Home
Wanderers slipped to their first league defeat of the League One season after failing to make their pressure count at Cambridge.
After a shoddy start, Ian Evatt’s side fell behind to Shilow Tracey’s neat finish on 16 minutes.
They gradually found their way into the game and dominated the second half – striking the woodwork and seeing a big chance for Dapo Afolayan blocked by keeper Dimitar Mitov.
Wanderers looked out of sorts for most of the first half but did have a decent chance early on when Dapo Afolayan beat his man before driving wide.
Cambridge’s high-tempo approach knocked Bolton’s rhythm on the ball, and the home side had plenty of joy in the wider areas from James Brophy and Shilow Tracey.
Full-back George Williams forced Joel Dixon into a scrambling save, pushing the ball from under his own bar.
The same man turned creator moments later, rolling a pass to the penalty spot for Shilow Tracey to pass into the bottom corner.
Cambridge had already had one goal scrubbed out for offside and with Wanderers struggling to regain their composure another cross from Williams bobbled inches wide of the post in front of the travelling fans.
Slowly, Bolton started to stem the flow of attacks and ask some questions of their own.
They had plenty of possession but Cambridge were content to sit deep and try to hit on the break. Frustration was obvious from the likes of Antoni Sarcevic and Ricardo Santos, Things definitely improved after the break but the home side defended well, defended deep, and saw the result out.
Afolayan missed the biggest chance of the game after being put through on goal by Josh Sheehan, his low shot blocked by Mitov.
Williams curled a shot over the bar and Eoin Doyle had a header blocked close in on goal, which prompted appeals for handball from the Bolton striker.
Declan John and Afolayan combined for another big chance moments later as Josh Sheehan got his head to the ball, bouncing an effort off the base of the post.
Alex Baptiste also had a fierce volley blocked late on as Wanderers threw everything forward.
But it wasn’t to be for the Whites, who despite having 75 per cent possession on the day never looked convincing in the final third, particularly from wider positons.
Evatt's own frustration was summed up with a yellow card issued by referee Tom Neild after the final whistle.
Source