Bolton's hopes of automatic promotion suffered a body blow on Saturday when they surrendered a 3-1 lead to lowly Gillingham.

Wanderers had looked set to collect their first win in six games when they took a 3-1 lead early in the second half but plucky Gillingham completed a deserved comeback thanks to two-goal hero Marlon King.

Bolton's defensive frailties were on show all afternoon, and manager Sam Allardyce must be worried about his side's chances of taking an automatic promotion slot at the end of the season.

Just three weeks ago his men had a nine-point cushion and now they are joined on 68 points by Birmingham City.

And this week Allardyce cannot blame the state of Bolton's pitch.

The old pitch had been ripped up following the last home game and the newly-relaid surface was a carpet in comparison, not that his men made the most of it.

They looked listless and lifeless from the first whistle, while Gillingham in contrast were bright and inventive with the ball - and organised when they didn't have it.

But somehow Bolton managed to go in at the interval with a 2-1 lead.

Midfield man Per Frandsen gave them the lead in the 29th minute with a left foot shot from the edge of the area, after a neat one-two with Robbie Elliott.

Gillingham levelled seven minutes later, and there was a hint of good fortune about their goal.

A sliced clearance from Bolton defender Paul Warhurst put King in the clear and he calmly slotted home.

But Bolton hit back with a bizarre goal in first half injury time.

Striker Dean Holdsworth challenged for a high ball with Gillingham keeper Vince Bartram, the ball spun loose and rolled towards the goal.

Whether it would have crossed the line is debatable but defender Mark Patterson turned it into his own goal when sliding in to try and clear the danger.

In the second half, Bolton quickly extended their lead.

Colin Hendry headed on a corner and the ball broke to Holdsworth who had a simple tap-in at the far post.

After that goal, the home side had their best spell of the game and even took off their leading scorer Michael Ricketts who had looked weary throughout, and handed a home debut to striker Andy Campbell who is on loan from Premier league Middlesbrough.

But in the 67th minute, Gillingham started their fightback.

Iffy Onoura was fouled on the edge of the area and the impressive Nicky Southall scored with a curling shot over the Bolton defensive wall.

Campbell had three half chances to score on his Bolton debut, but with time running out Gillingham got the equaliser their hard work had deserved.

Substitute Andy Thomson raced on to a Southall through ball and squared the ball for King to sweep home with four minutes remaining.

Teams:

Bolton: Wright, Bergsson, Warhurst, Hendry, Charlton, Elliott, Frandsen (Passi 70), Farrelly, Hansen, Holdsworth (Marshall 63), Ricketts (Campbell 52).

Subs Not Used: Barness, Summerbee.

Booked: Ricketts, Bergsson, Hendry.

Goals: Frandsen 30, Patterson 45 og, Holdsworth 51.

Gillingham: Bartram, Nosworthy, Pennock, Hope, Patterson, Southall, Smith, Browning, James (Thomson 82), Onuora, King.

Subs Not Used: Saunders, White, Mitten, Rose.

Booked: King.

Goals: King 35, Southall 68, King 85.

Att: 13,161

Ref: T Jones (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria).