Bolton Wanderers vs Preston

15 August 2026 · Championship · 2026/27 · Referee Adam Herczeg

Full time 2 – 1

Half-time: 2–0

  • Sam Dalby 14’
  • Thierry Gale 25’
  • Jusef Erabi 86’

Match summary

Bolton Wanderers saw off Preston 2-1. Bolton Wanderers led 2-0 at half-time.

Sam Dalby put Bolton Wanderers ahead in the 14th minute, Thierry Gale made it 2-0 in the 25th minute, and Jusef Erabi pulled one back to make it 2-1 with a header in the 86th minute.

There was little between the sides on chances: Bolton Wanderers created 1.11 expected goals (xG) from 15 shots, Preston 1.12 from 10.

Match stats

55% Possession 45%
15 Shots 10
6 Shots on target 3
5 Corners 2
94 Attacks 85
38 Dangerous attacks 36
402 Passes 330
77.4% Pass accuracy 70.6%
14 Tackles 16
12 Fouls 11
2 Yellow cards 3
3 Offsides 7

Key events

Bolton Wanderers Preston
Kick-off
13’
Ali McCannFoul
Sam DalbyLeft foot shot1-0 (Bolton Wanderers)
14’
John McAteeShot on target
14’
Corner
19’
Chris ForinoShot on target
20’
Thierry GaleRight foot shot2-0 (Bolton Wanderers)
25’
27’
Jordan ThompsonFoul
37’
Corner
42’
Pol ValentínFoul
Half-time2-0
Second half underway
Josh SheehanFoul
48’
59’
Callum LangShot on target
Corner
62’
63’
Leo LeroyJordan Thompson
64’
Odeluga OffiahPol Valentín
64’
Jusef ErabiCallum Lang
66’
Milutin OsmajićShot on target
Corner
67’
Josh SheehanShot on target
68’
Corner
73’
Corner
73’
Sam DalbyShot on target
74’
Samuel Iling JuniorGaizka Larrazabal
75’
Ryan HardieJohn McAtee
75’
78’
Corner
79’
Thierry SmallDelano Burgzorg
79’
Andrija VukčevićAndrew Hughes
Eoin ToalMax Conway
82’
Lewis BruntLuca Stephenson
85’
Kyliane DongThierry Gale
85’
86’
Jusef ErabiHeader2-1 (Preston)
Chris ForinoFoul
88’
Full-time2-1

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 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 1.11 1.12 14’ Sam Dalby (Bolton Wanderers), 1-0 14’ 25’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), 2-0 25’ 86’ Jusef Erabi (Preston), 2-1 86’ 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 1.11 1.12 14’ Sam Dalby (Bolton Wanderers), 1-0 Dalby 14’ 25’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), 2-0 Gale 25’ 86’ Jusef Erabi (Preston), 2-1 Erabi 86’
Bolton Wanderers 1.11 xGPreston 1.12 xG Goal

Tap a goal for the scorer and score.

Shot map

Every shot and where it was taken from.

