Uefa Cup first round, second leg / Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1 Bolton 2 (Bolton won 4-2 on aggregate): Bolton's UEFA Cup dream remains alive, but only after suffering an almighty Uefa Cup scare on the edge of the Black Sea.
Manager Sam Allardyce's side looked to be crashing out of the competition at the first hurdle and on the away goals rule following an outstanding 51st-minute strike from Georgi Iliev.
But 12 minutes from time an own goal from Alexander Tunchev turned the tie on its head, with another come-from-behind win sealed in the 86th minute by substitute Kevin Nolan's third goal of the season.
It was a virtual repeat performance from Bolton as they had fallen behind in the first leg at the Reebok Stadium, only to clinch a 2-1 victory. And it was the late, late show all over again at the Naftex Stadium in Bourgas - a port city over 200 miles from Plovdiv with Lokomotiv's ground failing to meet UEFA standards.
In the end, Allardyce's gamble only just paid off as he made seven changes to the side which defeated Portsmouth 1-0 on Saturday. He was without four crucial players, notably in defence with Ivan Campo, Nicky Hunt and Radhi Jaidi injured, along with defensive midfielder Gary Speed.
But Allardyce still had enough confidence in his squad, with Mexico striker Jared Borgetti, French midfielder Fabrice Fernandes and Republic of Ireland under-21 international Joey O'Brien getting their first starts.
After a largely featureless first period, Lokomotiv went in front six minutes after the restart, with Stelios Giannakopoulos initially the culprit after losing possession midway inside his own half.
There appeared little danger as Iliev sized up his options almost 25 yards from goal, eventually letting fly with his right boot, with the ball curling into the top left-hand corner of the net.
With Bolton now needing to chase the game, Allardyce brought on Nolan and Kevin Davies for Fernandes and Borgetti in the 56th minute.
Eventually in the 79th minute Bolton equalised as Tunchev kneed Henrik Pedersen's left-wing cross beyond the advancing Kolev.
LOKOMOTIV: Stoyan Kolev; Ivanov, Tunchev, G Iliev, Kotev, Vandev (Stoinev 62), Krasimir Dimitrov, Krizmanic (Halimi 80), Jancevski, Djordani, R Petrov. Subs Not Used: M Kamburov, D Iliev, Georgiev, Hristev, Zlatinov. Booked: Jancevski. Goals: Iliev 51.
BOLTON: Walker, N'Gotty, Okocha, Fernandes (Nolan 56), Borgetti (Davies 56), Giannakopoulos, O'Brien (Nakata 66), Faye, Ben Haim, Diouf, Pedersen. Subs Not Used: Jaaskelainen, Gardner, Vaz Te, Fojut. Booked: Nakata. Goals: Tunchev 79 og, Nolan 86.
Referee: J Hyytia (Finland).
