KEVIN NOLAN'S last-gasp winner ensured Bolton Wanderers' start to the New Year continued unabated as they won their first game out of 11 with a 2-1 victory over in-form Birmingham City at St Andrew's.
But it was El-Hadji Diouf who proved to be the man-of-the-match for the visitors.
The Senegal international, who rescued a point for Wanderers against West Brom on New Year's Day, was the catalyst for his side's much-needed but highly-deserved win.
Diouf struck in the 17th minute and could have a had a first half hat-trick such was his attacking prowess.
Although Matthew Upson hit an equaliser in the second-half, Diouf's upsurge in form towards the end of the game proved to be too difficult for the Blues to cope with and Nolan was on hand to grab the decisive goal.
Jussi Jaaskelainen returned to his customary starting role between the posts for Wanderers as Sam Allardyce made two changes to the side that drew against West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day.
The Finnish international, rested for the Albion clash, replaced veteran Kevin Poole, who missed out on the opportunity to face his former club.
Stelios came back into the starting line-up at the expense of Kevin Davies, who failed to recover from the hamstring injury, which he sustained in Wanderers' last match.
Diouf was handed a more orthodox attacking role due to Davies' enforced omission, and was supported by Stelios and Kevin Nolan.
The major talking point in the build-up to the match, however, was the exclusion of midfielder Robbie Savage, who submitted a transfer request last week, from the Blues' line-up. The Wales international's future at St Andrew's looks increasingly bleak despite the club's rejection of a £2.7 million bid by Blackburn. The former Leicester City star didn't even warrant a place on the bench.
The hosts enjoyed the opening opportunity to break the deadlock when Damien Johnson connected to Stan Lazaridis' through ball. The midfielder, though, appeared surprised to be in an attacking position and accordingly fired wide of Jaaskelainen's left-hand post.
In response, Wanderers should have taken the lead just two minutes later through Diouf. The Senegal international, who earned his side a point on New Year's Day with his third goal of the season, failed to connect to Nolan's knockdown right in front of Maik Taylor's goal.
The Northern Ireland 'keeper was then sprung into action to prevent his side from falling behind. Jay Jay Okocha fed Nolan through with a precise and perfectly weighted through ball. But Nolan's left-footed effort failed to get past the Blues' Number One who smothered the ball.
Wanderers' early pressure finally paid off on 17 minutes when the in-form Diouf found a way past Taylor. The former Fulham shot-stopper could only parry Okocha's powerful volley, and the Senegal World Cup star was on hand to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
The visitors, though, weren't entirely having the game to themselves. Steve Bruce's men gradually stepped up a gear and were starting to enjoy more possession. They managed to turn one particular spell into a noteworthy effort, when Emile Heskey raced through to beat the offside trap. However, the large frame of Jaaskelainen proved to be a difficult obstacle to get past as he managed to me a fine block.
The game threatened to boil over in the 39th minute when tempers raised in both camps. Bruno N'Gotty and Emile Heskey were cautioned for an off-the-ball incident, and in the brouhaha, following referee Uriah Rennie's disciplinary action, Nicky Hunt appeared to have been felled by an apparent haymaker from Clinton Morrison. The match officials didn't see the incident and although the fourth official had a lengthy word with the Sheffield referee, action was not taken.
Lazaridis had a chance to grab an equaliser before the break but Jaaskelainen finally got hold of the Australian's powerful effort at the second attempt.
The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession during the opening stages of the second-half but determined and dogged defending from the Wanderers ensured that their lead was still intact.
However, Melchiot just headed over after connecting to Stephen Clemence's knockdown.
Birmingham's persistence and patience was finally rewarded in the 65th minute through the unlikely source of Matthew Upson. Jaaskelainen had tipped Lazaridis cross-cum-shot over the bar for a corner. From that Morrison hit the underside of the cross bar with an acrobatic overhead kick. Then the former Arsenal defender somehow managed to power the loose ball beyond Jaaskelainen to get his side back into the game.
But, with great testament to their revitalised team-spirit, Wanderers continued to throw number into the Birmingham box.
Diouf was the instigator-in-chief as he tore the Blues defence apart.
Then, deep into injury time, Okocha unleashed a thunderbolt which Taylor did well to parry, but, Nolan was in the right place to guide the loose ball into the back of the net.
