Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 3, Brentford 1.
BoltonBolton Wanderers3BrentfordBrentford1
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.
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.
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
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 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
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 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
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 3, Brentford 1.
Post update
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.
Post update
Foul by Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers).
Post update
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.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jonathan Douglas (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Moses Odubajo.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Jermaine Beckford.
Post update
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.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Dorian Dervite.
Post update
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.
Post update
Foul by Jermaine Beckford (Bolton Wanderers).
Post update
Jon-Miquel Toral (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Craig Davies (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Douglas (Brentford).
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Moses Odubajo.
