Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 3, Brentford 1.
Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Brentford
- From the section Football
Bolton made it two wins from three games under Neil Lennon as second-half goals saw off Brentford's late threat.
After an even first half, Neil Danns smashed a low 30-yard shot past goalkeeper David Button into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
Substitute Mark Davies doubled the lead, weaving his way past the defence before calmly finishing past Button.
Jon Toral pulled a goal back for the Bees but Craig Davies sealed the points on the break in injury-time.
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Bolton had won just one of their six home league games this season but began brightly, Jermaine Beckford threatening within the first minute.
Brentford responded immediately with Andy Lonergan saving from Jota and Alex Pritchard.
The home side's goalkeeper was certainly the busier in the first period, saving from Alan Judge's volley just before half-time.
| The Bees' league form |
|---|
| The defeat was only Brentford's second in their last six league games. |
After the break Bolton increased the tempo and Matt Mills headed wide from a corner before Danns tested Button with a drilled shot.
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Danns then forced the opening, shifting the ball onto his left foot before finding the bottom-left corner from outside the box.
Moments after coming on Mark Davies wriggled into the area and kept his head with a cool finish to make it 2-0.
Toral replied, finding the net from close range from Alan Judge's cross with his first touch.
With the away side pushing for an equaliser Button was sent up for a set-piece and Craig Davies scored from long range on the break to wrap up the points.
Bolton manager Neil Lennon: "I have to pay Mark [Warburton, Brentford manager] a compliment - he set his team out not to sit back but to counter-attack well, but for 30 minutes of the second half we were magnificent.
"Our quality of football, our will to win, our intensity to play and our pace was very, very pleasing. It's been a good day.
"I gave the crowd something to be happy about, for the weekend anyway. That's all I can ask really."
Brentford assistant manager David Weir: "We're pleased in some aspects but obviously disappointed we lost the game and ultimately that's the key thing.
"At 2-0 down the lads pushed on, got back into it and were brave in that respect; the substitutes helped and we looked dangerous.
"That's a positive for us that we didn't just accept it, we got back on the front foot. That's what we'll always try to promote."
Line-ups
Bolton
- 24Lonergan
- 2McNaughton
- 4Mills
- 14DerviteBooked at 45mins
- 5Ream
- 6SpearingBooked at 90mins
- 21PratleySubstituted forDaviesat 74'minutes
- 18DannsBooked at 48mins
- 27LeeBooked at 67mins
- 9MasonSubstituted forDaviesat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 10BeckfordBooked at 90minsSubstituted forVelaat 90+10'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Moxey
- 11Hall
- 12Clayton
- 13Kenny
- 16Davies
- 25Vela
- 28Davies
Brentford
- 27Button
- 12McCormackSubstituted forSmithat 70'minutes
- 6Dean
- 5Craig
- 3Bidwell
- 8Douglas
- 10Odubajo
- 21PritchardSubstituted forToralat 81'minutes
- 18Judge
- 23JotaSubstituted forDiagouragaat 64'minutes
- 19Gray
Substitutes
- 16Bonham
- 17Toral
- 20Diagouraga
- 24Smith
- 26Tarkowski
- 28Yennaris
- 39Proschwitz
- Referee:
- Mark Heywood
- Attendance:
- 14,811
Match Stats
Home TeamBoltonAway TeamBrentford
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away6
- Corners
- Home6
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away8
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 3, Brentford 1.
Attempt missed. Toumani Diagouraga (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Josh Vela replaces Jermaine Beckford.
Booking
Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers).
Jon-Miquel Toral (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Craig Davies (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!
Goal! Bolton Wanderers 3, Brentford 1. Craig Davies (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from more than 40 yards on the right wing to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andy Lonergan.
Attempt saved. Jonathan Douglas (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Moses Odubajo.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Jermaine Beckford.
Attempt missed. Jonathan Douglas (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jon-Miquel Toral with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Dorian Dervite.
Attempt blocked. Toumani Diagouraga (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andre Gray.
Booking
Jermaine Beckford (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Jermaine Beckford (Bolton Wanderers).
Jon-Miquel Toral (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Craig Davies (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jonathan Douglas (Brentford).
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Moses Odubajo.
Attempt blocked. Neil Danns (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mark Davies.
Foul by Craig Davies (Bolton Wanderers).
Moses Odubajo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Craig Davies replaces Joe Mason.
Offside, Bolton Wanderers. Dorian Dervite tries a through ball, but Jermaine Beckford is caught offside.
Foul by Joe Mason (Bolton Wanderers).
Tony Craig (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Joe Mason (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Goal! Bolton Wanderers 2, Brentford 1. Jon-Miquel Toral (Brentford) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Alan Judge with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Andre Gray (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jake Bidwell.
Foul by Mark Davies (Bolton Wanderers).
Harlee Dean (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Jon-Miquel Toral replaces Alex Pritchard.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Andy Lonergan.
Attempt saved. Jonathan Douglas (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Pritchard with a cross.
Foul by Jermaine Beckford (Bolton Wanderers).
Moses Odubajo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Bolton Wanderers 2, Brentford 0. Mark Davies (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.
Dorian Dervite (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andre Gray (Brentford).