Bolton Wanderers beat Preston North End 2-1 in the Championship, taking the points thanks to two first-half goals. Sam Dalby opened the scoring in the 14th minute and Thierry Gale doubled the lead 11 minutes later, with John McAtee providing the assist. Preston's late rally brought a goal back through Jusef Erabi in the 86th minute, but Bolton held on.
Dalby scored the opener in the 14th minute, and Gale made it 2-0 in the 25th after McAtee's pass. Preston improved after the break and reduced the deficit when Erabi converted Andrija Vukčević's assist in the 86th minute. That was as close as they came, with Bolton's defence standing firm in the closing minutes.
Bolton had the better of the numbers, enjoying 55% possession and 15 shots to Preston's 9, but the visitors created more big chances — four to Bolton's two. They missed three of those, while Bolton took one of theirs and relied on Dalby's early strike. It was a case of taking the opportunities that mattered.
