Bolton Wanderers lost ground on the League One automatic promotion places after substitute Byron Moore earned Bristol Rovers a 1-1 draw at the Macron Stadium on Tuesday night.

As Wanderers aimed to hold out for the win, Moore struck to level for the visitors after 75 minutes.

It all started so well for Bolton – they were in front after seven minutes courtesy of Josh Vela, who profited from Filipe Morais’ pull-back from the left to sweep home from six yards out beyond goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

Clear-cut chances were hard to come by on a chilly Greater Manchester night, though Darrell Clarke’s outfit should have been back on level terms when Ellis Harrison robbed Wanderers’ goalkeeper Mark Howard of possession, only to trickle his tame shot wide from a tight angle.

In the second-half, Rovers applied mounting pressure upon Bolton’s backline, with substitute Luke James fizzing an effort narrowly past the upright. The warning signs were there for all to see.

James was in the thick of the action again later on, seeing his shot acrobatically cleared off the line by David Wheater after Howard palmed Cristian Montano’s drive into his path.

The men from the West Country deservedly levelled with 15 minutes to go though, when substitute Moore got on the end of Billy Bodin’s pass to dink over the on-rushing Howard.

Bolton forward Chris Long was shown a second yellow card for dissent in added time as Phil Parkinson’s team remain fourth, two points adrift of an automatic spot having not won for three games.

Bolton captain Jay Spearing could also be out for some time with medial knee ligament damage he picked up, further compounding their frustration.

Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers are 11th in the third-tier, having drawn their last six league games.

So, what did we learned from Tuesday’s clash under the Macron Stadium floodlights? Shoot! reveals all…

Wanderers’ winless run continues

Tuesday night’s home fixture presented a real opportunity for Bolton to bounce back after a difficult two games, but they couldn’t take it.

After successive matches across the Pennines in Yorkshire, where they fought back to draw 2-2 with Bradford City at Valley Parade, before Billy Sharp’s brace ensured defeat to leaders Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last weekend, Wanderers returned to home comforts knowing nothing other than a victory would be sufficient.

Following Vela’s early goal, Bolton took their foot off the pedal, and were rightly punished for a lethargic and uninspiring performance by Moore’s late sucker-punch.

Parkinson’s side host AFC Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon, before a visit to the Fylde Coast the following week, where promotion rivals Fleetwood Town await at Highbury Stadium.

Bristol Rovers should feel unlucky to leave with a point

Bristol Rovers, who still harbour faint hopes of a play-off push, gained a well-earned point on their travels at Bolton – in fact, they may feel aggrieved that they didn’t leave the Macron Stadium with all three.

Clarke’s battlers are used to a stalemate – they have drawn their previous six consecutive outings in League One.

Even after going behind to Vela’s opener, Rovers stifled Bolton throughout, before ramping up the tempo in the second-half, causing the hosts’ defence considerable threat.

James and Montano had shots saved, before Moore equalised with 15 minutes left, delicately slotting over Howard.

Not just content with a point in the North West, captain Tom Lockyer almost won it for Rovers when he bundled the ball onto the post, which was hastily cleared away from danger to safety.

Automatic promotion is still in Bolton’s hands…just about

Bolton have hit another blip in what has been an indifferent start to 2017, winning just twice since the turn of the year.

Of course, their destiny remains in their own hands, however with 13 games of the season remaining, Wanderers need to rediscover their form from somewhere.

Sheffield United look set to end a six-year hiatus from the Championship by going up as champions, leaving one automatic promotion spot available. Bolton are currently fourth, two points behind Scunthorpe United, who occupy that promotion spot, and third-placed Fleetwood Town, who are both on 61 points.

Parkinson’s Trotters have to make trips to their two immediate promotion rivals. The games at Glanford Park and Highbury will be season-defining six pointers as the race for the second-tier hots up.