Kevin Phillips rescued an FA Cup replay for Sunderland after Bolton failed to take their chances at the Reebok Stadium.

Phillips rose in the 62nd minute to flick John Oster's cross past Kevin Poole - and the striker should have won it 11 minutes from time when he raced clear but shot wide.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce had indicated his season's priorities by making nine changes - but his side were still left wondering how they had not wrapped up their place in the fourth round.

Michael Ricketts had put the home side in front with a fine 17th minute header but Ricketts and strike partner Delroy Facey spurned a catalogue of first-half opportunities.

In the end the inexperienced Trotters were grateful for Phillips' bad miss and substitute Tore Andre Flo's late point-blank header which flashed inches past Poole's right-hand post.

But Bolton's supporters clearly agreed with Allardyce's FA Cup philosophy with only 10,123 - the lowest crowd of the season - witnessing the late drama.

Facey was making his first start after a life-threatening bout of pneumonia three months ago. And he showed his pace immediately in beating Wright down the Bolton left as the home side started well.

But Phillips had the first scoring chance when Michael Proctor won the ball from Anthony Barness on the right and crossed to the edge of the six-yard box.

But the former England man could only poke his 13th minute effort straight at the advancing Kevin Poole.

There was more injury woe for Sunderland when Stephen Wright hobbled off in the 15th minute - and his replacement Mark Rossiter lasted just six minutes before departing the field on a stretcher.

Stig Tofting sparked Bolton's first spell of pressure with a cross from the left which was flicked out for a corner by Phil Babb.

Tofting's first set-piece was met by Ricketts but pawed around the post by Jurgen Macho. And moments later Jeff Smith's corner from the right found Ricketts unmarked at the far post to head home his seventh goal of the season.

John Oster's claims for a Sunderland penalty after falling under pressure from Ivan Campo only earned him a booking for diving from referee Graham Barber - and the visitors' woe increased when substitute Rossiter was stretchered off after receiving extensive on-field treatment.

Ricketts should have increased Bolton's lead in the 27th minute when he latched onto Smith's superb left-wing cross but headed inches wide of Macho's left-hand post.

Then Facey outpaced Babb to go clear but Macho met him on the edge of the six-yard box and saved at point-blank range before Ricketts headed the rebound straight into the keeper's hands.

Tofting almost found Smith with a cross from the right while Sunderland almost snatched their equaliser two minutes from half-time when Oster drilled a low 20-yard shot which Poole did very well to push around his right-hand post.

There was still time for Facey to back-head Tofting's right-wing cross against the Sunderland bar and for Ricketts to sweep a poor shot too high from the Dane's pass.

Sunderland, boosted by the introduction of Tore Andre Flo for the ineffective Kevin Kyle, improved after the break and Phillips almost found a way through before being dispossessed by Barness.

But Ricketts came close again in the 52 minute after a move began by Campo's rare foray over the halfway line.

Smith found space on the right flank and crossed low into the box where Ricketts stretched in front of goal - but just failed to get the touch which would have guaranteed him his second goal of the game.

Phillips grabbed Sunderland's equaliser when he rose highest on the edge of the six-yard box to meet Oster's left-wing cross and flick the ball into the top corner of the net.

Suddenly Sunderland started to press and two minutes later Phillips got his head to an Oster corner - but this time he brushed his shot well wide of target.

Smith and Ricketts wasted good chances at the other end as the action heated up - and Sunderland almost had the final say.

Teams:

Bolton: Poole, Bulent (Okocha 74), Livesey (Whitlow 74), Campo, Barness, Smith, Tofting (Nolan 74), Hunt, Farrelly, Ricketts, Facey.

Subs Not Used: Jaaskelainen, Walters.

Booked: Hunt.

Goals: Ricketts 18.

Sunderland: Macho, Wright (Rossiter 16), Babb, Craddock, McCartney, Thirlwell, Proctor, Williams, Oster, Kyle (Flo 45), Phillips, Rossiter (Bjorklund 27).

Subs Not Used: Sorensen, Stewart.

Booked: McCartney, Oster.

Goals: Phillips 63.

Att: 10,123

Ref: G Barber (Hertfordshire).