Walsall arrived at the match in search of three much-needed points as their latest spell of poor form has seen them win just one of their last fifteen league games, putting them among the worst performing sides in the country.
The Saddlers looked much-improved over the first-half of the opening forty-five and made the most of at least one opportunity as midfielder Sam Perry grabbed his first senior goal with a superb left-footed strike which gave the 'keeper no chance.
Sadly for the Saddlers they were unable to keep hold of their lead as Kieran Lee was alert to head the ball home after Liam Roberts had made an initial save as the cross had taken a deflection off one of his own defenders.
The pain wouldn't end there however, as six-minutes after Hayden White had seen red for violent conduct the Trotters were awarded a penalty for a Mat Sadler foul on Lee giving Eoin Doyle the chance to put his side into the lead, which he duly did.
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO
|
BOLTON
|
2-1
|
WALSALL
|
Lee (67') Doyle [P], (80')
|
Perry (28') |
69
|
POSS. (%)
|
31
|
14
|
SHOTS
|
7
|
4
|
AT GOAL
|
2
|
7
|
CORNERS
|
3
|
17
|
FOULS
|
14
|
1
|
BOOKED
|
2
|
0
|
SENT OFF
|
1
|
VENUE
|
UoB Stadium-
|
REFEREE
|
Seb Stockbridge
|
BOLTON WANDERERS
Gilks; Jones, Almeida Santos, Baptiste, John 🟨; MJ.Williams, Lee; Isgrove (Elbouzedi, 85'), Delfouneso (Thomason, 90+3'), Afolayan (Gnahoua, 84'); Doyle (Miller, 90+1')
Unused: Maddison, Tutte, Brockbank
WALSALL
Roberts; White 🟥, Clarke 🟨, Sadler (Bates, 88'), Melbourne; Norman 🟨, Kinsella, Perry, Osadebe (McDonald, 88'); Gordon (Cockerill-Mollett, 77'), Lavery (Osei Yaw, 88')
Unused: Rose; Sinclair, Wright