There was a hint of rebellion in the Bolton Wanderers camp before the game and signs of petulance and frustration during it. But, afterwards, there was only optimism that bordered upon naivety. “It might not need as many points as people think for us to stay up,” Kevin Davies, the Bolton striker said. “I think 35 might be enough, which is three more wins.”

He could be right, but three victories will require at least three goals and Gary Megson’s side look like a team who do not expect to score.

They are also juggling mixed messages. Megson put the relegation battle before the club’s Uefa Cup campaign, but was this realistic management or an admission that Bolton are incapable of making an effort in two competitions? The senior players are publicly upbeat, but they are so concerned about results that they have held separate team talks – and if that was intended to improve morale, why did Ivan Campo sulk after being substituted in the 63rd minute?

Kevin Nolan, the Bolton Wanderers captain, received his tenth caution of the season for a foul on Vedran Corluka and will miss the matches against Arsenal and Aston Villa. This is a blow, but Nolan continued the upbeat theme. “I hope I will be on the sidelines for the next four or five games because that will mean the team has been winning.”

Nolan was unhappy at how Corluka reacted after being fouled. “He made a meal of it – that’s what these foreign lads do when they come over here. We just get up and get on with it – that’s the English mentality – but from him I sort of expected it.”

That is perhaps an old-fashioned view of overseas talent, but there has been conjecture about the way Manchester City’s foreign signings, in particular Elano, were so effective at the start of the season, but have faded. The Brazil playmaker came off the bench, however, and gave a gutsy display. “He is a very proud man,” Sven-Göran Eriksson, the City manager, said, “and wants to show me that he should start the game this weekend against Birmingham.”

If Bolton go down, the fans will not remember the rifts among the players, but the sale of Nicolas Anelka, their leading goalscorer. “This is not where we should be and we are deeply hurt to find ourselves in it,” Nolan said.

Bolton Wanderers (4-1-4-1): A Al Habsi 7– G Steinsson 6, A O’Brien 6, G Cahill 6, R Gardner 6 (sub: J O’Brien, 46min 5) – I Campo 5 (sub: G McCann, 63 6) – E-H Diouf 5 , D Guthrie 5, K Nolan 6, M Taylor 6 (sub: Giannakopolous, 83) – K Davies 6.
Substitutes not used: I Walker, G Rasiak.
Booked: Nolan.
Next: Arsenal (h)

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): J Hart 6 – V Corluka 5, R Dunne 6, N Onuoha 6, J Garrido 5 – G Fernandes 6 – D Vassell 5 (sub: F Caicedo, 58 6), M Johnson 6, S Ireland 5 (sub: Elano, 58 6), M Petrov 6 – Benjani Mwaruwari 5.
Substitutes not used: A Isaksson, Sun Jihai, N Castillo.
Next: Birmingham (a)

Referee A Marriner
Attendance 22,633