Bolton Wanderers vs Cardiff

12 September 2026 · Championship · 2026/27 · Referee Thomas Parsons

Full time 1 – 0

Half-time: 0–0

  • Thierry Gale 90’

Match summary

Bolton Wanderers beat Cardiff 1-0, with a late winner. It was goalless at half-time.

Thierry Gale put Bolton Wanderers ahead with a header in the 90th minute.

Cardiff can feel hard done by, creating 1.82 expected goals (xG) from 17 shots to Bolton Wanderers's 0.42 from 7.

Match stats

41% Possession 59%
7 Shots 17
5 Shots on target 10
2 Corners 10
83 Attacks 115
39 Dangerous attacks 67
337 Passes 480
73.3% Pass accuracy 82.9%
29 Tackles 13
16 Fouls 13
5 Yellow cards 2
3 Offsides 7

Key events

Bolton Wanderers Cardiff
Kick-off
6’
Yousef SalechShot on target
6’
Corner
8’
Chris WillockShot on target
12’
Yousef SalechShot on target
12’
Corner
13’
Krystian BielikShot on target
13’
Corner
15’
Corner
20’
Alex RobertsonShot on target
Samuel Iling JuniorShot on target
25’
Rúben RodriguesShot on target
28’
Corner
28’
Samuel Iling JuniorShot on target
30’
Ben DaviesFoul
31’
Kyliane DongSimulation
32’
Corner
35’
Samuel Iling JuniorFoul
37’
42’
Joel ColwillFoul
Half-time0-0
Thierry GaleSamuel Iling Junior
46’
Theo BairSam Dalby
46’
Second half underway
51’
Corner
54’
Perry NgSimulation
59’
David TurnbullJoel Colwill
Atsuki ItoRúben Rodrigues
64’
66’
Ollie TannerShot on target
66’
Yousef SalechShot on target
66’
Corner
67’
Corner
Josh SheehanShot on target
71’
73’
Jack MoylanShot on target
74’
Cian AshfordChris Willock
Jayden NelsonKyliane Dong
75’
75’
Callum RobinsonYousef Salech
Jayden NelsonFoul
78’
80’
Cian AshfordShot on target
80’
Corner
81’
Corner
Ryan HardieEthan Erhahon
83’
Thierry GaleHeader1-0 (Bolton Wanderers)
90’
Thierry Gale
90+1’
90+2’
Ronan KpakioAlex Robertson
90+2’
Calum ScanlonJoel Bagan
90+4’
Callum RobinsonShot on target
90+4’
Corner
Full-time1-0

How the chances added up

Running total of expected goals (xG) for each side through the match. xG rates each chance by how often similar shots are scored. A goal is marked where it was scored.

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 0.42 1.82 90’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), 1-0 90’ 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 0.42 1.82 90’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), 1-0 Gale 90’
Bolton Wanderers 0.42 xGCardiff 1.82 xG Goal

Tap a goal for the scorer and score.

Shot map

Every shot and where it was taken from.

