Gideon Kodua’s equaliser seven minutes from time secured a point for the Hatters against 10-man Bolton.

The substitute cancelled out Kyle Dempsey’s first-half strike from the visitors to earn the Town a share of the spoils after Wanderers’ Xavier Simons was red-carded with 20 minutes left.

Manager Jack Wilshere made just the one change from Tuesday night’s victory over Huddersfield Town. Jake Richards, who got on the scoresheet against the Terriers, missed out through injury. Jacob Brown was the man to replace him to make his first league start of the season.

Bolton took the lead with just eight minutes played. Kyle Dempsey received the ball in the area, took a deft touch with his right foot and on the turn finished expertly with his left past Josh Keeley.

Chances were few and far between following the goal. That was until the half-hour mark, when Jerry Yates went to ground in the area but referee Ruebyn Ricardo instantly waved away any Town appeals. The ball then broke to Walsh, who fired over the crossbar.

George Johnston had the Wanderers’ second opportunity of the afternoon. His effort from a looped free-kick from the right-hand side was headed into the Kenilworth Road end.

It was Walsh again who attempted to test visiting keeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe. His long-range effort took a deflection and skimmed past the far post, for the Town’s first corner of the afternoon.

The resulting corner saw Brown pull the ball back across the face of the goal for Yates who could only watch the ball collide with his thigh and strike the bar.

In the second half, Simons was the first to enter the referee’s book for hauling Brown to the floor, as the forward looked to lead the Town counter-attack.

Ten minutes into the second half and the visitors could not believe they didn’t extend their lead. Jordi Osei-Tutu flashed the ball across the box into the direction of Amario Cozier-Duberry. The in-form Bolton winger had the goal at his mercy but could only put the ball wide of Keeley’s post with a diving-header.

But Bolton were then reduced to 10 men when Simons caught substitute Kodua with a late challenge and he was given his marching orders, meaning the visitors had to play out the final 20 minutes a man down.

Shayden Morris and Millenic Alli were introduced from the bench with 10 to play and the pair had an instant impact.

Morris’ right-wing crossed was headed goalwards by Alli and the ball fell into path of Kodua who thumped the ball past Sharman-Lowe to bring the Town back level.

With the wind in their tails the Town sensed a winner. ere able to soak up the pressure. Naismith and Alli both went close in the closing stages but the Hatters couldn’t force a winner and the points were shared.

Town: Keeley, Odoffin, Mengi, Lonwijk (Morris 81), Naismith, Bramall, Walsh, Saville, Brown (Kodua 63), Fanne (Alli 81), Yates.

Subs not used: Shea, Makosso, Andersen, Nelson.

Attendance: 11,204, including 1,329 from Bolton.

Report by Owen Williams