Derby extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches after a goalless draw with fellow promotion hopefuls Bolton.

The Rams went closest in an even first half when Bolton defender Eoin Toal sliced an attempted clearance from Louie Sibley’s cross onto his own bar, with goalkeeper James Trafford beaten.

Elias Kachunga almost won it at the death for the hosts, but fired his acrobatic bicycle kick straight at Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith.

Playing in front of 25,428 supporters – their biggest home crowd since relegation from the Premier League in the 2011-12 season – Bolton frequently caused problems with some neat build-up play around the Derby box.

Yet the hosts found it tough to break down a resolute Rams defence which has conceded just once in five league outings, with Oladapo Afolayan’s deflected first-half strike one of only two attempts on target.

The Rams were missing top scorer David McGoldrick through illness and also struggled to turn good positions into clear chances, with Jason Knight seeing a goal-bound effort blocked before the break.

A lovely Bolton move after the break, involving Will Aimson, Kieran Lee and Liverpool loanee Conor Bradley, carved out a great chance for Dion Charles 10 yards out, but he guided a low shot past the left post.

At the other end, James Collins headed over when well placed, and Knight did likewise in the 90th minute, but neither keeper had a save to make in the second half until Kachunga almost snatched victory with the game’s final kick.

Bolton, who have won two of their past seven matches, remain in fifth place, 12 points adrift of the automatic promotion places, while a fourth league draw in five moves Derby up to sixth, a further point back.

Bolton manager Ian Evatt told BBC Radio Manchester:

“These games – I spoke about moments in the week – they’re always tight and we have to learn to get the better of those moments.

“We had arguably the best chance of the game with Dion, [who] probably should score in a really good spell after half-time.

“I thought when we showed some composure we played through them quite well, but we didn’t show that enough. Maybe that was credit to the opposition, maybe with the crowd and the magnitude of the game we were a little bit nervy.

“We gave a good account of ourselves. I think we can do better, but if you can’t win don’t lose, especially in these big games with a six-point swing.”

Derby County boss Paul Warne told BBC Radio Derby:

“It’s absolutely hammering it down, the pitch wasn’t really conducive for either team to play, and I honestly thought that today was one of those days where a goal would come from a mistake, more so than good play.

“They had a couple of good long throws near the end where I thought it might just sit for them, and we had a couple of really good chances from set-pieces that I’m disappointed we didn’t score from.

“I’m biased, but I thought we were the better team in a pretty tight match.”