Bolton Wanderers took all three points against Derby County at the University of Bolton Stadium this afternoon, with a Craig Noone goal being the difference as the Whites ran out 1-0 victors in the Sky Bet Championship.
Team News
Since his side's last outing against Ipswich Town, manager Phil Parkinson made two changes for the visit of Derby County.
Remi Matthews came in for Ben Alnwick, with David Wheater replacing a suspended Marc Wilson in the starting 11.
First Half
Wanderers had the first chance of the half seven minutes into the clash.
Craig Forsyth’s pass was intercepted by Will Buckley, who only had the keeper to beat but Fikayo Tomori managed to get back in a last gasp challenge to avert the danger.
Ten minutes in however and the Whites took the lead as a long kick forward from Remi Matthews found Buckley, who beat his man and lofted the ball to the back post for Craig Noone to head the ball past Scott Carson.
On the half hour mark and a Harry Wilson cross eventually comes to Mason Bennett, but a super block from Whites’ defender Jack Hobbs blocks any threat the effort had of going in.
Erhun Oztumer began to pull the strings shortly after that, with a run through the centre of the pitch.
With Buckley to his left, he slotted through the winger, who brought it inside and went down under a challenge from Jayden Bogle. The referee waved away any protests for a penalty.
David Nugent had a chance just before the break for the Rams, but his shot from a long distance away was never troubling the Wanderers goal.
A mix up at the back for Frank Lampard’s side deep into stoppage time for the first half allowed Oztumer some space on the edge of the area.
His curled effort narrowly crept past the post of Scott Carson, who was left stranded.
Second Half
On the hour mark in the second period and substitute Jack Marriott had the first real chance.
Picking up the ball in the middle of Wanderers' half, he unleashed a driven shot low to the right of Matthews, but the ball flew wide of the target as the Trotters keeper saw it out of play.
Minutes after and the Whites were back up the other end with an attacking threat of their own.
A Jonathan Grounds freekick goes over the head of striker Josh Magennis, eventually finding Craig Noone.
The wide-man hits it first time, leaving Carson a mere bystander as it goes perilously close to a second for Phil Parkinson’s men.
Will Buckley was proving a complete menace out on the left flank for Wanderers, as he got the better of Richard Keogh and Jayden Bogle and produced an effort down low, with Scott Carson saving well to his left.
From the resulting save, a counter attack was produced as Derby took advantage of an open left side of the field.
It fell to Mason Mount, who jinked to his left and shot from close range, which was blocked superbly well by Joe Williams tracking back.
Fifteen minutes before the end and Joe Williams caught the away side in possession and began running at pace towards the Rams 18-yard box.
With substitute Christian Doidge available to pass to, the midfield loanee opted to shoot and his curled effort aiming for the top right was narrowly off target.
Ten minutes left and County substitute Martyn Waghorn was played through with 8 yards between him and the goal.
As he pulled his leg back to shoot, another Jack Hobbs monster block came in and was followed up by full back Pawel Olkowski, who sent the ball into touch.
Tom Lawrence picked up the ball out on the right wing, producing a ball into the Wanderers penalty area as Frank Lampard’s men continued to search for the equaliser.
The ball was headed away by Hobbs to Craig Bryson, who took range on the half volley but it went into the stands.
Two minutes left of regular time and Derby came as close as they have all half.
Forsyth produced an unbelievable diagonal ball over to an unmarked Mason Mount, who headed goalward from point blank range.
Matthews was more than alert to it, saving well to his right and palming away the certain goal had it not been for his heroics.
Into added time it went and the visitors threw everything but the kitchen sink at Wanderers' goal, but Parkinson’s men stood tall and resolute as they prevented an equaliser and took home the victory.
Full Time
Wanderers XI: Matthews, Lowe, Oztumer (Vela 85'), Buckley, Noone (O’Neil 74'), Hobbs, Olkowski, J. Williams, Magennis (Doidge 74'), Grounds, Wheater (C)
Substitutes: B. Williams, Beevers, Donaldson, Wildschut.