 Cardiff attacking Bolton Wanderers attacking 
13’ Krystian Bielik (Cardiff), from a corner, 0.29 xG, saved 66’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), open play, 0.25 xG, saved 73’ Jack Moylan (Cardiff), open play, 0.22 xG, saved 8’ Chris Willock (Cardiff), open play, 0.14 xG, saved 12’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), open play, 0.14 xG, saved 13’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), from a corner, 0.13 xG, blocked 87’ Max Conway (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.12 xG, off target 90+4’ Callum Robinson (Cardiff), open play, 0.13 xG, saved 6’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), open play, 0.11 xG, saved 12’ Joel Colwill (Cardiff), open play, 0.08 xG, blocked 25’ Samuel Iling Junior (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.07 xG, saved 12’ Joel Colwill (Cardiff), open play, 0.07 xG, blocked 20’ Kyliane Dong (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.06 xG, blocked 66’ Ollie Tanner (Cardiff), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 80’ Cian Ashford (Cardiff), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 90’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.05 xG, goal 30’ Samuel Iling Junior (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 53’ Chris Willock (Cardiff), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 71’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), direct free kick, 0.04 xG, saved 90+3’ Ollie Tanner (Cardiff), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 82’ Ollie Tanner (Cardiff), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 28’ Rúben Rodrigues (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, saved 20’ Alex Robertson (Cardiff), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 38’ Chris Willock (Cardiff), open play, 0.02 xG, off target 13’ Krystian Bielik (Cardiff), from a corner, 0.29 xG, saved 66’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), open play, 0.25 xG, saved 73’ Jack Moylan (Cardiff), open play, 0.22 xG, saved 8’ Chris Willock (Cardiff), open play, 0.14 xG, saved 12’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), open play, 0.14 xG, saved 13’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), from a corner, 0.13 xG, blocked 90+4’ Callum Robinson (Cardiff), open play, 0.13 xG, saved 87’ Max Conway (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.12 xG, off target 6’ Yousef Salech (Cardiff), open play, 0.11 xG, saved 12’ Joel Colwill (Cardiff), open play, 0.08 xG, blocked 25’ Samuel Iling Junior (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.07 xG, saved 12’ Joel Colwill (Cardiff), open play, 0.07 xG, blocked 20’ Kyliane Dong (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.06 xG, blocked 66’ Ollie Tanner (Cardiff), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 80’ Cian Ashford (Cardiff), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 90’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.05 xG, goal 30’ Samuel Iling Junior (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.05 xG, saved 53’ Chris Willock (Cardiff), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 71’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), direct free kick, 0.04 xG, saved 90+3’ Ollie Tanner (Cardiff), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 82’ Ollie Tanner (Cardiff), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 28’ Rúben Rodrigues (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, saved 20’ Alex Robertson (Cardiff), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 38’ Chris Willock (Cardiff), open play, 0.02 xG, off target
Size shows xG Goal On target Off target or blocked

Hover or tap a shot for the player, minute and xG.

Lineups

Bolton Wanderers 4-2-3-1 Starting XI
Bazunu
Conway
Toal
Davies
Erhahon 83’
Sheehan
Larrazabal
Junior 46’
Rodrigues 64’
Dong 75’
Dalby 46’
Cardiff 4-2-3-1 Starting XI
Trott
Bagan 90’
Bielik
Osho
Ng
Robertson 90’
Colwill 59’
Willock 74’
Moylan
Tanner
Salech 75’

Player stats

Goalkeeper1 player
Gavin Bazunu
90′ 10 0 41 – – – – –
Defenders3 players
Eoin Toal
90′ 2 – 1 2 – 43 1 – – –
Ben Davies
90′ 1 2 – 3 1 26 1 – –
Max Conway
90′ 9 1 2 15 – 34 1 – – –
Midfielders8 players
Gaizka Larrazabal
90′ – – 24 1 – 3 – 5 – 1 –
Josh Sheehan
90′ – – 40 – – – 4 4 2 4 –
Ethan Erhahon Taken off
83′ – – 36 – – 4 3 4 1 – –
Samuel Iling Junior Taken off
45′ – – 18 – – – – – 2 –
Rúben Rodrigues Taken off
64′ – – 20 3 – – – 3 1 2 –
Kyliane Dong Taken off
75′ – – 16 – – 1 – 3 2 1
Thierry Gale Came on as a substitute
45′ 1 – 12 – – 2 – 3 – –
Atsuki Ito Came on as a substitute
26′ – – 4 – – 2 – 2 1 – –
Forwards4 players
Sam Dalby Taken off
45′ – – – – – – – 6 – 12 –
Theo Bair Came on as a substitute
45′ – 1 – – – – 1 2 – 4 –
Jayden Nelson Came on as a substitute
15′ – – – – – – – 1 – 6
Ryan Hardie Came on as a substitute
12′ – – – – – – – – – 2 –
Came on Taken off Sent off Red is the most in that position for the team

Every player who took the pitch, starters first and then substitutes. A dash means none. xG and xA are expected goals and assists.

Before kick-off

Bolton Wanderers win 35% Avg odds 2.68
Draw 25% Avg odds 3.73
Cardiff win 40% Avg odds 2.36

Chances implied by the average closing odds, with the bookmaker margin removed.

Form going into the game

Bolton Wanderers DLLLL
Cardiff DDLLD

Last five league games before this one, oldest first. Select one to open it.

Previous and next meeting

Next meeting: Cardiff vs Bolton Wanderers, 14 Feb 27 (upcoming)  All Bolton Wanderers vs Cardiff meetings

Shots, expected goals, timeline, lineups, team and player statistics from Bzzoiro Sports Data (sports.bzzoiro.com). Results and odds from football-data.co.uk.