PHIL Parkinson has escaped an FA ban for being sent to the stands at Wolves.

The Wanderers boss admitted an FA misconduct charge but successfully presented a case against a touchline ban to an Independent Regulatory Commission, resulting in a £3,000 fine but no touchline exclusion, which had been widely predicted.

Parkinson was sent off alongside opposite number Nuno Espirito Santo at Molineux after both managers left their technical area reacting to a late challenge by David Wheater on Diego Jota.

The Whites boss maintained, however, that he spent just 15 seconds outside his technical area before the fourth official called in referee Keith Stroud to take action and that no bad language has been used.

A one or two-match touchline ban had been expected as Parkinson had also been sent from the touchline in a previous Carabao Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday. But while his fine was heavier than it had been in August, the lack of a ban – suspended or immediate – came as a welcome boost at the team prepared for Saturday's clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Wolves head coach Nuno was fined £2,000 and also escaped any ban.

Wanderers will welcome centre-half Wheater back into the squad after he served a one-match suspension last weekend. He will rival Reece Burke for a place alongside Mark Beevers at the heart of the back four.

Parkinson’s side emerged from the bottom three for the first time since August and are now looking to put to bed another unwanted statistic and win their first away game in the Championship since April 2015 when they beat Cardiff thanks to a Craig Davies brace and a goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen.

A win at Forest could bring Bolton level on points with Hull City, who appointed Nigel Adkins as their new boss this afternoon.

“We’d spoken before the Barnsley game about not wanting this to be a relegation battle between four teams, we have got to get other teams involved.

“And I think there is a belief among the lads that we can do that, and use this momentum,” Parkinson added.