Dean Holdsworth ended an eight-month goal famine in the top flight to push Bolton closer to safety.

He grabbed the equaliser in the 71st minute after a mistake by Tottenham defender Ben Thatcher.

It was a simple but vital strike after Steffen Iversen had given the visitors the lead.

Little wonder Holdsworth celebrated. It was his first goal at this level since the end of August.

Bolton were given a pre-match boost with the return of captain Gudni Bergsson after a four-match absence because of a knee injury.

He partnered Mike Whitlow in the centre of defence with Greek international Kostas Konstantinidis ruled out through suspension.

Manager Sam Allardyce went for a strike force of Fredi Bobic and Rod Wallace with Michael Ricketts having to settle for a place on the bench.

Sergei Rebrov was named as one of Tottenham's substitutes as midfielder Stefen Iversen was recalled to the starting line-up.

Defender Mauricio Taricco was also included with Christian Ziege sidelined through injury.

Tottenham keeper Kasey Keller was tested inside the first minute, getting down quickly to block a fierce 20 yard drive from Simon Charlton.

The Bolton full back showed his ambition after Youri Djorkaeff had cleverly dummied a ball from Wallace.

Djorkaeff was again involved in the fifth minute when he laid a pass back to Nicky Southall but his effort failed to trouble Keller.

Bolton, however, were stunned in the eighth minute when they fell behind. Gus Poyet sprung the offside trap by hoisting the ball into the path of Iversen.

With Bolton waiting for the whistle, Iversen raced on, drew keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and slotted the ball home.

The home side's frustration showed in the 12th minute when Mike Whitlow picked up a yellow card for a challenge on Iversen.

Bolton pushed forward after losing that early goal and almost drew level after 17 minutes.

Per Frandsen released a 20-yard thunderbolt that Keller did well to turn over the top.

Then Whitlow moved up to test the keeper with a dipping shot from the edge of the area.

Tottenham, who have been dogged by inconsistency this season, were playing with a good degree of confidence, however.

Sheringham left Charlton in a heap then the Tottenham striker found himself on the floor after a stiff challenge from Whitlow.

Bolton continued to press for the equaliser and were throwing men forward. However that left them exposed at the back and they were nearly made to pay in the 34th minute.

Poyet got clear to power in a header from Simon Davies's cross, only to see it go over the top.

Referee Matt Messias then infuriated the Bolton fans by refusing to book Sherwood for a blatant body check on Djorkaeff.

Certainly some of the official's decision in the first half were open to debate.

Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen had to look alert in the 40th minute to make a clean save from Sherwood's header after Darren Anderton had swung in the corner.

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle decided to make a switch, however at the start of the second half. He brought off Iversen, the scorer, and replaced him with Rebrov.

Djorkaeff was working hard to try and get Bolton back in the game but found himself continually frustrated.

Tottenham were looking composed and Sherwood tried to pick out Sheringham only for Jaaskelainen to intercept the cross.

Sherwood, who won a championship medal up the road for Blackburn, was putting in a solid shift in midfield.

He certainly had the measure of Djorkaeff while Frandsen and Kevin Nolan had hardly got into the game for Bolton.

With Wallace and Bobic ineffective Bolton boss Allardyce went for a new front line partnership of Ricketts and Dean Holdsworth.

Certainly Bolton had looked to be short of ideas up front with Anthony Gardner playing well at the back for Tottenham.

Sherwood then came to Tottenham's rescue steering a toe-poke from Ricketts to safety at the foot of the post.

Poyet picked out Sheringham and he lofted the ball forward, only for Bruno N'Gotty to tidy things up at the back.

Sheringham then found himself in a good position from Davies's cross but chipped a shot straight into Jaaskelainen's arms.

Rebrov then missed a clear chance before Bolton drew level in the 71st minute.

Holdsworth took advantage of Ben Thatcher's poor back pass to clip the ball home and give them a bit of daylight.

Ricketts had the ball in the net in the 80th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside and Bolton had to settle for a draw which saw them hit the 40-point mark.

Teams

Bolton Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Bergsson, Whitlow, Southall, Nolan, Frandsen, Charlton, Djorkaeff, Wallace (Ricketts 57), Bobic (Holdsworth 57).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Espartero, Barness.

Booked: Whitlow.

Goals: Holdsworth 71.

Tottenham Keller, Gardner, Thatcher, Perry, Davies, Anderton, Poyet, Sherwood, Taricco, Sheringham, Iversen (Rebrov 45), Rebrov (Doherty 85).

Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Clemence, Etherington.

Booked: Iversen, Perry, Gardner.

Goals: Iversen 8.

Att: 25,817

Ref: M Messias (York).