Perfect answer to Fergie

1:28pm Monday 12th May 2008

ALI Al-Habsi said Wanderers' performance had provided the perfect response to Sir Alex Ferguson's criticisms of the club.

The Manchester United boss accused the Bolton players of spending all week partying after defeating Sunderland nine days ago - a victory which all but guaranteed the Reebok outfit's Premier League safety. Gary Megson's side could, in theory, still have been relegated had they suffered a heavy defeat at Stamford Bridge, and relegation rivals Reading wiped out the Whites' superior goal difference of 11 with a landslide victory over Derby. But Wanderers produced a resilient display to draw with the title-chasing Blues and complete their great escape - and prove Ferguson wrong.

"Alex Ferguson said Bolton were already celebrating and going out, and this is the best answer we could have given him," said the keeper, pictured, who made a string of superb saves to keep Wanderers in the game. "But the most important thing was keeping Bolton in the Premier League this season. It's brilliant and it was a fantastic draw at Chelsea."

Al Habsi played a key role in Wanderers' successful bid to avoid the drop as they took nine points from a possible 12 going into the final game of the season.

And the Oman shot-stopper believes it was the defensive effort in the relegation run-in which kept them in the top flight.

He added: "West Ham, Middlesbrough, Tottenham and Sunderland - those four games kept us up.

"We had three clean sheets in that period and that helped Bolton stay up."

Olympic silver medal for Jason