Bolton clung to a crucial point to climb back above West Ham in the cut-throat competition to see who will fill the Premiership's last remaining relegation place next Sunday.

Sam Allardyce's team, beaten only twice in their last 12 games, came up with their usual mixture of guts and guile to condemn FA Cup finalists Southampton to a rare home blank at St Mary's where only Liverpool and Manchester United have beaten them this season.

Saints had the chances in the first half to bury the cosmopolitan visitors who, until Kevin Nolan arrived as an 87th-minute substitute for Jay-Jay Okocha, did not field a single Englishman.

But Bolton gradually took a grip on the game after the break and were full value for their point even though it was not exactly pretty to watch.

They had started the tea-time action back in the bottom three after West Ham's win over Chelsea, but are now ahead of the Hammers on goal difference and on the same 41 points as Leeds, who play Arsenal at Highbury on Sunday.

While West Ham have a tough final trip to Birmingham next Sunday, Bolton finish off at home to Middlesbrough, who have suffered 12 defeats on their Premiership travels this term.

Saints made it clear from the start they would be offering their visitors no helping hand in their survival fight.

A stream of inviting crosses by Fabrice Fernandes, Paul Telfer and skipper Chris Marsden had Bolton quickly on the back-foot, with Florent Laville, Bernard Mendy and Gudni Bergsson performing heroics to keep them out.

And by half-time the multi-national mercenaries who represent the old Lancashire club these days had not managed a shot on target.

They were too busy keeping the lively Southampton attack in check and few were more dangerous than midfielder Matt Oakley, who sent a 25-yard shot thudding wide early on and kept picking his way through a densely-populated midfield with skill and courage.

Ricardo Gardner did well to hold off Brett Ormerod and allow Jussi Jaaskelainen to grab the ball when Oakley threatened to provide the breakthrough pass after 20 minutes, following another good cross by the skilful Fernandes.

James Beattie, lectured by referee Phil Dowd after crashing into the keeper in pursuit of an over-hit through-ball, typified Southampton's commitment even though they have nothing more to gain in the Premiership this season.

Saints looked certain to go ahead just after the half hour when Telfer's long throw bounced through a crowded penalty area and landed at the feet of Michael Svensson.

The Swedish defender had time to line up his sights from eight yards but shot straight at Jaaskelainen, who instinctively blocked the ball on the line.

The Finland keeper deserved great credit, especially as he picked himself up immediately and leaped to punch away the next loose ball among a crowd of players.

But Bolton were having to defend for their lives and were relieved to see a linesman's flag up to catch Beattie offside when he thumped home a right-footed effort from the edge of the area after 34 minutes.

Another twinkling run by Oakley almost cut open the Bolton defence five minutes before the break but his progress was rudely halted by Frenchman Florent Laville's trip and from the free-kick, 30 yards out, Beattie put his shot well over the bar.

But Bolton, finally realising that attack was their best form of defence, showed a lot more ambition after the break and there were close calls at both ends.

Allardyce sent on substitute Pierre-Yves Andre to play wide in place of Mendy early in the second half and it seemed to upset Southampton's composure in a rash of petty feuds which brought bookings on both sides.

They were under a spell of pressure when Beattie broke away down the right and saw his cross-cum-shot deflect off Bergsson and sail over Jaaskelainen.

It looked a formality for Ormerod as he arrived at the far post but the goalkeeper turned and bravely flung himself at the striker, smothering his close-range shot.

Saints were still bemoaning the miss when Bergsson was granted a free header at the other end following a free-kick by Djorkaeff for Paul Williams' silly foul on Henrik Pedersen.

He put it wide but the Bolton centre-half soon easily won another ball in the air in the Southampton box and was also off target. They were not gilt-edged opportunities but they signified a swing in the pendulum of power as Bolton finished strongly.

Teams:

Southampton: Niemi, Telfer, Michael Svensson, Williams (Tessem 76), Bridge, Fernandes, Anders Svensson (Higginbotham 76), Oakley, Marsden (Prutton 67), Ormerod, Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Aaron Davies.

Booked: Fernandes, Williams, Ormerod.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Gardner, Laville, Mendy (Andre 53), Bergsson, N'Gotty, Okocha (Nolan 87), Campo, Frandsen, Pedersen (Salva 79), Djorkaeff.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Charlton.

Booked: Djorkaeff, Campo.

Att: 30,951

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).