Southampton goalkeeper Paul Jones made brilliant saves from Youri Djorkaeff's header and Stig Tofting's thunderbolt free-kick to prevent Bolton overtaking 10-man Saints in the battle to beat the drop.

The Welsh international was inspirational as the Lancastrians were held to a 0-0 draw at the windswept St Mary's Stadium, leaving both sides scrambling to stay above the bottom three.

Jones' flying tip-over from France World Cup hopeful Djorkaeff on the quarter-hour mark was mightily impressive - but he bettered that save with a superb tip round the post from Tofting's 30-yarder in the 30th minute.

Bolton's pre-match preparations had been disrupted this morning when midfielder Kevin Nolan was involved in a car crash on his way to RAF Wharton, near Preston, from where the squad flew to Southampton Airport. He started the match and appeared to have escaped unhurt.

Saints' best goalscoring opportunity came when Fabrice Fernandes missed an absolute sitter just after the break. He was unmarked and in acres of space but hesitated and volleyed over.

And to cap their frustration, Rory Delap was sent off for a second bookable offence with two minutes left.

Djorkaeff took his Bolton bow after signing a short-term contract when he was released by German outfit Kaiserslautern. Fellow new-boy Mario Espartero, on loan from French club Metz, made a late appearance off the bench.

Southampton boss Gordon Strachan's striker crisis robbed him of James Beattie (ankle), Kevin Davies (suspended) and Agustin Delgado (knee). Midfielder Jo Tessem started up front alongside regular frontman Marian Pahars.

Early on, Saints' Rory Delap stung Jussi Jaaskelainen's hands with a thumping 25-yard strike after a powerful forward burst - but it was Djorkaeff who almost broke the deadlock in the 15th minute. Jones made a superb tip-over from the Frenchman's header after Simon Charlton's cross.

Saints suffered a major injury blow in the 20th minute as Pahars fell awkwardly making a run-of-the-mill challenge near the half-way line.

He hobbled off clutching his thigh and groin, to be replaced by Brett Ormerod, who was back on the bench after a knee problem.

Strachan's enforced substitution left him with an untested forward line of midfielder Tessem and the inexperienced Ormerod.

Jones made his second brilliant save of the match in the 30th minute, from Tofting's thundering 30-yard free-kick.

At the other end, the Dane also made a crucial intervention as he raced back to clear when Fabrice Fernandes' fine through-ball had almost put Ormerod clear on goal.

Delap's forward charge four minutes into the second half set the alarm bells ringing in the Wanderers defence. Jaaskelainen made a solid save from his 16-yard strike.

And Fernandes fluffed the best chance of the match three minutes later. Chris Marsden picked him out with a fine far post cross, but the Saints midfielder dallied and volleyed over from just eight yards out.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce curtailed Djorkaeff's average debut in the 58th minute, replacing him with ex-Saint Rod Wallace.

Just after the hour mark, Saints' young forward Ormerod crashed a right-foot volley a yard wide of Jaaskelainen's right-hand post after a clever Anders Svensson chest down.

And Saints almost scored twice in the 69th minute. First, Fernandes' effort was pushed away by Jaaskelainen and cleared by Ricardo Gardner - and from the resulting corner, Jason Dodd crossed and Ormerod headed a foot over the bar.

Tessem failed to bundle the ball in from close range with 17 minutes remaining and Wallace almost made him pay when he raced goalwards before mishitting his shot.

There was drama in the 88th minute as Saints midfielder Delap - already booked for a foul in the first half - kicked Tofting. Referee Eddie Wolstenholme spotted the incident and showed him a second yellow card, followed by a red.

Teams:

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Bridge, Lundekvam, Williams, Fernandes (Telfer 90), Marsden, Svensson, Delap, Tessem, Pahars (Ormerod 23).

Subs Not Used: Moss, Oakley, El Khalej.

Sent Off: Delap (89).

Booked: Delap.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Charlton (Hansen 40), Whitlow, Bergsson, Nolan, Djorkaeff (Wallace 58), Tofting, Gardner, Bobic (Espartero 79), Ricketts.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Holdsworth.

Booked: Bobic, Nolan, Tofting.

Att: 31,380

Ref: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).