PINK shirts, and it was nearly a case of red-faces for Wanderers as they allowed a 1-0 lead to slip late on against 10-man Cambridge United.

Having edged themselves ahead in a game of precious little quality through Aaron Collins’s seventh of the season, Bolton let two points slip from their grasp with a limp final 20 minutes packed with poor decisions and errors in possession.

Sulley Kaikai’s header earned the battling U’s a point and it might even have been more at the bitter end as Ian Evatt’s side looked like they were melting under the pressure.

Wanderers made two changes to the side that beat Blackpool at the weekend, bringing Randell Williams in for the suspended Szabi Schon and Jay Matete for John McAtee. That also meant a change in formation, switching to the same 3-5-2 shape that finished the last game.

The game started off with a flurry of chances at both ends, Dion Charles driving a right-footed effort just over the bar and then Nathan Baxter pulling off a fine save to deny Sulley Kaiai, with Gethin Jones also making a crucial block from James Brophy’s follow up.

Cambridge then went close again when Liam Bennett’s far post cross was nudged towards goal by big striker Ryan Loft, Baxter again getting himself in the way.

The first five minutes had hinted at an exciting contest of contrasting styles but the game quickly devolved into a scrap, with Wanderers unable to link passes together with any great accuracy.

Cambridge, who were certainly happy to engage in such a tussle. Garry Monk’s side are nothing if not hard-working and organised but for the first 45 minutes they played the game exactly the way they would have wanted.

Unable to get their passing game going, the frustration was clear to see for Wanderers. And George Thomason allowed his own to spill over in a tussle with Michael Morrison which saw him pick up a fifth yellow card of the season, which will mean he sits out the next league game against Mansfield Town.

Evatt had pushed Matete further forward, leaving Sheehan as the solitary holding midfielder, and the Sunderland loanee had one brief sight of goal before half time. A deep ball from defence caught U’s keeper Vicente Reyes out of position, and though Collins struggled to get a shot away, the ball dropped invitingly for Matete, who could only scoop his effort over the crossbar.

Wanderers had emerged a completely different proposition in the second half on Saturday and the portents were good when Charles brought a fine save out of Reyes within a minute of the restart.

From the corner a familiar wrestling match developed – only this time a clear slap in the face from Jubril Okedina sent George Johnston crashing to the floor in the centre of the melee. So often these things are entertained by officials, the protagonists warned but no action taken. Referee Paul Howard clearly had a good enough view of the incident to take drastic action, though, and sent the U’s defender off the pitch.

That moment proved the impetus Bolton needed. Thomason had one effort deflected wide, then put another straight at Reyes from the edge of the penalty box. Matete also pulled an inviting ball back from the right which was begging for someone to turn it towards goal, to no avail.

The pressure finally told on 59 minutes, Morrison dawdling as he tried to clear the ball, Charles poking a pass for Collins, who swept his shot into the bottom corner in slow motion.

Though they were a man down, Cambridge were never out of the contest at 1-0, not while Danny Andrew still had a pair of arms which could propel the ball vast distance. And Wanderers had to be careful as the home fans screamed for blood with every challenge a pink shirt dared to make.

Though Mr Howard is unlikely to get a Christmas hamper in the post from Cambridge United next month, Evatt also had to tread carefully with a few of his players on a caution and the game so emotionally charged. He withdrew Thomason and brought on Jordi Osei-Tutu in an effort to exploit the gaps which could appear later in the game.

Wanderers struggled to make their numerical advantage count, and though Collins had one brief chance at the near post to double the lead, the nerves started to take over as the game ticked into the final quarter.

Evatt swapped his front two, bringing on Adeboyejo and McAtee, but far too much of the game was being played in their own half – or to put it more accurately, their own penalty box. Being pinned in against a team who live to wrestle, claw and scratch for every set piece was not an enjoyable watch for anyone.

McAtee nearly fashioned a moment for himself on the edge of the area, weaving his way past one challenge, he then tried to curl a shot with his instep into the bottom corner, but saw it bounce off a defender and wide.

That was a rare attack in the final stages, and once again Cambridge fell back on their diet of long throws and corner kicks to force an equaliser.

Due credit to Kaikai, who produced a superb header after the ball came in from the right, bringing a small but vociferous crowd to a crescendo.

And the decibel levels almost went up another couple of notches at the bitter end when Rossi glanced a stoppage time header just wide, following a fumble from Nathan Baxter.

Only one set of supporters were happy with the end result – and they stayed behind to give the officials a piece of their mind too. But the 500-plus travelling back up to the North West were disappointed for a completely different reason.