Substitute Thierry Gale headed a Ninetieth-minute winner as Bolton ended a run of 4 successive Championship defeats with a 1-0 victory over final season’s League One rivals Cardiff.
The Barbadian worldwide stole in on the far put up to transform a left-wing centre from fellow substitute Theo Bair to offer Steven Schumacher’s facet their first three factors because the opening recreation of the marketing campaign.
Cardiff, together with Burnley the one Championship facet with no win, will marvel how their failed to gather a minimum of some extent.
And however for Bolton keeper Gazin Bazunu the Bluebirds would definitely have shared the spoils.
Signed from Southampton final month, he made a staggering 10 saves as Wanderers climbed out of the relegation zone.
Bazunu twice denied Bluebirds’ striker Yousef Salech; tipping over a first-half header after which denying the massive goal man one other header.
And with Brian Barry-Murphy’s facet pouring ahead in stoppage time, the one-time Manchester Metropolis prospect took his save tally into double figures by foiling Callum Robinson.
In distinction, reverse quantity Nathan Trott was hardly ever troubled because the Welsh guests suffered a 3rd defeat since promotion.
Salech examined Bazunu after solely six minutes earlier than the Irish worldwide saved Chris Willock’s deflected effort.
Bazunu’s subsequent spotlight got here after 9 minutes as Ollie Tanner headed into Salech’s path and the following header was tipped over the bar.
It took Bolton 28 minutes to trend a primary likelihood with Trott lower than comfy coping with Ruben Rodrigues’ 20-yard effort.
4 minutes later, Wanderers claimed a penalty when Kyliane Dong latched onto Rodrigues’ go and went down below problem from Trott. Referee Tom Parsons booked the winger for simulation, a choice confirmed by subsequent replays.
Workforce mates Ben Davies and Samuel Iling-Junior have been additionally cautioned in a disjointed first half together with Cardiff’s Joel Colwill.
Iling-Junior and Sam Dalby have been changed at half-time by match winners Gale and Bair – the latter making his house debut.
Cardiff although nonetheless seemed the probably to make a breakthrough. However they too pushed the boundaries and Perry Ng was booked for diving within the space below Gale’s problem.
Bazunu conjured up a shocking save to maintain out Salech’s newest try after the striker met Willock’s left-wing supply.
His subsequent cease from Jack Moylan’s facet foot after 73 minutes was much more routine.
The competition seemed to be heading for stalemate till Gale netted his second purpose of the season and Bazunu protected his clear sheet.
The managers
Bolton’s Steven Schumacher:
To comply with…
Cardiff’s Brian Barry-Murphy:
To comply with…