August deadline signing Tomoki Iwata has now struck four goals for Birmingham City
League One leaders Birmingham City kept up their relentless pursuit of promotion back to the Championship as they eventually finished off Bolton Wanderers on a busy night in the second city.
After leading inside three minutes with a dream strike from Japanese playmaker Tomoki Iwata, it took a controversial 86th-minute penalty from £10m striker Jay Stansfield to seal victory.
But, with nearest rivals Wrexham being held at home by Huddersfield Town, it was enough to help stretch Blues' lead at the top to four points with a game in hand.
And Chris Davies' men were certainly good value for victory in a game they dominated but could not put to bed until late on.
Bolton - who had suspended boss Ian Evatt sat in the stand - stay 14th after suffering a first league defeat in six games.
It was a stunning start for the hosts when Bolton failed to clear their lines and Iwata found the bottom left corner with a sublime left-foot volley.
Blues dominated the rest of the first half with their slick passing, but had only one on-target Alfie May shot to show for it.
They had to wait until the 55th minute for their next big chance when the recalled Ethan Laird's header from Iwata's cross had to be turned wide for a corner by Bolton goalkeeper Luke Southwood, who then also saved at close range from top scorer May.
But, with only such a slender lead, Bolton always remained a potential threat on the break - and they nearly shocked their hosts when substitute John McAtee was left clear in the box and fired in a low right-foot effort.
But alert Blues keeper Ryan Allsop saved with his legs - what proved to be Bolton's only effort on target - and six minutes later it was 2-0.
Keshi Anderson went down very easily under a challenge from Will Forrester in a comparatively safe position on the left, referee Stephen Martin awarded a dubious spot-kick - and Stansfield blasted home a low right-foot penalty down the middle to give Southwood no chance and register his fourth goal of the season.
Who's next?
Blues now face a lunchtime test at Nigel Clough's Mansfield Town on Saturday (12:30 BST) in a meeting of fourth against first.
Bolton then host Peterborough United in one of the afternoon kick-offs (15:00), when boss Evatt will serve the third game of his three-match touchline ban.
Birmingham City boss Chris Davies told BBC Radio WM:
"It was an exceptional goal from Tomoki. And it was one of our best performances of the season. We played some nice stuff. It was just frustrating that we waited so long for a second goal.
"There could have been two penalties there [for the spot-kick won by Anderson]. If he'd have gone down from the first challenge, that would have been a penalty, and the second one was a lunge and a foul.
"It would have been harsh if they had gone through and scored when they had that chance just before - but Ryan Allsop stood up for us. It's all about big moments."
Bolton boss Ian Evatt:
"We had a plan to be tight and be in the game at 60 minutes and then we could get the attackers on, be a bit more adventurous and go for it.
"We hung in there and got the moment we wanted – John McAtee had to score. If he had, that would have been 1-1, and we'd have been in the ascendancy.
"The referee – who I thought was very poor – couldn't wait to give the penalty. Will Forrester was trying to block the ball and his momentum carried him through. You see that same tackle so many times during games."
