Nine-man Bolton foil Foxes

Leicester celebrate the own goal by Michael Ricketts

Bolton 2-2 Leicester
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Bolton grabbed a point at the death against Leicester in an explosive basement battle at the Reebok Stadium.

Wanderers made in 2-2 in the third minute of stoppage time through Michael Ricketts, who had scored an own goal in the first half.

  Key incidents

19 mins: Warhurst sent off

22 mins: Ricketts own goal puts Foxes ahead

23 mins: Holdsworth red-carded

27 mins: Deane makes it 2-0

34 mins: Nolan nets for Bolton

69 mins: Izzet dismissed

93 mins: Ricketts makes it 2-2

An incident-packed opening half-hour saw two Wanderers players sent off by referee Mike Riley.

The official from Leeds also dismissed Leicester substitute Muzzy Izzet in the second half.

Leicester's other goal came from Brian Deane in the 27th minute, while Kevin Nolan gave nine-man Bolton hope for minutes later.

Both the Bolton players who saw red were involved in incidents with Foxes midfielder Robbie Savage.

A complete loss of control, a complete loss of focus, a complete loss of what he's there to do

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce on referee Mike Riley

Paul Warhurst was shown a straight red for his high challenge on the Welsh international on 19 minutes.

Then Dean Holdsworth went four minutes later after grabbing Savage by the throat.

By then, Leicester were already two goals up, having taken the lead when Ricketts headed into his own net from six yards in the 22nd minute.

Brian Deane doubled their advantage in the 27th minute, rising unmarked to head past Jussi Jaaskelainen from an Alan Rogers cross.

But Bolton struck back when Colin Hendry nodded a Simon Charlton cross back across the Leicester areas for Nolan to head home from 18 yards.

Disbelief: Holdsworth is red-carded

The tone was set in the fourth minute when Ricketts and Leicester's Dennis Wise were booked for squaring up after the Bolton striker had felled Savage.

The Welsh international - the object of the home fans' ire - was replaced in the 23rd minute by Izzet.

The bad blood continued as Leicester striker Jamie Scowcroft was yellow-carded just after his side's second goal for a challenge on Charlton.

Leicester poured forward after the interval as they sought to press home their two-man advantage.

I'm quite speechless, extremely disappointed to throw it away - it's scandalous really

Leicester manager Dave Bassett

The visitors claimed a penalty on 48 minutes when Izzet went down under a Per Frandsen challenge, but referee Riley booked the Leicester player for diving.

Callum Davidson twice went close for the visitors but Bolton hung to see the odds against them reduced by Izzet's sending off.

It came when a 69th-minute challenge on Djbril Diawara resulted in a second yellow card.

Leicester's lack of quality up front prevented them from killing off the game with another goal, and Bolton refused to give up.

Their perseverence nearly paid off when Frandsen hit the post with a 22-yard free kick in the 91st minute - but then came Rickett's last-gasp header for a well-earned draw.

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Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness (Diawara 52), Hendry (Pedersen 83), N'Gotty, Charlton, Nolan, Frandsen, Warhurst, Farrelly (Southall 62), Ricketts, Holdsworth. Subs Not Used: Poole, Johnson.

Sent Off: Warhurst (19), Holdsworth (23).

Booked: Ricketts, Hendry.

Leicester: Walker, Davidson, Elliott, Marshall, Sinclair, Rogers (Impey 66), Wise, Savage (Izzet 24), Deane, Akinbiyi (Jones 73), Scowcroft. Subs Not Used: Flowers, Stewart.

Sent Off: Izzet (69).

Booked: Wise, Scowcroft, Izzet.

Att: 23,037

Referee: M Riley (Leeds)