Half-Time Report: Britt Assombalonga double pegs back Bolton Wanderers

Britt Assombalonga bagged a brace as Nottingham Forest held Bolton Wanderers to a 2-2 half-time draw in a pulsating opening 45 minutes at the Reebok Stadium.

The Trotters suffered a 3-0 defeat to Watford in last week's curtain-raiser, but Dougie Freedman's side carried no ill effects from that loss into today's clash and took an early lead.

Cardiff City loanee Joe Mason bagged Bolton's first Championship goal of the campaign, heading Jay Spearing's free kick beyond goalkeeper Karl Darlow after only four minutes.

Forest responded well to falling behind and would have levelled matters if not for Adam Bogdan, who produced a point-blank save to deny Matty Fryatt his first goal for the club on 16 minutes.

Stuart Pearce's troops continued to press for an equaliser and were rewarded for their patience on 27 minutes.

Assombalonga, a summer signing from Peterborough United, marked his second game for the Reds by levelling up the encounter, firing home from close range.

The visitors had barely finished celebrating when Bolton regained the lead as David Wheater capitalised on some sloppy defending and appeared at the near post to poke the hosts ahead.

The pendulum swung the way of Pearce's side once more, as Assombalonga netted his second from the penalty spot to ensure Forest half-time parity, after being fouled by Spearing in the area.