Bolton Wanderers secured a significant 3-1 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship on Saturday. Josh Sheehan’s spectacular long-range strike eight minutes from time sealed the three points and earned him the man of the match award.
Steven Schumacher’s side moved up to 14th in the table with 13 points from their opening ten games. The win, their third in the last five matches, ended Wolves' unbeaten home record since their relegation from the Premier League.
Team performance and tactics
Schumacher made five changes to his starting lineup, deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation. Lewis Brunt and Akin Famewo came into the back four, while Samuel Iling-Junior returned to the starting eleven. The tactical shift worked, with the team showing resilience after taking an early lead.
Atsuki Ito opened the scoring for Bolton in the 28th minute, netting his first goal for the club. Wolves equalised early in the second half through Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, assisted by Ladislav Krejčí. Bolton responded strongly, with Sam Dalby restoring the lead in the 72nd minute after being set up by Gaizka Larrazabal. That goal was Dalby’s fourth of the season, making him the team's top scorer.
The defining moment arrived with eight minutes remaining. Josh Sheehan collected the ball and unleashed a dipping shot from distance that flew past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sá. It was Sheehan's first goal at Championship level and capped a commanding individual performance.
Individual contributions
Player ratings reflected a strong collective effort. Sheehan received the highest mark of 9 for his influential display. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu earned an 8 for a key save that denied Wolves an equaliser, while defenders Eoin Toal and Lewis Brunt were both rated 8.5. Referee Tim Robinson was noted for allowing a physical contest, receiving an 8/10 rating himself.
Bolton had to withstand periods of pressure, particularly after going ahead, as they occasionally coughed up possession in their own half. They managed to quieten a partisan Molineux crowd, limiting the home fans to grumbles of frustration, especially over first-half offside decisions.
The result provides a major boost ahead of a tough away trip to face Southampton on 17 October. The victory also lifts Bolton's goal difference to minus three, having scored 15 and conceded 18 so far this campaign.
The original report is at not specified
Steven Schumacher hailed Bolton's 3-1 win at Wolves as one of the best nights of his tenure. The manager told the club's newsroom his side were "excellent" against a top opponent. Schumacher confirmed the victory, which came after a 1-2 home defeat to Stoke City, marked Bolton's first back-to-back away league wins since August 2018. He praised Josh Sheehan's long-range finish, noting it was similar to a goal he scored at Wigan last season.
