After being completely outplayed for the first 45 minutes at The Reebok and lucky to go in at the break just 1-0 down Blues came out for the second half all-guns-blazing. Muzzy Izzet's first league goal of the season after 49 minutes equalising Radhi Jaidi's 16th minute opener for the home side.
Blues could quite easily too have been travelling back to the Midlands with all three points had Emile Heskey's header not swerved outrageously past Jussi Jaaskelainen's right hand post in the dying seconds.
"We have to be pleased with the point and we could have maybe nicked it at the finish," Bruce told Sky Sports after the live tv game.
"I thought we were far, far better in the second half, but I have to be honest, that wouldn't have been difficult. So we were looking for a response.
"Bolton have battered us in the first half but second half we've got ourselves back in and we've had more shots in the first 30 seconds of the second half than we had in the previous 45 minutes.
"Your looking for a response, they've given that and we could of just have nicked it at the finish."
The 1-1 draw at the Reebok see's Blues occupying 15th place in the Premier League table and Bruce explained that he knows epectations are high amongst fans but he reiterated that as the season goes on he feels things will improve.
"Its difficult the Premier League," Bruce said.
"There's been a big expectation and rightly so with the players we've brought in.
"The one thing we'll do is that we'll get better as the season goes on.
"We'd have loved to have had a good start like we did last year but there's a long, long way to go."