Bolton vs Nottingham Forest: Match Report. 

Bolton kicked off their third game in the Championship at home to Nottingham Forest, a challenging team who finished with 50pts last season. 

Bolton Wanderers                                   Nottingham Forest

01- Bogdan.                                             01- Camp.

02- Mears(Yellow Card).                         03- Harding.

04- Mills.                                                  05- Collins.

12- Knight(Yellow Card).                         15- Halford.

18- Ricketts.                                             18- Moloney(Yellow Card).

07- Eagles.                                                04- Gillett.

08- Andrews.                                            07- Guedioura(Yellow Card- Hutchinson-81").

16- M.Davies.                                           10- McGuan(Greening-90").

27- Lee.                                                    11- Reid(Yellow Card).             

14- K.Davies(Yellow Card).                     19- Cox.

19- Sordell(Afobe-68")                             23- Blackstock.

Sordell fires home Bolton's second.

Both teams started lively-both creating plenty of chances. Nottingham Forest just had the edge. The first save of the night came from Adam Bogdan, 7 minutes into the game and a low shot from Lewis McGugan sprung Bogdan into action. However, just 8 minutes later it was McGugan again with a cracking shot from 20yards that sailed in, with Bogdan being well beaten- a brilliant goal which was a wake up call for the Wanderers. Bolton now were creating more chances, Sordell's header being deflected wide. Plus Eagles's and K.Davies's link up work, which should of resulted in a corner to The Trotters, however the Referee, Whitestone had other idea's. Still not quite sold on him, he and his linesman missed points during the game-resulting in both sets of fans aggravated at some stage of the game. The score-board leveled in the 39" when a header from Kevin Davies beaten the keeper, but was denied by the post, Eagles sharply followed up with a blast of a shot firing past the keeper. At this part of the game, Bolton were on top, winning most challenges and dominating in possession. We had one last chance to take the lead before half-time, a cross from Eagles's was met by the head of Sordell, a great opportunity but Camp tipped over the crossbar. The half-time score was 1-1, a much better end to the half than it was at the start. 

Andy Reid celebrates a Nottingham Forest equaliser. 

A dream start to the second half a Bolton fan could say, 48 minutes in and Forest defender Halford was put under great pressure by Skipper Kevin Davies, Halford made a meal of it, practically gifting the ball to Davies, he then layed onto Sordell who slammed the ball into the bottom right corner. Marvin's first Bolton Wanderers league goal- a brilliant goal which came from nothing. A second chance came to Sordell in the 51" minute, yet another superb cross by Eagles's which was again met by the head of Sordell, but this time it was scooped over the bar. Things stopped going Bolton's way in the 57" minute, when a long ball flew over our Midfield, leaving Matt Mills under severe pressure, Mills didn't react well to this- his direction from his header went wrong, which lead Reid in on goal. Reid's shot was pinged in from the post, another great goal from the away team. After this goal there was limited chances for Bolton to nick it, a chance came to M.Davies, his diving headed effort went just wide, and then a corner from Chung Yong-Lee met K.Davies who fired over the cross-bar. The end result was 2-2, a fair result definitely, both teams had chances to take the lead in the second half, but couldn't deliver when needed. 

MATCH STATS-

Possession- Bolton: 44% Nottingham Forest: 56%. 

Shots- Bolton: 15 Nottingham Forest: 13.

Shots on Target: Bolton: 7 Nottingham Forest: 6.

Corners: Bolton: 8 Nottingham Forest: 7.

Fouls: Bolton: 16 Nottingham Forest: 14. 

Bolton's next game is in the Capital One Cup, away to Crawley Town. Location: Broadfield Stadium. Date: 28th August. Kick Off: 19:45. Tickets are available on the Official Bolton Wanderers website. 

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