Sunderland looked to have gained a vital victory despite injuries to goalkeeper Thomas Myhre and midfielder Claudio Reyna.

But with ten minutes remaining Babb lost his bearings and headed the ball past substitute shot-stopper Jurgen Macho for a bizarre own goal and a 1-1 draw.

Bolton, who had gone behind to a Michael Gray goal, were grateful for the point but remain rooted to the foot of the Premiership table.

New Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson - in only his second game in charge - saw his side play with a fair amount of passion.

However, on the downside, Reyna suffered a knee injury and goalkeeper Myhre went off with a suspected thigh strain.

Reyna left the ground on crutches with a protective cast on his left leg.

Sunderland made a bright start and Kevin Phillips, playing his second match after a groin operation, twice got into good positions inside four minutes.

However, he failed to take advantage both times, much to the relief of the home side.

Gray delivered a cross to the near post, only for Phillips to snatch at it and send his effort wide.

Then the pacey David Bellion released the Sunderland striker, who attempted an audacious back heel inside the six yard area that failed to find the target.

Bolton's best effort in the opening stages came from Youri Djorkaeff, who found space on the edge of the area, only to drag his shot wide.

Gareth Farrelly strode forward for Bolton and tried his luck from 30 yards but Myhre made a comfortable save.

That was almost the goalkeeper's final touch. He was replaced by Macho.

Myhre had been struggling since he had been first called into action on the night.

Macho had found himself on the bench despite playing in the last match - a 1-0 defeat by West Ham on Wilkinson's debut.

A moment of carelessness by Ivan Campo almost cost Bolton dear. He lost possession to Reyna, who floated the ball into the area.

Luckily for the home side Bernard Mendy was alert to the danger and diverted it to safety.

Sunderland suffered another injury setback in the 37th minute when Reyna fell awkwardly and appeared to damage his left knee.

He was carried off on a stretcher after treatment on the pitch and replaced by Paul Thirwell.

Sunderland went ahead in first half stoppage time when Campo's headed clearance landed at the feet of Gray.

He hit it first time, rattling a shot beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen from long range.

Despite being forced to make changes, Sunderland manager Wilkinson must have been pleased at the way things were going.

Certainly they looked more inventive than Bolton in a first half that was short of entertainment.

Youri Djorkaeff was putting in a solid shift for Bolton and strode forward only to see his shot blocked by Babb.

Then Per Frandsen got into a good position but his effort drifted wide of the target.

Campo then got away from his marker and powered in a header from Ricardo Gardner's corner that went wide of the post.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce made his first change 14 minutes into the second half when he replaced the ineffective Kevin Nolan with Jay-Jay Okocha.

The Nigerian World Cup star had been struggling since arriving in the summer.

But he showed last week he was getting back to full fitness with a goal for the reserves.

Bolton were beginning to step up the pace and Frandsen was narrowly off target after a neat lay-off by Michael Ricketts.

Farrelly then picked out Mendy on the edge of the area but his wayward shot had the Sunderland supporters cheering.

Bellion's pace was troubling Bolton and Campo picked up a yellow card for bringing him down when he was in full flow.

Sunderland goalkeeper Macho managed to claw away a point-blank header by Ricketts in a frantic goalmouth scramble.

Then came Babb's blunder just when the visitors looked to be going home with all three points.