Allardyce and his men forced to wait for the final act

It will go down to the wire, after all. Bolton Wanderers', nerves fraying, held on with a grimness which means that if they at least match West Ham United's result in the final game of the season, they will save their Premiership lives.

Despite Sam Allardyce's prediction that the relegation contest would go the distance, he had hoped that his players would have kicked-off yesterday evening able to complete their task a week early. Instead they started back in the bottom three.

A sixth clean sheet in an astonishing recent run means they go forward to next Sunday level on points but with a superior goal difference to West Ham. Their destiny is still in their own hands. Leeds United, of course, are also deep in the equation and could now be the biggest fall guys of them all. Goal difference is going to be crucial. The only adage that 40 points equals safety has been jettisoned.

This was a right Lancashire hotpot of a match – except most of the meat came from the home side. Southampton, playing their last game at St Mary's in a productive season that will end with an appearance in the FA Cup final and a place in Europe, provided the tastier fare. Bolton's appetite appeared dulled by events at Upton Park.

The visitors conceded early corners and, from one, Michael Svensson stooped to head wastefully wide. They were unchanged from the side that had played so courageously against Arsenal but although the personnel was the same, Bolton's attitude was different – cautious, almost fearful. Again, on 13 minutes, Brett Ormerod took advantage of hesitant defending although his shot was too deliberate. The hunger was coming from Southampton and it should have been sated when Ormerod worked his way into the six-yard area only to pull the ball back to a Bolton shirt instead of the despairing James Beattie.

Just four times in the opening half-hour did the visitors venture out of their half. Each excursion was brief although from one of those, Ivan Campo's long, flighted pass was pulled down into the soft feet of Jay-Jay Okocha. His cross was equally precise but Henrik Pedersen made a mess. A good chance spurned. At the other end Michael Svensson was also profligate as his shot struck the legs of Jussi Jaaskelainen. The net was found moments later by the unerring Beattie, usurped by Ruud van Nistelrooy in the race for the top scorer's golden boot. But the effort was ruled out, offside.

The incident unsettled Bolton further with the assistant manager Phil Brown gesturing from the sideline that he wanted his players to retain possession. It did not happen. Instead Matthew Oakley cut his way through before being cut down and Beattie flipped the free-kick over the bar. Southampton, wearing their new home strip, were certainly playing with more freedom and purpose than of late. Fabrice Fernandes, rested for last week's callow defeat at Charlton Athletic, looked refreshed and dangerous.

After the break, Bolton strove to come forward but it was Jaaskelainen who first saved Beattie's shot and then, just, edged out Ormerod to the rebound. His fellow Finn, Antti Niemi, restored after missing four games through injury, easily held onto an effort by the substitute Pierre-Yves André while Gudni Bergsson, unmarked, headed wastefully wide from Youri Djorkaeff's dipping free-kick. Allardyce switched to three in attack. It was a dilemma for him. Defeat would be a disaster, much more so than a draw, and yet he strove for the win and urged his players forward.

Suddenly Djorkaeff was involved. A vicious corner was punched out from under his bar by Niemi and, as Gordon Strachan made a flurry of substitutions, the impetus seemed to swing slightly. It did not last long. Jo Tessem, on from the bench, forced a corner and the game ended as it began with Southampton in the ascendancy. After the final whistle they re-emerged for a lap of honour. How Allardyce would have wished his players could have done the same. Nevertheless the point means they ended the day as they started – above the relegation places. Whether they will be there at the end of next weekend remains to be seen.

Southampton 0 Bolton Wanderers 0

Attendance: 30,951