Perhaps it was the Colin Todd factor which did much to undermine Ipswich Town's Premiership ambitions last season.

Under Todd's reign at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton had not conceded a goal against their old play-off rivals in two matches.

Last season's semi-final defeat was still fresh in their minds when Town did so much to break the spell back at Portman Road in August.

Then it was David Johnson's strike which seemed to have finally broken the Bolton hoodoo when he earned Town a 1-0 win.

But the Bolton jinx seemed to have struck all over again under their new manager Sam Allardyce when misfit striker Dean Holdsworth put them ahead in the second half.

Town's dismal record at the Reebok - they lost both games there last season - looked as though it would return to haunt them after an indifferent second half.

They missed the physical presence of last week's two-goal hero Richard Naylor in attack and the cultured passing of Jim Magilton in midfield.

Both succumbed to groin injuries, but Burley shuffled the pack to accommodate Fabian Wilnis at wing-back and moved Micky Stockwell into midfield.

Allardyce's side, cut off from the play-off chasing pack, rarely threatened in a first half dominated from start to finish by Town.

Johnson, so often at the heart of Town's openings, snapped at chances outside the box when he was better placed to take advantage of Bolton's fragile defence.

Twice in the first half he dispossessed Bolton skipper Mike Whitlow but both efforts went sailing over keeper Steve Banks' crossbar.

James Scowcroft, partnering Johnson because of Naylor's injury, saw chances comfortably dealt with by Banks and Matt Holland's 20-yarder was deflected away to safety.

But Bolton emerged after the break with renewed vigour and their determination was almost rewarded straight from the kick-off.

Tony Mowbray, normally so reliable at the heart of the Town defence, allowed Michael Johansen to speed away but his shot was well saved by Richard Wright.

The England keeper had to be at his best in a second half dominated by the home side. The Ipswich defence, one of the meanest in the league, was pulled apart by transfer-listed Holdsworth and his lively partner Eidur Gudjohnsen.

They finally got their reward in the 66th minute when the former Wimbledon striker got on the end of the Icelander's deep cross to send a header inside Wright's far post.

Town battled on but Bolton should have wrapped up the game when Wright saved magnificently from Gudjohnsen's 20-yard strike.

But, as they did at Blackburn earlier in the season, Town had to rely on their skipper to lift them from the mire with a late strike to earn a point.

Jermaine Wright, who deputised ably for Magilton, crossed from the left and his cross was cleared only as far as Holland whose sweetly struck shot went through a crowd of players and in beyond Banks.

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