A goal down with 13 minutes to play, the beaten Carling Cup finalists looked likely to become Southampton’s latest victims at St Mary’s.

Then suddenly they raised themselves from the gutter of impending defeat to climb aboard an unlikely victory band-wagon with Kevin Nolan’s gently headed equaliser – set up by ex-Saint Kevin Davies – and then, just 90 seconds later, Davies himself heading home his 10th of the season from Jay-Jay Okocha’s long cross.

It was an astonishing turnaround as Southampton seemed to have matters very much in hand after Marian Pahars’ 20th-minute opener.

They should have added more and underlined their late bid to get back into the UEFA Cup after four wins in the previous six under new boss Paul Sturrock.

But Davies, who hardly got a game for Saints last season under Gordon Strachan and was allowed to leave on a free transfer in the summer, finished up the hero at his old haunt where he once cost £7.5m (€11.2m) – but this time with different fans.

The game was soon notable for Okocha’s 100th Premiership shot of the season - according to official statistics – without scoring. His half-volley after just seven minutes struck the crossbar and went over.

The brilliant Nigerian may be on his way at the end of the season and that could be why Bolton are making vibes about Brazil star Rivaldo, 32, who is apparently available on a free.

French star Youri Djorkaeff showed his shooting skill with two late efforts just off target at the end of the first half before being substituted in the second.

But Saints had more consistent fire-power and real threat in the Beattie-Phillips combination, already worth 27 goals this season before this game.

Emerson Thome’s nudge on Beattie brought Southampton a free kick which became a 16th minute corner, swung in by Paul Telfer, and the unmarked Beattie was given a free header which he could have used to better effect instead of nodding over the bar.

But when the breakthrough came it was simplicity itself, with Bolton guilty of poor defending as Pahars chipped in his second goal of the season four minutes later.

The much-injured Latvian striker, making only his eighth start this term, burst into the area, as Bolton’s Ivan Campo and Anthony Barness both ball-watched.

He latched onto Telfer’s long, dipping diagonal ball from left to right, controlled it perfectly, held off Barness and clipped over the advancing Jussi Jaaskelainen.

It certainly got Saints going, though, and Phillips was too enthusiastic little more than a minute later when he went in late on a clearly lost cause and fouled Bruno N’Gotty at the expense of a booking.

Bolton should have equalised though just before the half-hour when Davies was presented with a tap-in chance by Nolan’s pass but jabbed it straight into the chest of keeper Antti Niemi.

The rebound looked tailor-made for Nolan as he followed up but he went down over an outstretched foot and referee Steve Dunn was adamant it was no penalty.

Bolton were subsequently ruffled, Campo collecting a booking for butting David Prutton in the chest after a foul and substitute Nicky Hunt also booked on the hour for pulling down Pahars.

But referee Dunn would not be intimidated into giving a home spot kick either when Anders Svensson, a substitute for Rory Delap, crashed down in a wrestling match with another ex-Saint Simon Charlton.

By then Davies had spurned another chance to score against his old club when lashing a Henrik Pedersen pass over the top and Bolton boss Sam Allardyce tried to shake up his side with a blur of substitutions.

Yet it was Svensson who twice went closest to adding to the scoreline for Saints with long-range howitzers.

You could not possibly guess at that stage that it would be Bolton, whose best work had come in the first half, who would provide the late drama – and come up with a third consecutive win.