Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale scored first-half goals as Bolton beat Preston 2-1 to record their first Championship win since March 2019. Last season’s League One playoff 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 longstanding members of this division.
The only nerves came four minutes from time when Jusef Erabi headed in fellow substitute Andrija Vukcevic’s cross to halve the deficit. Liam Lindsay should have headed a last-gasp equaliser for Preston but missed from close range. That would have been harsh on Bolton.
Dalby scored 14 times last season in all competitions and was soon off the mark as Wanderers started brightly. John McAtee did not have the best of times in League One last season but he quickly embraced this step up in class. Daniel Iversen should have dealt better with McAtee’s left-footed shot and 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 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. Bolton were dominating opponents playing in the Championship for a 12th successive season but just after the hour, Preston’s 4,400 fans were in unison as manager Paul Heckingbottom introduced his most recent signings Léo Leroy, Odel Offiah and Erabi for Pol Valentín, Jordan Thompson and Callum Lang. Still, Dalby should have settled the contest after 73 minutes with only Iversen to beat.
Instead, his left-footed effort was soft and the keeper saved. Erabi made him regret that miss with his strike but Lindsay’s miss ensured Wanderers started life in the Championship with a win. There are six 3pm BST kick-offs, including Lincoln’s return to the second tier after 65 years away, with their first game a trip to Middlesbrough, the losing playoff finalists.
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