 Preston attacking Bolton Wanderers attacking 
90+4’ Liam Lindsay (Preston), open play, 0.39 xG, off target 74’ Sam Dalby (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.30 xG, saved 14’ Sam Dalby (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.23 xG, goal 89’ Liam Lindsay (Preston), set piece, 0.12 xG, off target 90+4’ Jusef Erabi (Preston), open play, 0.12 xG, off target 86’ Jusef Erabi (Preston), open play, 0.12 xG, goal 60’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.10 xG, off target 25’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.10 xG, goal 68’ Luca Stephenson (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 0.10 xG, off target 37’ Delano Burgzorg (Preston), open play, 0.08 xG, blocked 66’ Milutin Osmajić (Preston), open play, 0.09 xG, saved 59’ Callum Lang (Preston), open play, 0.07 xG, saved 20’ Chris Forino (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 0.06 xG, saved 51’ Alfie Devine (Preston), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 50’ Alfie Devine (Preston), direct free kick, 0.05 xG, blocked 20’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 0.03 xG, off target 39’ John McAtee (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 50’ John McAtee (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 54’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 38’ Andrew Hughes (Preston), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 18’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, off target 56’ Gaizka Larrazabal (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, off target 68’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 14’ John McAtee (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 20’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 0.02 xG, off target 90+4’ Liam Lindsay (Preston), open play, 0.39 xG, off target 74’ Sam Dalby (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.30 xG, saved 14’ Sam Dalby (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.23 xG, goal 89’ Liam Lindsay (Preston), set piece, 0.12 xG, off target 90+4’ Jusef Erabi (Preston), open play, 0.12 xG, off target 86’ Jusef Erabi (Preston), open play, 0.12 xG, goal 60’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.10 xG, off target 25’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.10 xG, goal 68’ Luca Stephenson (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 0.10 xG, off target 66’ Milutin Osmajić (Preston), open play, 0.09 xG, saved 37’ Delano Burgzorg (Preston), open play, 0.08 xG, blocked 59’ Callum Lang (Preston), open play, 0.07 xG, saved 20’ Chris Forino (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 0.06 xG, saved 51’ Alfie Devine (Preston), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 50’ Alfie Devine (Preston), direct free kick, 0.05 xG, blocked 20’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 0.03 xG, off target 39’ John McAtee (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 50’ John McAtee (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 54’ Thierry Gale (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.03 xG, off target 38’ Andrew Hughes (Preston), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 56’ Gaizka Larrazabal (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, off target 18’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, off target 68’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 14’ John McAtee (Bolton Wanderers), open play, 0.02 xG, saved 20’ Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), from a corner, 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
Bonham
Famewo
Conway 82’
Forino
Erhahon
Sheehan
Stephenson 85’
Gale 85’
McAtee 75’
Larrazabal 75’
Dalby
Preston 4-2-3-1 Starting XI
Iversen
Storey
Lindsay
Hughes 79’
Valentín 64’
McCann
Thompson 63’
Burgzorg 79’
Devine
Lang 64’
Osmajić

Player stats

Goalkeeper1 player
Jack Bonham
90′ 2 1 43 – – – – –
Defenders5 players
Chris Forino
90′ 4 3 1 8 3 38 1 – –
Akin Famewo
90′ 1 3 – 4 3 42 1 – – –
Max Conway Taken off
82′ 1 1 1 5 2 44 – – – –
Eoin Toal Came on as a substitute
8′ – – – – – 2 – – – –
Lewis Brunt Came on as a substitute
10′ – – – 1 1 4 – – – –
Midfielders6 players
Luca Stephenson Taken off
85′ – – 32 1 – – 2 2 – – –
Josh Sheehan
90′ – – 59 2 – 2 1 4 3 2
Ethan Erhahon
90′ – – 47 1 – 1 1 2 – 1 –
Gaizka Larrazabal Taken off
75′ – – 23 1 – 1 1 2 2 – –
Thierry Gale Taken off
85′ 1 – 23 2 – 1 – 7 – 2 –
Samuel Iling Junior Came on as a substitute
15′ – – 8 – – – – – – – –
Forwards4 players
John McAtee Taken off
75′ – 1 3 1 0.07 – 1 3 2 17 –
Sam Dalby
90′ 1 – 2 2 0.53 – 1 8 2 18 –
Ryan Hardie Came on as a substitute
15′ – – – – – – – 1 – 3 –
Kyliane Dong Came on as a substitute
10′ – – – – – – – – – 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 40% Avg odds 2.34
Draw 29% Avg odds 3.29
Preston win 31% Avg odds 3.02

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

Form going into the game

Preston WLLWL

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

Previous and next meeting

Next meeting: Preston vs Bolton Wanderers, 06 Mar 27 (upcoming)  All Bolton Wanderers vs Preston 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.