Bolton Wanderers picked up their second successive point after being held to a scoreless draw by AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Keith Hill made two changes from Wanderers’ previous game with Ethan Hamilton and Ryan Delaney coming into the starting line-up at the expense of Kean Bryan and Jack Hobbs who both missed out through injury.
The visitors had an early scare when Remi Matthews’ attempted clearance hit Joe Pigott with the ball looping into the air before going wide of goal.
Wanderers responded with the lively Denni Politic getting past his marker before seeing a low cross cut out by Luke O’Neill.
Pigott made a block inside the six-yard box, following Ali Crawford’s corner, but Daryl Murphy was unable to take advantage of the opportunity from the rebound.
Toto Nsiala put in an important challenge to prevent Kwesi Appiah from bursting through and then earned his side a free-kick after he was bundled over by Callum Reilly.
Wanderers won themselves a free-kick out wide and Crawford’s resulting set-piece was aimed for Daryl Murphy. The ball then fell into the path of Politic whose thunderbolt from the edge of the box was blocked.
Crawford then latched onto a loose ball before sending his shot from 20 yards just wide.
This was good attacking play from the visitors.
At the other end, Matthews held onto Guinness-Walker’s drive after the home side enjoyed a rare foray into the Wanderers box.
Wimbledon enjoyed another chance shortly afterward when O’Neill rose to plant a header on Reilly’s corner only to see his effort go over the bar.
The chances sparked the home side into life but Pigott found Jason Lowe perfectly placed to prevent Wagstaff’s cross from reaching the tall striker.
Just before the half came to a close, Daryl Murphy got on the end of Lowe’s cross into the box but could only see his effort blocked.
Deep into time added on Politic created some space for himself before smashing a 20-yarder towards goal, but Mads Sorensen was ideally placed to keep out the Romanian star.
Crawford attempted a cheeky effort from the halfway line as Wanderers restarted the game but the attempt doesn’t trouble Joe Day in the Wimbledon goal.
Hill made his first change of the afternoon shortly afterwards when he took off the injured Lowe. Josh Emmanuel came on for the Wanderers’ skipper.
Joe Dodoo tried to get a shot in through a sea of bodies after being lined up by Daryl Murphy but the wide man was eventually crowded out.
Pigott and Reilly once again combined to carve out an opportunity but Hamilton got in the way to deny the hosts a chance on goal.
A linesman’s flag earned Wanderers a reprieve when Appiah got the ball in the back of the net, but the effort was ruled out for an offside earlier in the build-up.
Hamilton was picked out by Politic and the Scot hit a thunderbolt from distance but it was bravely blocked by Terell Thomas.
Nsiala intercepted an intended pass from Pigott to Wagstaff as the latter tried to sneak in at the near post.
Wanderers earned a corner after Emmanuel’s excellent burst forward resulted in Politic’s centre being diverted behind.
From Crawford’s resulting corner, Politic headed the ball towards the far post where Daryl Murphy was unable to find the target.
Hill made his second change with just over 20 minutes remaining when he brought on Ronan Darcy for Crawford.
The home side then tried to get a grip on the game and had three chances in quick succession which were all dealt with by Wanderers.
Anthony Georgiou came on for his Wanderers’ debut when he replaced Daryl Murphy for the final 15 minutes of the game.
A couple of half-chances fell for either side but the game ground out to a goalless conclusion.