A CRESTFALLEN Phil Parkinson admitted defeat at table-topping Norwich City was a hard one to stomach.

Wanderers had fought their way back from 2-0 down with goals from Sammy Ameobi and Mark Beevers, only for Teemu Pukki to volley a 93rd minute winner for the home side shortly after Sammy Ameobi had been sent-off for a second bookable offence.

In a week where players salaries were not paid by owner Ken Anderson, concerns had been raised about what frame of mind the Bolton squad would be in at Carrow Road.

Parkinson felt his players answered any doubters unequivocally.

“When you come to the top of the league and play as well we have done, to come away with nothing is a tough one,” he said.

“First half we started really well, had some good chances, Lowe had a terrific shot from the edge of the box and Buckley went clean through.

“They got a goal with a moment of quality. In the second half we should have done better with their second goal, we know that, but we came back into it really well to get two goals. Then to concede with the last kick of the game really, really hurts.

“We have got to pick ourselves up, go again, and try and take those qualities we showed today into the next game.”

Mario Vrancic opened the scoring shortly before half time and then turned provider for Marco Stiepermann on the hour – the game at that stage looking well out of Bolton’s reach.

But after Ameobi had pounced on Andy Taylor’s cross to halve the deficit, Beevers’ far-post equaliser with two minutes to go seemed to have sealed a memorable point.

Ameobi’s second yellow card was given by ref Scott Duncan for a tangle with Todd Cantwell and when Wanderers failed to clear the resulting free-kick, Pukki’s superb volley ensured a 12th victory in 15 games for the high-flying Canaries.

Parkinson also felt his side were denied a penalty when Ameobi appeared to be pushed by a Norwich defender in the second half.

“When you have just been beaten and feel you have deserved something from it, it’s always tough to take,” he said.

“Sammy got sent off, we should have had a penalty. I watched that incident back and knew at the time he’d been pushed to the floor. The linesman had a great view, so has the referee, and it’s incredible he hasn’t given it.

On the sending off, he added: “The booking was a six and two-threes situation.

“I have looked at it and I couldn’t really tell who committed the foul.

“There are other instances that have happened where the ref hasn’t booked players. I said to the ref at half time that I accept Sammy got booked but to manage him through the game because there were other instances where he let players off.

“To lose him now for a game… Well, you’ve seen it yourselves.”