Bolton 2-1 Preston
Updated
Bolton won: Bolton 2-1 Preston in the Championship (Round 1) on Sat, 15 Aug 2026 at Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton. Bolton goals: Sam Dalby 14', Thierry Gale 25'. Preston goals: Jusef Erabi 86'. Expected goals: 1.10-1.12. Possession: 55-45. Player of the match: Thierry Gale (8.3).
Match report
Bolton beat Preston 2-1
Bolton squeezed past Preston 2-1 at Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday 15 August in the Championship.
Sam Dalby put Bolton ahead on 14' (1-0), Thierry Gale made it 2-0 on 25' and Jusef Erabi pulled one back for Preston on 86' (2-1).
Bolton had 55% of the ball, shots were 15-10 (6-3 on target) and expected goals finished 1.10-1.12.
Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers) was player of the match with an 8.3 rating.
Attendance: 26,262. Referee: Adam Herczeg.
Match stats
| Bolton | Preston | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 55 | 45 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.10 | 1.12 |
| Total shots | 15 | 10 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 3 |
| Touches in opposition box | 14 | 24 |
| Big chances | 2 | 4 |
| Big chances missed | 1 | 3 |
| Accurate passes | 311 (77%) | 233 (71%) |
| Yellow cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corners | 5 | 2 |
| Total shots | 15 | 10 |
| Shots off target | 9 | 4 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 3 |
| Blocked shots | 0 | 3 |
| Hit woodwork | 0 | 0 |
| Shots inside box | 7 | 9 |
Lineups
Bolton (4-2-3-1): Jack Bonham, Luca Stephenson, Chris Forino-Joseph, Akin Famewo, Max Conway, Josh Sheehan, Ethan Erhahon, Gaizka Larrazabal, John McAtee, Thierry Gale, Sam Dalby
Preston (4-2-3-1): Daniel Iversen, Pol Valentín, Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Andrew Hughes, Alistair McCann, Jordan Thompson, Alfie Devine, Callum Lang, Delano Burgzorg, Milutin Osmajić
Key events
- 13' · Yellow card · Alistair McCann (Preston)
- 14' · Goal · Sam Dalby (Bolton)
- 25' · Goal · Thierry Gale (Bolton)
- 27' · Yellow card · Jordan Thompson (Preston)
- 42' · Yellow card · Pol Valentín (Preston)
- 48' · Yellow card · Josh Sheehan (Bolton)
- 63' · Substitution · Léo Leroy for Jordan Thompson (Preston)
- 64' · Substitution · Jusef Erabi for Callum Lang (Preston)
- 64' · Substitution · Odel Offiah for Pol Valentín (Preston)
- 75' · Substitution · Ryan Hardie for John McAtee (Bolton)
- 75' · Substitution · Samuel Iling-Junior for Gaizka Larrazabal (Bolton)
- 79' · Substitution · Andrija Vukčević for Andrew Hughes (Preston)
- 79' · Substitution · Thierry Small for Delano Burgzorg (Preston)
- 82' · Substitution · Eoin Toal for Max Conway (Bolton)
- 85' · Substitution · Kyliane Dong for Thierry Gale (Bolton)
- 85' · Substitution · Lewis Brunt for Luca Stephenson (Bolton)
- 86' · Goal · Jusef Erabi (Preston)
- 88' · Yellow card · Chris Forino-Joseph (Bolton)
All-time head-to-head
9 league meetings since 2000: Bolton 3, draws 3, Preston 3.
Questions
Who won Bolton vs Preston?
Bolton won, 2-1 (Championship) on Sat, 15 Aug 2026.
When and where is Bolton vs Preston?
Sat, 15 Aug 2026, 11:30 UTC at Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton, Championship.
What is the head-to-head record between Bolton and Preston?
In 9 league meetings since 2000: Bolton 3 wins, 3 draws, Preston 3 wins (goals 11-10).