Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Preston North End: Sam Dalby, Thierry Gale score as hosts seal first Championship win since March 2019
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday; goals from Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale seal first second-tier win for the hosts since March 2019
Saturday 15 August 2026 14:37, UK
Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale scored first-half goals as Bolton beat Preston 2-1 to record their first Sky Bet Championship win since March 2019.
Last season's League One play-off final winners have been predicted to struggle on their return to the second tier after seven years away.
But in front of a sellout 26,262 crowd at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, Steven Schumacher's side dominated the long-standing members of this division.
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The only nerves came four minutes from time when Jusef Erabi headed in fellow substitute Andrija Vukcevic's cross. Liam Lindsey should have headed a last-gasp equaliser but missed from close range.
That would have been harsh on Bolton. Dalby scored 14 times last season in all competition and he was soon off the mark as Wanderers set a hot pace.
John McAtee did not have the best of times in League One last season but he quickly embraced this step up in class.
However, Daniel Iversen should have dealt better with McAtee's left-footed shot. The goalkeeper's weak save only pushed the ball to Dalby, who side-footed home from 18 yards.
Eleven minutes later, Wanderers deservedly doubled their advantage.
McAtee's latest pass picked out Gale who cut in from the left before unleashing a curling right-footed shot beyond Iversen's despairing dive.
North End had won each of their last three away league games against Bolton but a fourth on the bounce never looked likely.
They looked to have gone three behind as Dalby headed in after 37 minutes. Instead, McAtee was adjudged to have fouled as he challenged for another assist.
A minute later, North End threatened to reduce their arrears as new boy Delano Burgzorg burst into the area. Chris Forino triumphantly celebrated the subsequent block.
Bolton though were dominating opponents playing in the Championship for a 12th successive season.
Just after the hour mark, Preston's 4,400 fans were in unison as manager Paul Heckingbottom introduced his most recent signings Leo Leroy, Odel Offiah and Erabi for Pol Valentin, Jordan Thompson and Callum Lang.
Leroy was immediately fouled by Josh Sheehan, previously cautioned for a cynical challenge on Alfie Devine, who received a final warning from referee Adam Herczeg.
Devine's pass then presented Milutin Osmajic with a shooting opportunity but Jack Bonham was equal to the Montenegrin's tame effort.
Dalby should have settled the contest after 73 minutes with only Iversen to beat. Instead, his left-footed effort was equally soft and the keeper saved.
Preston then wasted a fantastic chance to get back into the game four minutes later. Osmajic beat the offside trap but with only Bonham to beat squared the ball to Erabi who was quickly crowded out.
Erabi made amends but Lindsay's miss ensured Wanderers topped the fledgling Championship table.
