Kevin Davies and Robbie Blake struck as 10-man Bolton came from two down to claim a draw against Birmingham.
Jaaskelainen sees red as Bolton claim a point at Reebok
Robbie Blake struck a stunning late free-kick to deny Birmingham victory in a dramatic game at the Reebok.
Birmingham defender Roger Johnson gave Alex McLeish's side the perfect start with the opening goal before getting involved in an incident that saw Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen sent off just before half-time for an indiscriminate challenge on the defender.
Craig Gardner doubled Blues' lead at the start of the second half from Cameron Jerome's knock down but Bolton dug in deep to show their resilience.
Kevin Davies replied with a penalty after a Johnson foul and then former Birmingham man Blake rescued a point with a stunning free-kick nine minutes from time to share the spoils.
Confidence
Both sides went into the game with confidence after collecting four points each from their opening two games.
Changes were minimal with Bolton fielding the same XI that beat West Ham last week and Birmingham bringing in the influential Lee Bowyer for Nikola Zigic.
The visitors made the perfect start as Johnson handed them a lead after a fine move in the fourth minute.
Bowyer pulled the ball back from the byline after being played through by James McFadden and Jerome flicked the ball into the path of Johnson, who slid in to score from six yards.
Yet as impressive as Birmingham's interplay had been, they were almost caught by Bolton's more direct approach just two minutes later.
Davies leapt highest to flick on a long ball and Johan Elmander burst into the area only to lash a glorious chance for a quick equaliser wide.
Martin Petrov seized on a slip by Stephen Carr to get in another shooting opportunity but the Birmingham captain got back to block.
Petrov found more space outside the area soon after but his next shot was deflected and Ben Foster saved. At the other end Gardner drilled the ball into the net but Kevin Friend's whistle had already gone for a foul on Zat Knight.
Jerome then appealed for a penalty after claiming Elmander had impeded him while trying to take a shot but Friend was not interested. Bolton then broke upfield and Petrov won a free-kick after being brought down by Johnson.
Stuart Holden curled the resulting set-piece at goal but Foster palmed over the bar.
Gary Cahill, Petrov and Elmander all had shooting opportunities as Birmingham struggled to clear their own box but the ball was passed, sliced and then missed completely by the three players concerned.
Birmingham should have made them pay as they hit Bolton with a quick counter-attack but McFadden volleyed straight at Jaaskelainen after being picked out unmarked by the breaking Gardner.
Jaaskelainen was dismissed eight minutes before the interval after being knocked over by Johnson.
When he got up he clearly raised his hands to Johnson's face and Friend had no option but to show a red card.
Chaos momentarily broke out and Johnson was booked after getting involved with Petrov. When calm was restored, Petrov was sacrificed by manager Owen Coyle as substitute goalkeeper Adam Bogdan was sent on.
Bolton's 10 men were left facing an uphill struggle after Birmingham claimed a controversial second goal five minutes into the second half.
Jerome looked fractionally offside as McFadden crossed into the area but the flag stayed down as the striker headed back across the six-yard box.
With the Bolton defence static, Gardner was the first to react and he prodded the ball past Bogdan at the second attempt following a miskick.
Elmander had a chance to pull one back but was thwarted by a good Foster save after getting on the end of a low cross from Lee Chung-yong.
Bolton appealed for a penalty by claiming Gretar Steinsson was impeded at a corner by Bowyer but nothing was given.
Comeback
But Friend did point to the spot 21 minutes from time as Johnson was penalised for climbing on the back of Davies. The Bolton skipper emphatically reduced the deficit as he thumped the ball into the top corner.
The hosts increased the pressure and levelled nine minutes from time after Cahill was fouled on the edge of the area by Barry Ferguson. Summer signing Blake, a 67th-minute replacement for Elmander, stepped up to curl in a brilliant equaliser.
Davies almost grabbed a late winner but blasted wide from inside the box. Jerome had a chance in injury time at the other end but Bogdan blocked with his feet.
| Bolton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Birmingham City |
| 2 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 6 |
Corners |
1 |
| 20 |
Fouls |
18 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 1 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 71.6 |
Passing Success |
58.5 |
| 22 |
Tackles |
17 |
| 59.1 |
Tackles Success |
64.7 |
| 50.9 |
Possession |
49.1 |
| 51.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
48.9 |
|
