Kaiyne Woolery the hero as Bolton beat Rotherham in injury-time
Kaiyne Woolery's injury-time goal breathed fresh life into Bolton's Sky Bet Championship survival bid as they beat fellow strugglers Rotherham 2-1 at the Macron Stadium.
With the game looking set to end 1-1, Woolery chose a good time to score his first career goal as he tapped home deep into added time to give Wanderers a vital win that moves them to within three points of safety.
Jay Spearing had put Bolton ahead in just the second minute but the Millers hit back through Chris Burke on the stroke of half-time and they looked the more likelier to go on and win it until Woolery popped up at the death.
Defeat, which follows another damaging reverse to Charlton last week, leaves Neil Redfearn's men in the bottom three and facing a fight to stay in the division.
With the gap as it was at the bottom, the hosts knew a win was crucial to any hopes of a great escape and they could not have made a better start, taking the lead with just 65 seconds on the clock.
The Millers failed to clear a corner and the ball was played back to Spearing who sent a sumptuous rising half-volley into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Rotherham's response was spirited and they had several opportunities to level, none better than the one for Andrew Shinnie, who danced through the Bolton defence but poked his effort wide from 12 yards.
The hosts began to take a stranglehold, though, and after Mark Davies had headed wide from a good position, they thought they had a second just after the half-hour when Wellington tapped in following a fine save from Lee Camp off Emile Heskey, but the winger was in an offside position.
And how Bolton will have been ruing that linesman's flag 10 minutes later as the Millers drew themselves level in the 43rd minute.
Moments after Joe Newell had seen his one-on-one effort brilliantly saved by Ben Amos, United got in down the left again and this time there was no mistake as Danny Ward's cut-back was coolly finished by Burke.
That gave the Millers momentum and after starting the second period strongly they wasted a golden chance to go in front in the 58th minute.
Again Shinnie was the guilty party as he shot straight at Amos when he had the freedom of the Bolton penalty area, with the Bolton keeper palming the ball away.
In driving rain and wind, the game descended into a battle with little quality on offer.
Bolton had spells of pressure without creating anything, while the Millers looked to attack on the break to no avail.
Neither side looked like grabbing a winner until right at the end until Davies went through on goal and after Camp saved his effort, Woolery rolled into an empty night to spark jubiliant scenes.
Source: PA
