Fan's View by Peter Holden

A VASTLY improved performance on Monday's dire draw against Sunderland, but yet again no points on our travels and a defence that is leaking too many goals.

A typically hostile and vociferous home crowd, which including certain sections pelting the full away section with coins, cranked up the volume and atmosphere for what was always going to be a vital basement battle.

For the first hour the crowd was treated to a fairly entertaining encounter with few clearcut chances, but with Bolton playing the more controlled football.

As at the Reebok five days earlier Sam started with three central defenders and two wing backs which looked good going forward but much less convincing in defence.

Mendy was exciting with his scintillating pace and his surging runs forward and Campo's distribution from the back light years ahead of his poor performance on Monday but still Bolton proved that they are at their most vulnerable when attacking the opposition. However much we control a game we always look much more likely to concede a goal than to score.

The game burst into life with half an hour remaining when purse swept a sweet shot into the bottom corner to put Birmingham ahead.

Shortly afterwards, Gardner was sent off for his second bookable offence by the fussy Chris Foy.

If Gardner had ended the game with one yellow card he could have considered himself unlucky, but yet again a finely balanced game vital to both clubs' futures has been blighted by what can only be described as poor decisions.

The referee handed out cards like flyers in Victoria Square, and it is of little consolation if the Gardner decision is reversed in the forthcoming days a la Campo at Arsenal.

Having said that, Bolton responded well to going a man down and the impressive Okocha struck the sweetest of volleys from a tight angle to equalise and momentarily stun the home crowd.

They were not as stunned as the away fans when seconds later Savage slipped away from Okocha and rounded Jaaskelainen for the goal which effectively killed off Bolton.

Horsfield's third goal was the icing on the cake for Birmingham who are now seven points clear of Wanderers.

There were some good points which could be taken from this defeat, not least that flair players like Okocha and Djorkaeff can be included in the same side.

What is needed though is for the team to show a greater degree of professionalism.

Why are we most vulnerable when attacking the opposition? Why are we most vulnerable when we have just scored. Address these points, beat West Brom at home and the overall picture becomes a little brighter. Nobody was ever relegated in November.

Man of the match: Okocha.