Bolton recorded their fifth successive Barclays Premiership victory in controversial fashion at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace squandered a hatful of chances and should have had at least a draw.

Andy Johnson twice erred for Palace, with Danny Granville, Wayne Routledge and Dougie Freedman also guilty of wasting good opportunities for the hosts who dominated the second half but found goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in inspired form.

Bolton's goal came 10 minutes from half-time when a scramble in the six-yard area saw Kevin Nolan hook in a shot which was adjudged to have crossed the line despite the best attempts of Emmerson Boyce to keep it out, with television replays proving inconclusive.

Palace defenders Darren Powell and Granville had both passed fitness tests on respective hamstring and back injuries and replaced the suspended Gonzalo Sorondo, sent off in the midweek 2-2 draw at West Brom, and Gary Borrowdale.

Bolton were unchanged from the side which beat Tottenham 3-1 on Tuesday, so there was no place on the bench for former Roma defender Vincent Candela.

The home side, who knew a win would take them seven points clear of the relegation zone, had the best early chances and should have been ahead in the first half-hour.

Probably the one opportunity they really should have taken was their first in the 14th-minute when left-back Granville found himself unmarked eight yards out but could only head Michael Hughes' left-wing free-kick wide of the post.

Before that, Routledge had shown too much of the ball to Jaaskelainen after being released in acres of space down the right and the Finland goalkeeper made a good save at the feet of the midfielder.

Johnson, with 15 Premiership goals to his name this season, should have added to his tally in the 20th minute when he got behind the Bolton defence.

Racing into the penalty area he chose to shoot with the outside of his right foot when his left would have been better and he succeeded only in hitting the side-netting.

Fitz Hall had another chance when he rose above the Bolton defence to head Hughes' in-swinging free-kick straight at Jaaskelainen.

Bolton's only really serious threat on goal had come in the fourth minute when Gary Speed's downward header from Nolan's right-wing cross was well saved low to his left by Gabor Kiraly.

However, Boyce had to be on his guard to block El-Hadji Diouf's left-footed shot just after the half-hour mark, but if that was a warning to Palace they did not heed it.

Diouf stabbed the ball through to Stelios Giannakopoulos, who had somehow found space in the penalty area.

He chipped the ball over Kiraly only for Powell to clear it off the goalline, but Nolan hooked in a right-foot volley and turned to see the assistant referee flagging for a goal.

Palace had a huge shout for a penalty turned down moments later when Hughes was felled, but referee Graham Poll waved play on and then took time out to lecture Eagles boss Iain Dowie on the touchline.

Things got no better for Palace in the second half as Jaaskelainen made two good saves from Freedman and Johnson before the latter unbelievably missed from four yards with the goal at his mercy.

Powell's free header from Hughes' corner was off target as yet another opening went begging, before Freedman twisted and turned only to scuff wide from close range.

Palace continued to press with Powell having another header from a corner saved and Boyce firing over from close range, but the home side knew all the best chances - and with them their chance of salvaging the match - had already gone.

Teams:

Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, Hall, Powell, Granville, Routledge (Kolkka 59), Soares (Andrews 88), Leigertwood (Riihilahti 64), Hughes, Johnson, Freedman.

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Borrowdale.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness, N'Gotty, Ben Haim, Gardner, Nolan, Giannakopoulos (Pedersen 76), Campo (Hierro 64), Speed, Diouf (Jaidi 90), Davies.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Fadiga.

Booked: Giannakopoulos.

Goals: Nolan 31.

Att: 23,163

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).