BOLTON'S second string turned in one of their best performances of the season but could not prevent a powerful City side from maintaining their title challenge with a barely deserved win.

City included four full internationals in their starting line-up but needed a 75th-minute goal from Donal McDermott to end Bolton's brave challenge.

Teenager Javlon Campbell had equalised for Bolton early in the second half and Robert Sissons then headed against a post before McDermott shot through a crowd of players to give the home side the points.

Trotters reserve-team boss Alan Cork named another inexperienced side with loan departures for Kevin Woolfe and David Gbemie meaning an even more youthful line-up.

Rhys Bennett made a rare start in the centre of defence alongside Chris Basham and the pair barely gave a look-in to City's front two of first-team duo Jo and Felipe Caicedo.

Temitope Odabeyi and Campbell carried more of a threat at the other end but City went ahead after 36 minutes when giant defender Clayton McDonald headed in from an Adam Clayton corner.

Bolton responded well and were level five minutes into the second half through Campbell, who made the most of a second bite at the cherry.

The 17-year-old saw his first effort saved after City keeper Tobias Johansen had been unable to hold a shot from Robert Sissons.

But when a corner from Michael Burns, who was a driving force from midfield, was not cleared, Campbell pounced to drive the ball home.

Zoltan Harsanyi then headed wide from a Burns free-kick before another set-piece saw Sissons send a looping header against the far post.

A point would have been a fitting reward for Cork's battlers but that was denied them when McDermott picked up a loose ball to beat the unsighted Adam Bogdan.

"We had eight scholars in the squad so we've done okay," said Cork afterwards.

"It was a very young side and they coped well with their multi-million pound gang. We should have got something out of that game.

"But they enjoyed it, worked hard, passed the ball well and it will be good experience for them."

Manchester City: Johansen, Logan, Ball, McDonald, Berti, Hamann (Vidal 72), Clayton, Marshall, Caicedo, Jo (D Ball 58), McDermott. Substitutes: Mee, Hartley, Morris.

Bolton: Bogdan, Sinclair, Carlisle, Sissons, Basham, Bennett (McDonald 75), Burns, Sheridan (O'Halloran 83), Obadeyi, Campbell, Harsanyi. Substitutes: Brocklehurst, Mooy, McDonald, O'Halloran.

Attendance: 146