http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 35,00.html"Mark Hughes has expressed his delight at the manner in which Manchester City went about their business at Bolton.
The Blues left the Reebok Stadium on Saturday with only a point to show for their considerable efforts, but that represented some achievement given the way the game panned out.
Hughes' men trailed on three occasions against the plucky Trotters, but hit back each time to secure a 3-3 draw.
City's final leveller came after they had been reduced to 10 men following Craig Bellamy's sending off and Hughes was impressed by the battling spirit on show from his troops.
Asked what his overriding emotion was after a topsy-turvy contest, the Welshman told Sky Sports: "I think pride because the guys really dug in under difficult circumstances.
"Obviously we went down to 10 men, as a consequence of a laughable decision by the referee, and we were behind in the game and it was really difficult at that point but the character of the guys showed.
"It goes to show what a great group they are and they weren't to be denied. They showed character and bravery to take the fight to Bolton and deserved what they got.
"In the end we felt if anybody was going to be get a winner it was going to be us so, given the fact that we were one down in terms of personnel, I thought it was an outstanding performance."
He added: "We stuck at it. Obviously the first goal was an incorrect decision, it was miles offside, so we shouldn't have been down. The second one was a fantastic strike by the boy Cahill and the third, if they keep throwing balls in the box, there is a chance that someone is going to get on the end of one.
Frustrating
"We are looking at the game and it's frustrating because we felt we showed good pace, got the ball down and created opportunities.
"Had the circumstances been better, in terms of decisions made, I'm sure we would have won the game comfortably. I think if at any point in the game we had got our noses in front, we would have won the game for ourselves."
Hughes was unhappy at a number of decisions made by referee Mark Clattenburg, but felt the decision to dismiss Bellamy was the worst of the lot.
The Wales international was shown a second yellow card for diving, but many of those in attendance did not realise he had already been cautioned for an earlier incident - including Hughes.
"Apparently it was for dissent," he said.
"He wasn't happy with the initial award of a throw-in which led to their third goal. It was the wrong decision again; one of a number of wrong decisions the referee and his officials made today - including the first goal.
"He reacted to that, as everyone did, because it was the wrong decision and then the second booking is laughable.
"Craig's running at pace into the box, he is trying to get into an advantageous position, and the lad has come across him and clipped his heels. Craig Bellamy doesn't dive. He doesn't look for those situations, he wants to get on the end of balls and score goals, so for the referee to suggest that Bellamy conned him is laughable."
