Promotion-chasing Bolton and relegation-threatened neighbours Bury served up a 0-0 Sky Bet League One draw at the Macron Stadium.

The point leaves Wanderers just two points clear of third-placed Fleetwood and the Shakers two points above the drop zone.

But in terms of entertainment for the 18,223 crowd it was abject until the closing stages.

Just when they needed to be firing on all cylinders, Wanderers have stumbled in the finishing straight, collecting only five points from a possible 15.

Indeed, Bury went closest to scoring before Wanderers' late flourish, with James Vaughan's header tipped over for a corner by goalkeeper Mark Howard.

Only with the introduction of substitutes James Henry and Chris Long did Bolton look capable of breaking the deadlock.

Defender David Wheater's 30-yard effort had goalkeeper Joe Murphy at full-stretch while Adam Le Fondre's 78th-minute effort hit the crossbar and bounced back into play.