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.
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.
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