Wanderers extended their unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship to six games with a goalless draw away at Preston North End on Friday evening.
The Whites did enjoy opportunities to win the game with Adam Armstrong coming closest, but they were forced to settle for a point come the final whistle at Deepdale.
TEAM NEWS
Wanderers named an unchanged starting XI from the side who turned out against Norwich City prior to the international break, with Connor Hall amongst the Whites' substitutes.
FIRST HALF
The game started brightly, with Karl Henry receiving a booking inside two minutes for a challenge deemed worthy of a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper.
And the Whites were soon under the cosh from the home side, with North End seeing an effort somehow elude the goalmouth after flying across Ben Alnwick’s in the sixth minute.
The lively start continued, but it was pressure which was falling more so in the home side’s favour as Wanderers remained in their own third of the pitch for the most part.
Callum Robinson then came close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute as he attempted to flick the ball home from a corner, but his effort flew inches wide of the far post.
That was followed up by a deft Paul Huntington header from a free-kick on the edge of the box which was narrowly wide of the goalmouth.
A much-needed breather followed for Phil Parkinson’s men, with some form of respite coming in the form of forays upfield and into Preston’s own third of the pitch.
Alex Neil’s side were still looking a threat on the break however, with Wanderers having to be on their guard.
Stephy Mavididi was next to come close for the hosts, with his glancing header flying inches wide on the half hour mark.
The Whites saw their best chance of the game fall to Josh Vela soon after, with the midfielder’s shot from the edge of the box being tipped over the crossbar by Chris Maxwell.
The opportunity seemed to be just the tonic for Wanderers, with Adam Armstrong seeing his angled drive collected by the Preston keeper shortly after.
Bolton’s pressure continued, with Sammy Ameobi a constant threat for Parkinson’s men.
And as the half drew to its conclusion, neither side was able to break the deadlock as the first period finished goalless.
SECOND HALF
With no changes at the break for either side, the clash got back underway under the floodlights with Wanderers attacking towards their 3,300+ strong away following for the second period.
And the Whites came out all guns blazing, with the hosts under pressure from the off while David Wheater saw his free-kick fail to trouble Maxwell.
The hosts were soon back on the attack themselves however, with a free-kick - which saw Ameobi booked for the initial foul - thundering into the Bolton wall inside the first ten minutes of the second period.
It was very much end-to-end at Deepdale, while Henry saw an effort from 20 yards out always rising on the hour mark.
Wanderers saw a succession of chances go begging soon after too, with Armstrong seeing his show following a mazy run into the area palmed away while Antonee Robinson proved himself a nuisance down the left flank.
The 71st minute of the game saw the first change for Bolton too, with Armstrong being replaced with Will Buckley.
And he almost made an immediate impact, with his dangerous ball across goal being cleared away at the death while Henry's thunderbolt from 20 yards from the resulting corner was just over the crossbar.
Wanderers were looking confident on the ball and with each passing attack, they appeared to be edging closer and closer to a goal.
North End weren't quite finished themselves though, with substitute Daniel Johnson looking lively for the home side.
With five minutes to go, the Whites made another change in the form of Filipe Morais who replaced Vela.
The game was far from over despite the clock ticking down, and with four minutes of time added on, it was all hands to the pump for Wanderers with Ameobi's mazy run into the mix deserving more.
Come full time however, the spoils were shared.
FULL TIME