Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.
BoltonBolton Wanderers1BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion0
Zach Clough scored his sixth goal in nine matches as Bolton ended a three-match losing run with victory over Brighton.
Clough, 19, slotted home from 12 yards after Josh Vela's through ball as Bolton scored on the counter-attack.
Bolton were indebted to keeper Ben Amos - on loan from Manchester United - for a series of saves.
The win lifted Bolton to 17th and above Brighton, who suffered their first defeat in five matches.
Chris Hughton's visitors started confidently and should have taken the lead in the first five minutes. Sam Baldock escaped his markers at the far post but his close range effort was superbly turned aside by Amos.
After the break, Amos saved to deny Craig Mackail-Smith, getting the ball and team-mate Liam Feeney at the same time.
Feeney needed treatment before being able to briefly continue and the stoppage appeared to upset the visitors' concentration as Wanderers broke and snatched the winning goal.
Vela, moved into midfield from full-back at half-time, threaded the ball through and Clough finished.
Brighton threw plenty of men forward in the final 20 minutes and Bolton had to defend well, but Neil Lennon's side held on to their narrow lead.
Bolton manager Neil Lennon:
"[Losing] is something I have not been used to so it's a test of character as a manager to see what you have got.
"So, I am glad we won. I wasn't overly enamoured with the performance but the result was the most important thing.
"You could tell we were edgy because of the run we have been on but second half we were a lot better and I thought we deserved to win the game.
"It was a great finish, from Zach. He is probably not had a look where the keeper was. But it is instinctive; it is natural and it is something you cannot coach."
Brighton manager Chris Hughton:
"I don't feel it is a game we deserved to lose. But we probably had to do more to go and win it.
"The clear-cut chances were minimal for both sides. We had a period where I didn't think we were going to concede and it was going to be the team that showed a bit of quality would turn the game in their favour.
"And it was one real bit of quality that changed the game. It is disappointing because we didn't reach the heights, especially in front of goal, we have in the last couple of games.
"I certainly don't think Bolton were any better than us but they got the break when it counted."
Line-ups
Bolton
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 13Amos
- 25Vela
- 31Wheater
- 4Mills
- 5Ream
- 7FeeneySubstituted forMcNaughtonat 65'minutes
- 18DannsSubstituted forMoxeyat 88'minutes
- 40Clough
- 29Bannan
- 19HeskeyBooked at 45minsSubstituted forGudjohnsenat 79'minutes
- 9Le Fondre
Substitutes
- 2McNaughton
- 3Moxey
- 14Dervite
- 22Gudjohnsen
- 34Fitzsimons
- 47Janko
- 52Walker
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Stockdale
- 2BrunoSubstituted forStephensat 60'minutes
- 3GreerBooked at 74mins
- 5Dunk
- 30Bennett
- 24Ince
- 28KayalSubstituted forO'Gradyat 82'minutes
- 14Calderon
- 17Vilaca TeixeiraBooked at 45mins
- 9Baldock
- 12Mackail-SmithSubstituted forLua Luaat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Hughes
- 6Stephens
- 11O'Grady
- 19Best
- 25Lua Lua
- 31Walton
- 32Ledesma
- Referee:
- Dean Whitestone
- Attendance:
- 14,115
Match Stats
Home TeamBoltonAway TeamBrighton
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Barry Bannan (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Bolton Wanderers. Conceded by Gordon Greer.
Substitution
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Dean Moxey replaces Neil Danns.
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Barry Bannan.
Post update
Sam Baldock (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Neil Danns (Bolton Wanderers).
Post update
Attempt missed. Rohan Ince (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kazenga Lua Lua (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Kazenga Lua Lua (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Íñigo Calderón.
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Foul by Chris O'Grady (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Matt Mills (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Chris O'Grady replaces Beram Kayal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Zach Clough (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
Post update
Attempt blocked. João Teixeira (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Bennett with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Le Fondre (Bolton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Barry Bannan with a through ball.
Substitution
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Eidur Gudjohnsen replaces Emile Heskey.
Post update
Kazenga Lua Lua (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Josh Vela (Bolton Wanderers).
