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Live Commentary: Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Nottingham Forest - as it happend

Sports Mole's live coverage of the Championship clash between Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship clash between Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest at the Reebok Stadium.

Both sides have a win apiece from their two Championship games so far. Bolton lost their opener 2-0 to manager Owen Coyle's old side Burnley, before inflicting the same scoreline on Derby County on Tuesday night.

Forest opened their campaign with a 1-0 win at home to Bristol City, before pegged back to 1-1 late on at Huddersfield after Simon Cox had given them the lead.

As expected, David N'Gog misses out for Bolton, which means Marvin Sordell keeps his place alongside captain Kevin Davies in attack.

For Forest, Daniel Ayala again misses out with his hip injury, while up front Sean O'Driscoll is sticking with the Dexter Blackstock and Cox partnership he expects so much from.


9:41pmThat's all from me, thanks for joining and I hope you enjoyed the action. Our report is here if you want a reminder of the action. Good night.

9:39pmIt means Bolton remain behind Forest on four points and five points respectively. Not like the table matters at the moment, mind...

9:38pmStrangely some boos ring out at the whistle, but really it was a thoroughly entertaining game.

94 minsFull-time! Bolton 2-2 Forest

93 minsBolton pump it into the box, but it's unlikely to happen for them now...

91 minsJonathan Greening is coming on for Forest, possibly to run the clock down. He will replace McGugan who has faded this half.

90 minsThree minutes to be added on. Will we see a winner?

90 minsBoth sides are running out of ideas and this looks to be heading for a 2-2 draw. Let's hope I've now cursed it and we see a goal. Reid tries, but his strike goes well over.

88 minsThe free-kick leads to a corner, which in turn leads to a Bolton break, but Eagles has no options in front of him allowing Forest to regroup.

87 minsKnight undoes his early good work by lulling on the ball and then making a rash late tackle to go in the book. Reid to take...

86 minsAs we enter the closing stages the game is slowing down somewhat. Are both sides happy with a draw? Or has the pace of the game just taken it out of them? Saying that, Simon Gillett fizzes across a dangerous ball that Cox just cannot reach.

83 minsO'Driscoll could have brought on an attacking player to go for the win, however he would probably take the draw now with Bolton continuing to push forward.

82 minsGuedioura does get subbed off for Sam Hutchinson - a wise move from O'Driscoll.

81 minsForest break from the free-kick, with Cox put through on goal but Knight makes a fantastic recovering tackle to concede a corner. From the corner Mills gets a glance on the ball to put off Cox at the far post. Forest not out of this!

79 minsGuedioura is on thin ice here as he concedes another free-kick, but that looks like the final warning from the referee.

78 minsBolton have just one more shot on target - eight to Forest's seven, but they are leading the corner count 8-4, which reflects that they have been mainly on top after the first 30-or-so minutes.

76 minsThere's little in this stats-wise as Mears becomes the latest to go into the book; the referee remaining consistent with his carding.

75 minsThe corner count is racking up for Bolton, the latest falling to Davies completely open in the box, but his shot goes way over from a great position. Good chance for 3-2 that!

73 minsKnight nods a header towards goal from a corner and Davies tries to get a touch at the near post. However he cannot get enough on it and Camp saves. Bolton are looking most likely to nick this.

71 minsA bit of possession from Forest after quite some time, ends with the right-back Moloney shooting from distance on his left foot. Never threatening the goal that one.

68 minsAnd here it is in fact. Sordell, the scorer of Bolton's second comes off for Afobe, the on-loan Arsenal forward. Can he pick up where he left off last time for Bolton?

67 minsThis could come down to which manager makes best use of his bench. No substitutes as yet but it won't be long.

66 minsHarding is just about holding firm against the threat of Lee down the Bolton right, but you get the impression it could be just a matter of time before the winger gets behind his man.

64 minsPotential for that to be a red card, but it looks to be poor timing rather than anything particularly dangerous.

64 minsTurning a little scrappy as both sides are going direct for the potential winner, with both defences clearing their lines desperately. Guedioura goes in late on Ricketts and earns himself a booking.

61 minsLee pokes an effort at goal from another corner before Bogdan has to be alert from an immediate break at the other end. End to end stuff this now. Either side could nick it or it could end 5-5!

