DAVID O'Leary believes Sam Allardyce has the system and the spirit to survive in the Premiership.

The Leeds boss found plenty to complain about after Saturday's scoreless draw at Elland Road - the penalty that got away, a vital missed chance and the loss of two precious home points - but Wanderers' performance left a big impression.

"I don't personally think they will be there or thereabouts up at the top," he suggested. "But I hope they do well and stay up.

"I think they've got a chance with their spirit. They've got to get as many points as possible at the start and dig in ... you never know.

"They showed great spirit beating Liverpool and have beaten other teams as well. They have a way of playing and the players are comfortable in that way of playing. Good luck to them. On a personal note I hope they stay up because you don't have to go away Friday night ... its only down the road. But that's being selfish!"

O'Leary's sense of frustration took over from his sense of humour, however, when he added: "I'm disappointed not getting the three points. I didn't think it was going to be a pretty game. They (Bolton) are doing well; they play 4-1-4-1 so you know you're going to get an awful lot of possession and with that possession you are going to get chances. Jason Wilcox had one in the first half and we had the chance with Robbie Keane late on.

"It was down to us to break them down. You have to be patient, know you can play better and, if a chance comes along, you make sure you take it.

"The chance was there and he (Keane) missed it. That's the dividing line that is so marginal.

"Bolton came here not to get beat. They set up that way, 4-1-4-1, and good luck to them. It's a good lesson for my players because these games are not the greatest games but you have to keep plugging away and plugging away.

"I keep saying that about Manchester United ... many times towards the end of games they score vital goals. We had that chance but didn't take it."

O'Leary stopped short of heaping all the blame on Keane for failing to convert the 89th minute chance that was on a plate after Jussi Jaaskelainen fluffed a clearance, acknowledging the part the keeper played in the first scoreless draw in the 22-match history of this Elland Road fixture.

"Their keeper, who is a good, steady all-round keeper - not a fancy name doesn't do anything fancy - made a great save and that's the difference between one point and three."

There was no praise, however, for referee Steve Bennett, who awarded Leeds a free kick inches outside the penalty area when Simon Charlton was judged to have fouled Harry Kewell - a decision Wanderers disputed.

"The TV people have shown me that it was inside the box," O'Leary argued. "The referee sat on the fence and gave it on the edge of the box but it was definitely inside."