Wanderers had to settle for a point on the opening day of the new season as Burnley came from behind in a keenly contested Reebok derby.
Denmark international Per Frandsen celebrated his return by giving Sam Allardyce's injury and suspension-hit side the lead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute but the Clarets hit back in the 56th when summer signing Phil Gray scored with a diving header from a cross by 'super' sub Glenn Little, whose half-time introduction proved an inspiration.
Frandsen, back 'home' after a difficult 10 months at Blackburn, was sure-footed from the spot after Burnley defender, Ian Cox had fouled Wanderers new loan signing Isiah Rankin.
It was an instant success for Rankin, the London-born Bradford City striker, who was making his Bolton debut after signing a three-month loan deal late on Friday - hours after the move appeared to have broken down.
Wanderers, who also gave debuts to summer signings Simon Charlton and Anthony Barness, had former Everton, Oldham, Ipswich and Leicester striker Ian Marshall on the subs' bench after Allardyce brought him on board on a short-term contract.
The goal - Cox could have no complaints, fouling Rankin in a race for Gareth farrelly's incisive ball - came when Wanderers were enjoying a good attacking spell but Burnley, who included new signings Lee Briscoe, Kevin Ball and Phil Gray in their starting line-up, missed a glorious chance to equalise on 35 minutes when skipper Steve Davis headed Briscoe's cross wide.
Little and Gray both threatened before combining for the equaliser to pave the way for a hot-blooded duel which Wanderers went close to winning when Marshall's goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Mitchell Thomas 10 minutes from time.
Wanderers (3-5-2): Jaaskelainen; Bergsson, Barness, Fish; O'Kane, Frandsen, Passi, Farrelly, Charlton; Rankin, Hansen. Subs: Marshall for Hansen 62 mins, Richardson for O'Kane 84 mins, Wheatcroft, Norris, Banks.
Burnley (3-5-2): Crichton; Thomas, Cox, Davis; Weller, Ball, Cook, Mullin, Briscoe; Gray, Cooke. Subs: Little for Mullin (h-t), Branch for Gray 56 mins, Mellon, Jepson, Armstrong.
Referee: Bill Burns (Scarborough).
Attendance: 20,662.
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