59 minsBolton cannot capitalise on a scramble in the Forest box before Mark Davies puts a diving header a couple of yards wide. Good chance.

58 minsJust as I was saying Cox has done little.. he lays off a glorious ball on to Reid's left foot, who buries it superbly. Game on!

57 minsGOAL! BOLTON 2-2 FOREST! Andy Reid!

56 minsDavies and Eagles continue to threaten for the home side as Ricketts wins another corner. Which Camp spills! No Bolton player can bury the loose ball, however, and Forest escape.

54 minsThe front two of Bolton are certainly looking more dangerous now than their Forest counterparts. O'Driscoll raved about Cox and Blackstock as a partnership but really we've seen little from either tonight.

52 minsSordell wastes a chance for 3-1 as he blazes a cut back well over the bar.

51 minsIt's Sordell's first goal for Bolton and he appears to be justifying Coyle's faith in persevering with him.

50 minsReally poor defending from Halford as he's robbed in his own box by Davies. The captain squares it for Sordell who just about turns it in via the post.

49 minsGOAL! BOLTON 2-1 FOREST

48 minsI'd like to see Lee get into this a little bit more. The Korean was quiet in the first half but is a tricky customer on form.

47 minsEagles hits the target from 25 yards, but there's little power and Camp claims it easily.

46 minsWe're back underway. I can see more goals in this - can't say which way mind. Early free-kick for Bolton.

8:48pmThe players are just about ready to get the second half underway. I don't think there have been any changes as yet...

8:47pmI know they are the goalscorers, but they have been at the heart of everything positive their respective team has done tonight. Eagles was all over the pitch for Bolton, left, right and centre before popping up with the equaliser, while McGugan had his shooting and passing boots on for sure. Maybe one on each foot?

8:45pmThe standout player for each team: Eagles for Bolton and McGugan for Forest.

8:43pmLooking again at Bolton's equaliser Davies could be guilty of an illegal jump - it looked a push. Nonetheless, Eagles finished it and Forest only have themselves to blame for letting the Trotters back into the game.

8:41pmThe opening goal is really worth seeing again. McGugan has a great strike on him but even considering that it is some hit from 30 yards. No 'keeper would have got anywhere near it.

8:39pmAfter having 60% of the possession not long before Bolton's equaliser, Forest end the half with 49% such was Bolton's momentum towards the end of the half.

8:38pmBolton looked most likely to score again after their goal, with Sordell forcing Camp into a save from a header, but the striker probably should have buried it.

8:36pmAn interesting half ends with a goal each. Forest led through a McGugan wonderstrike and dominated the possession before Bolton's equaliser. However, they did not really test Bogdan despite their midfield play.

8:33pmHalf-time. Bolton 1-1 Forest.

8:32pmEagles wins a free-kick with some nifty stepovers, which leads to a yellow for Cox, the third of the game.

8:31pmThere will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

8:29pmMears gets in behind down the right flank but his cross is turned away well for a throw-in. The goal has livened up the crowd and the players and suddenly Bolton are looking likely to add another.

8:27pmBolton have looked more dangerous down the flanks than through the middle and Sordell nearly makes it 2-1! He should have done better with a header from a left-wing cross but Camp is able to tip it over the bar.

8:25pmBolton are level through their dangerman Eagles. Davies hits the post from a Ricketts cross and Eagles puts the rebound straight down the middle. They're level, but you have to say they barely deserve it.

8:24pmGOAL! BOLTON 1-1 FOREST

8:22pmThe pressure of this Forest midfield is forcing Bolton to try to hit Davies with long balls. They too are proving ineffective as the atmosphere remains flat.

8:20pmLee finds himself attempting to dictate play through the middle, but Bolton are still unable to create a real chance. Forest have 60% of the possession so far, not bad for an away side!

8:19pmGuedioura again works some space on the edge of the box and this time hits the target, but it is comfortable once more for Bogdan. Reid is then booked for a foul on the halfway line.

8:17pmBolton play risky football in their own half, but work their way up the pitch until they again lose the ball in the final third, this time Ricketts the culprit.

8:14pmAgain an early tackle from Halford almost sets up Blackstock, but his touch is poor and the chance is gone.

8:11pmForest's pressing in midfield is winning this for the away side so far, as another interception ends with a chance. At the other end K Davies almost gets on the end of a cross but it is brilliantly headed away. However, it's given as a Forest goal-kick.

