Wimbledon and Bolton fought out a disappointing stalemate at Selhurst Park to leave both sides stuck in the relegation mire.

he visitors had the better of the chances but could not find a way past a resolute Dons defence and in-form keeper Neil Sullivan.

Nathan Blake forced a good first-half save from the Scottish international and Alan Thompson tested his handling with a dangerous free-kick.

For Wimbledon, Robbie Earle wasted a free header after 31 minutes and Jason Euell should have done better with the goal at his mercy but apart from that the most interest was provided by Joe Kinnear's triple substitution.

The Dons manager will have been happiest with the point, as with Barnsley losing at Leeds Bolton wasted a great chance to put some ground between their relegation rivals.

Blake, in fact, had the ball in the net after just 10 seconds thanks to a piece of quick thinking from former Wimbledon favourite Dean Holdsworth but it proved to be something of a false dawn.

Holdsworth blocked Dean Blackwell's attempted clearance and released Blake into the area who fired past Neil Sullivan.

The Welsh international turned away to celebrate but the linesman's flag had already been raised for offside.

Colin Todd kept faith with the side beaten at home by Arsenal in midweek while Joe Kinnear made one change, Jason Euell coming in for Marcus Gayle.

Both sides struggled to get into a rhythm in the blustery conditions with Bolton looking most dangerous via Thompson's left foot.

His superb 40-yard crossfield pass was turned into the box with a first time volley from Blake and Chris Perry made a vital interception as Per Frandsen closed in.

Wimbledon's best attacking opportunities also came from the left hand side and Kinnear's decision to play Euell looked to be a shrewd one as he proved to be the home side's most dangerous attacker.

His cross from the left fell perfectly for Neal Ardley on the edge of the area but the midfielder went for placement instead of power and his shot was blocked.

Bolton looked fragile at the back under the usual barrage of crosses but it was Blake who again went closest to scoring at the other end.

A rebound from the heels of Ardley fell kindly for the Bolton striker just outside the box but his well-struck shot was too close to Sullivan, who turned the ball around for a corner.

After the departure of Vinnie Jones across London to a role as player/coach at QPR, Dons captain Robbie Earle had a real opportunity to lead by example but he spurned two of the best chances of the half in carbon-copy moves just after half an hour.

First, Ardley's cross was just too high for the Jamaican international to reach. And just a minute later when he did make contact from an identical ball he could only glance his free header well wide.

Thompson then went close to breaking the deadlock, collecting Sheridan's pass inside the area and turning neatly before shooting across the face of goal.

The two sides had managed just one shot on target between them in the opening 45 minutes but the second period promised a bit more action with Euell and Blake going close.

Euell should have opened the scoring on 48 minutes when he was left totally unmarked in the penalty area.

Michael Hughes' lofted ball found him in yards of space but with the goal at his mercy he hit his shot into the ground and it bounced up to allow Branagan to tip the ball over.

Blake then ensured Sullivan was on his toes with a left foot shot out of the blue from the edge of the area that flew just wide of the far post and a minute later putting a header over the bar from Holdsworth's cross.

Wimbledon then made a triple substitution - Peter Fear, Andy Clarke and Marcus Gayle on for Ardley, Euell and Leaburn.

But it was Bolton who should have taken the lead seconds later, a scramble in the box eventually seeing Cox's low cross held by Sullivan at the second attempt as Blake waited to pounce.

Gayle's header from Cunningham's cross floated just over the bar and Thompson shot over from Blake's back-heel but a stalemate was always on the cards.

Teams

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Blackwell, Earle, Roberts, Perry, M. Hughes, Ardley (Fear 68), Euell (Clarke 68), Leaburn (Gayle 68).

Subs Not Used: C. Hughes, Heald.

Bolton: Branagan, Cox, Frandsen (Salako 88), Blake, Thompson, Bergsson, Sheridan, Todd, Phillips, Fish, Holdsworth (Taylor 85).

Subs Not Used: Giallanza, Johansen, Ward.

Att: 11,356

Ref: M J Bodenham (East Looe).