pereira, Alberto Rodriguez, Paulo Jorge, Cesar Peixoto, Vandinho, Castanheira (Stelvio Cruz 68), Madrid (Jailson 76), Jorginho, Wender (Jose Manuel 67), Linz.
Subs Not Used: Dani Mallo, Joao Tomas, Carlos Fernandes, Anilton Junior.
Booked: Castanheira.
Goals: Jailson 87.
Att: 10,848.
Ref: Darko Ceferin (Slovenia).