For the second week in succession Wanderers were involved in a stalemate as Sunderland battled hard at the Reebok to claim a point in their quest for Premier League survival.

An even contest ended goalless despite an improved second half showing by Bolton, in which both Riga and Gary Cahill had last-gasp opportunities to nick all three points for the Whites.

Sunderland enjoyed the lion's share of possession before the break and had a number of opportunities where they failed to even test Jussi Jaaskelainen, but in similar story to the previous weekend against Wigan Athletic, Wanderers came out and bossed the game after the interval.

The result moves Wanderers on to 40 points, meaning that a draw between Newcastle United and Middlesbrough on Monday evening will guarantee another season of Premier League football for Gary Megson's team.

Gary Megson was handed a boost ahead of the game with Mark Davies showing no ill-effects of his first week back in training following his knee injury. The midfielder was handed a spot on the substitutes' bench at the expense of Nicky Hunt, who dropped out of the squad of 18. Otherwise it was an unchanged line-up from the two previous outings against Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic.

It was a steady start by both teams with Sunderland's supporters, 5,000 of them in total, vocally backing their team right from the first whistle. Defence dominated for the opening ten minutes up until the first noteworthy attack of the game - a scuffed shot by Steed Malbranque which clipped Andy O'Brien on its path through to Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Shortly after Kieran Richardson, found himself in a similar position just outside the area, but again his left footed attempt lacked conviction and it was dragged harmlessly wide of the far post.

That little period of play kick-started the game into life and Wanderers responded with an attack of their own. When the ball landed at Gretar Steinsson's feet 18 yards from goal, the Icelander lashed in a shot however it evaded every player inside a packed Sunderland penalty area and thudded against the advertising hoardings.

Misdirected shots were becoming the theme of the first half as both Kieran Richardson and Grant Leadbitter twice found themselves in decent areas but couldn't even force Jaaskelainen into making a single save.

Gary Cahill made a goal-saving headed clearance and Calum Davidson out jumped Wanderers defence to nod wide in a first 30 minutes bossed by the visitors.

Play became scrappy in the remainder of the half as a heavy shower descended on the Reebok making conditions tough for both sets of players, but the weather didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the Sunderland supporters, many of which were kitted out in fancy dress rather than their customary red and white shirts.

Tamir Cohen was booked for a late tackle on Grant Leadbitter, before Wanderers relieved themselves of the Sunderland pressure by forcing a handful of successive corners in moments leading up to half-time.

However Sunderland were proving to be very lively on the break, and if it hadn't been for a well timed slide tackle by Gavin McCann on Kieran Richardson, then the former Manchester United winger would have had a clear run on goal.

Gary Megson shuffled his pack at the half-time interval bringing Mark Davies into the fray as a replacement for Tamir Cohen, and the former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder was instantly involved, embarking on a couple of jinking runs through the middle of the park.

Indeed, it was Bolton who started the brighter taking the game to Sunderland with more purpose than the first 45 minutes of the game. Gary Cahill blazed over the crossbar from 20 yards while a run in-behind Sunderland's defence from Jlloyd Samuel forced Calum Davenport into a timely clearance.

Grant Leadbitter's cross on the hour mark was inches over Kenwyne Jones' head and a delivery from similar position on the left by Wanderers' wide-man Matt Taylor a minute later was just as inviting. Again though, no one could get a finishing touch inside the penalty area.

A thunderbolt from Mark Davies, which struck a Sunderland defender, had the home supporters off their seats in a passage of possession which also included a goalmouth scramble inside the Black Cats six-yard box, but still the game remained goal-less entering the final quarter.

The tireless John Elmander was replaced by Gary Megson with 23 minutes remaining as Riga was given an opportunity to try and help conjure up the all-important goal for the Trotters. Ricky Sbragia also made a change in his attack with Djibril Cisse replacing the injury stricken Kenwyne Jones.

With 13 minutes remaining Sunderland wasted a glorious chance to get their noses ahead as not for the first time, Kieran Richardson failed to hit the target from a promising position. After a bit of pinball inside Bolton's box, the ball ricocheted off Andy O'Brien and although the Sunderland number ten managed to get his foot over the bouncing ball, his volley was dragged harmlessly wide.

Jaaskelainen's right boot managed to divert a dangerous low cross from Cisse to safety late with 83 minutes on the clock and Mark Davies controlled and volleyed over shortly after.

With the 90 minutes up Riga volleyed into the turf with the ball bouncing agonisingly just over the Sunderland crossbar, and then Gary Cahill thought he had won it for Bolton with a powerful header only for Martin Fulop to dive full stretch to his right to palm the ball away for a corner.

It proved to be the last real opportunity of the afternoon as referee Rob Styles blew for full-time following the three minutes of added time. Bolton move on to face Hull City next weekend in their final home fixture of the 2008/09 campaign.

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Samuel, O'Brien, Cahill, Steinsson, McCann, Muamba, Cohen (Mark Davies 46), Taylor, Davies, Elmander (Riga 67). (Subs not used: Al Habsi, Puygrenier, Makukula, Basham, Smolarek)

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Tainio, Whitehead, Malbranque, Richardson, Collins, Jones (Cisse 70), Leadbitter, Davenport, Ferdinand. (Subs not used: Edwards, Murphy, Reid, McShane, Healy, Colgan)