Championship
WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers1BoltonBolton Wanderers0

Wolves 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

Nouha Dicko
Nouha Dicko scored his third goal this season.

Striker Nouha Dicko's first-half header gave Wolves all three points against struggling Bolton Wanderers at Molineux.

The hosts went in front just before the interval when Dicko nodded his third of the season from Matt Doherty's cross.

Bolton were awarded a penalty in the second half when Danny Batth was judged to have brought down Jermaine Beckford.

But Carl Ikeme pulled off a double save, denying Owen Garvan's spot-kick before saving his follow-up effort.

Wolves, now unbeaten in six matches, recorded their first win against Bolton since 2009 and only their second in 14 encounters.

Bolton, meanwhile, have now lost all of their away matches this season.

Craig Davies went close to giving Bolton the lead early on, but was denied by an impressive Ikeme save.

Lee Evans then unleashed a fierce drive that flew just wide for Wolves, who were denied a penalty when Dicko went down under challenge from Dean Moxey in the box but the referee played on.

The deadlock was nearly broken on the half-hour mark, but both Evans' shot and Bakary Sako's rebound were cleared away by the Bolton defence.

But Wolves were rewarded before the break when Bolton keeper Andy Lonergan was unable to do anything about Dicko's well-placed header.

Bolton enjoyed a better spell at the beginning of the second half, with Jay Spearing's free-kick saved by Ikeme.

But Dougie Freedman's side struggled to carve out chances after Garvan's penalty miss and Wolves held out comfortably for the three points.

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett: "I thought in the first half we were very good.

"After that it was all Bolton and my keeper made two vital saves - one from the penalty spot and another when Liam Feeney was through on goal.

"But we are pleased with the result and also we know that you have to give the opposition some credit. It is not easy to win games in the Championship."

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman: "We felt we defended very well in the first half but the wind was taken out of our sails when Wolves scored.

"It demotivated us at half-time but I felt we regrouped and the game came down to two moments. They took their chance and we missed the penalty.

"It was a poor penalty. I liked his confidence to go up and take it but it was a disappointing penalty."

Line-ups

Wolves

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Ikeme
  • 5Stearman
  • 2Doherty
  • 6BatthBooked at 51mins
  • 3Golbourne
  • 7HenrySubstituted forRoweat 77'minutes
  • 14Evans
  • 10Sako
  • 11McDonald
  • 40DickoSubstituted forClarkeat 45'minutes
  • 4EdwardsSubstituted forSavilleat 66'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Saville
  • 9Clarke
  • 13McCarey
  • 15Rowe
  • 17van La Parra
  • 18Ricketts
  • 20McAlinden

Bolton

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 24Lonergan
  • 5Ream
  • 4Mills
  • 3Moxey
  • 14Dervite
  • 27Lee
  • 19GarvanSubstituted forDaviesat 64'minutesBooked at 70mins
  • 6Spearing
  • 7Feeney
  • 9MasonSubstituted forDannsat 70'minutes
  • 28DaviesSubstituted forBeckfordat 56'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2McNaughton
  • 10Beckford
  • 13Kenny
  • 16Davies
  • 18Danns
  • 21Pratley
  • 44Kamara
Referee:
Andy Madley
Attendance:
22,695

Match Stats

Home TeamWolvesAway TeamBolton
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home15
Away11
Shots on Target
Home6
Away5
Corners
Home9
Away7
Fouls
Home5
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Bolton Wanderers 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Bolton Wanderers 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Mark Davies (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  5. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Matt Mills (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dean Moxey.

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Tommy Rowe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lee Evans with a through ball.

  7. Post update

    Lee Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Dorian Dervite (Bolton Wanderers).

  9. Post update

    Foul by Leon Clarke (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  10. Post update

    Dean Moxey (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Attempt saved. Jermaine Beckford (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lee Chung-Yong.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Carl Ikeme.

  13. Post update

    Attempt saved. Liam Feeney (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jermaine Beckford with a through ball.

  14. Post update

    Offside, Bolton Wanderers. Mark Davies tries a through ball, but Jermaine Beckford is caught offside.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Lee Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tommy Rowe.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Scott Golbourne.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Tommy Rowe replaces James Henry.

  18. Post update

    James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton Wanderers).

  20. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.