8:09pmAfter a break for an injury, Eagles again works some space, before a Ricketts cross is just about cleared for a corner. Eagles is definitely the most likely to create something for Bolton so far.

8:07pmLee and Mark Davies work some space for Eagles and his cross is blocked for a corner at the other end. Mills gets up to head after the ball pings about but his header is comfortably wide.

8:05pmMcGugan finds Cox with a delightful outside of the foot pass, but his shot is blocked for a Forest corner.

8:04pmThe Bolton fans are starting to get on the players' backs, with the midfield unable to find a link to the forwards.

8:01pmIt's an absolute beauty from McGugan. Forest play some nice football in the final third and the midfielder lashes a shot in off the underside of the bar from 25 yards.

8:00pmGOAL! BOLTON 0-1 FOREST

7:59pmEagles is in no particular position tonight; he started on the left, then gave the right flank a go before finding himself trying to get on the end of a Sordell through-ball.

7:57pmReid finds Blackstock in the box with an angled ball and the striker cuts inside. However, the angle was not favourable and it's once more comfortable for the Bolton stopper.

7:55pmThe atmosphere is already quite flat, with the action on the pitch failing to lift the Reebok crowd so far as more passes go astray.

7:54pmLewis McGugan tries another Forest effort from distance, but it is straight at Bogdan in the Bolton goal and he will be pleased with an easy early touch.

7:52pmBolton try the other flank this time through Lee Chung-Yong, but Lee Camp claims well in goal. Forest go up the other end quickly and Matt Mills somehow misses his own net as he puts the ball behind for a corner.

7:50pmChris Eagles looks to attack Brendan Moloney early on, who will have to be solid tonight to stop the tricky winger.

7:49pmScrappy in the opening stages, with both sides giving the ball away, before Guedioura fires an early distance effort a long way off target.

7:46pmWe're away, and K Davies is straight into a thumping challenge on Dan Harding, with a booking already for the skipper after 37 seconds.

7:45pmForest have also won just once in the league against Bolton in 10 attempts - 1-0 in 1978. So history is against the visitors here, but we all know not to read too much into that!

7:44pmAlmost ready for kick-off here, just time for a few stats before we begin. Bolton are unbeaten in the last six encounters with Forest, with the away team having not won against the Trotters since 1995.

7:42pmForest, meanwhile, finished a disappointing 19th in the Championship last term, but their four points from six is their strongest start to a second division season for 12 years.

7:39pmBolton lost their Premier League status last season after 11 years, which was their longest stay in the top flight for 40 years.

7:36pmCox and Blackstock remain in attack for Forest, the partnership which O'Driscoll was keen to praise after the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield.

7:35pmForest: Camp; Moloney, Halford, Collins, Harding; Gillett, McGugan, Guedioura, Reid; Cox, Blackstock

7:33pmIn what is a strong looking XI for this level, Marvin Sordell keeps his place up front in an unchanged lineup form Coyle. That is despite Benik Afobe?s fine performance from the bench in the 2-0 win against Derby.

7:31pmBolton: Bogdan; Mears, Mills, Knight, Ricketts; Chung-Yong, Andrews, M Davies, Eagles; K Davies, Sordell

7:30pmGood evening and welcome to what should be an intriguing clash tonight. Firstly, team news.
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPortsmouth452713576413594
2Derby CountyDerby452781076373989
3Bolton WanderersBolton452511983483586
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough452581286582883
5Barnsley4521121281631875
6Lincoln CityLincoln4520141165382774
7Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4521111377552274
8Blackpool4521101463451873
9Stevenage4518141355451068
10Wycombe WanderersWycombe451614155955462
11Leyton Orient451711175054-462
12Exeter CityExeter451710184559-1461
13Wigan AthleticWigan451910166156559
14Northampton TownNorthampton45178205665-959
15Bristol Rovers45169205266-1457
16Charlton AthleticCharlton451120146464053
17Reading451511196568-350
18Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury45139233464-3048
19Cambridge UnitedCambridge451211223961-2247
20Burton Albion451210233964-2546
21Cheltenham TownCheltenham45128254063-2344
RFleetwood TownFleetwood45913234672-2640
RPort Vale451010254174-3340
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4579294179-3830


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