Ten-man Bolton beat Blackburn in Premier League

Ten-man Bolton moved into fifth place in the Premier League on Sunday as Stuart Holden snatched a dramatic late winner in a 2-1 win over Blackburn.

American import Holden struck in the 88th minute just seconds after Mame Biram Diouf seemed to have earned Blackburn a point.

Diouf cancelled out a 63rd-minute opener from Fabrice Muamba for Bolton who had Mark Davies sent off after 54 minutes for a second bookable offence.

“We went down to 10 men and obviously Blackburn came forward a bit more,” said Bolton boss Owen Coyle.

“That actually helped us because it allowed us space, with the way Blackburn set up – and I totally understand why – to stop us playing and paying us a big compliment.

“I know I’ve got spirit in that dressing room and it was so evident again there, to take the blow of the equaliser and then come back and score such a wonderful goal.

“It’s a valuable three points.”

Disappointed Rovers manager Sam Allardyce said his side had defended “like a bunch of old women and added: “We have thrown away the chance of more points.”

But Allardyce claimed Bolton’s Zat Knight was guilty of handball in the box moments before Wanderers went down the other end and opened the scoring.

Allardyce said: “The real turning point was a blatant handball by Zat Knight. They got a free-kick off the goal-kick and put the ball in the box and Muamba scored.

“So in the space of one minute and 30 seconds the game has turned on its head from us gaining an advantage and maybe going 1-0 up, to us defending like a bunch of old women.”

In Sunday’s other match Wolves clinched a crucial 1-0 win over Birmingham with their first clean sheet since April.

Stephen Hunt’s near-post finish on the stroke of half-time was the only effort to beat England international goalkeeper Ben Foster who put in another sublime performance to keep the hosts at bay at Molineux.

Despite the win, Wolves stay second from bottom

“I’ve been delighted by the team’s spirit and performances every week but today we got a result,” said Wolves manager Mick McCarthy.

“If we get beat I am dour and down but come Monday morning I am brand new because we have to get on with it.”

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish added: “We left a lot of our talking in the dressing room and Wolves battled gamely. They gave us some problems and they deserved the victory.”

Later Sunday, Chelsea can go top of the table with victory at Tottenham.