Bolton pulled off an astonishing comeback with just nine men to battle back from two goals down to earn a point against Leicester at the Reebok Stadium.

Michael Ricketts, who had earlier put through his own net, powered home a header three minutes into stoppage time to give Bolton a deserved draw.

Wanderers had played with nine men for three-quarters of an incident-packed game after Paul Warhurst and Dean Holdsworth had been controversially sent off.

But to their credit they refused to give in and after Kevin Nolan had pulled one back before half-time, Ricketts scored his 13th goal of the season at the right end to take the roof off the Reebok Stadium.

The match had everything expected from an old fashioned pantomime - villains, heroes, excitement, drama and moments of pure comic farce.

Cast in the role of villain was referee Mike Riley, who will definitely not be receiving a Christmas card from Bolton boss Sam Allardyce for sending off Warhurst and Holdsworth.

To make matters worse in Bolton's eyes, Riley did not even book Ade Akinbiyi when he pushed Bruno N'Gotty in the face.

The Leeds official did even things up somewhat in the second half when he dismissed Muzzy Izzet for a second bookable offence.

Starring as Riley's sidekick was Robbie Savage, whose role in both sendings off must be questioned.

Savage, so often Leicester's agent provocateur, seemed to make a meal of Warhurst's challenge for the first red and may have provoked Holdsworth for the second.

Warhurst was the first to go on 18 minutes. He seemed to catch Savage with his boot in what looked at worst a yellow-card offence, but Riley produced a red.

Worse was to follow for Bolton when on 22 minutes Ricketts, who had recovered from a neck injury to play, headed Wise's right-wing cross into his own net.

Then a minute later the game descended into farce when Holdsworth was dismissed for clashing with Savage and grabbing the Welshman around the neck.

Savage was then taken off by Leicester to howls of derision from the home fans and replaced by Izzet.

There was more drama to come and on 26 minutes, Brian Deane connected with Alan Rogers' left-wing cross and Jussi Jaaskelainen fumbled his header over the line.

Incredibly, Bolton's nine men pulled a goal back in the 34th minute when Colin Hendry headed Simon Charlton's deep cross into the box and Nolan nodded it home past Ian Walker.

Riley continued to brandish the cards and three minutes into the second half he booked Izzet for diving.

Leicester were anxious to snuff out any Bolton hopes of a comeback and Callum Davidson saw a point-blank effort deflected wide before the Scot fired a drive just over Jaaskelainen's crossbar.

Then on 69 minutes Riley intervened again to liven up proceedings when he showed Izzet a second yellow card for kicking the ball away and sent the Leicester midfielder off.

This gave brave Bolton fresh heart and in the final minutes they went for broke when they took off Hendry and brought on striker Henrik Pedersen.

Wanderers felt their moment had come in stoppage time when Per Frandsen beat Ian Walker with a free-kick 20 yards out, only for the ball to hit the post and rebound into the goalkeeper's arms.

But they were not to be disappointed and they scored the goal their valiant play deserved when Ricketts rose to head home substitute Nicky Southall's left-wing cross with just seconds remaining.

Teams

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness (Diawara 52), Hendry (Pedersen 83), N'Gotty, Charlton, Nolan, Frandsen, Warhurst, Farrelly (Southall 62), Ricketts, Holdsworth.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Johnson.

Sent Off: Warhurst (19), Holdsworth (23).

Booked: Ricketts, Hendry.

Goals: Nolan 34, Ricketts 90.

Leicester: Walker, Davidson, Elliott, Marshall, Sinclair, Rogers (Impey 66), Wise, Savage (Izzet 24), Deane, Akinbiyi (Jones 73), Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Stewart.

Sent Off: Izzet (69).

Booked: Wise, Scowcroft, Izzet.

Goals: Ricketts 22 og, Deane 27.

Att: 23,037

Ref: M Riley (Leeds).