Sky Bet Championship

Bolton Wanderers 0

Leeds United 1 (Bamford 66)

Bolton: Alnwick, Taylor, Lowe, Vela, Buckley (Wildschut 72), Noone, Hobbs, Olkowski, Williams (Oztumer 80), Magennis (Doidge 75), Wheater.  Subs: Matthews, Donaldson, Wilson, O'Neil.

Leeds: Peacock-Farrell, Shackleton, Jansson, Phillips, Douglas, Forshaw, Klich, Baker (Clarke 45), Alioski, Hernandez (Halme 90), Roofe (Bamford 61).  Subs: Huffer, Roberts, Harrison, Davis.

Booked: Lowe, Noone (Bolton), Douglas (Leeds)

Referee: R. Jones

Venue: Macron Stadium

Attendance: 17,484

Patrick Bamford returned from injury and scored the crucial goal to give Leeds United a 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Leeds had a good early chance when Ezgjan Alioski whipped in a fine cross from the left, which was met by the head of Pablo Hernandez at the back post, but his effort was tipped over by Trotters stopper Ben Alnwick.

After winning a number of corners, which were cleared by the home side, a Mateusz Klich cross found Lewis Baker on the edge of the box, he headed towards goal, but couldn’t find the target.

Leeds then had a chance from a Hernandez corner, the Spaniard whipped a ball into the box, but Alioski couldn’t direct his header towards goal.

Following a Leeds free-kick, the ball fell to Mateusz Klich in the box, he was denied by a good save from Alnwick and Roofe was unable to get onto the rebound under pressure.

Leeds cleared two Bolton free-kicks into the box in the closing stages of the half, as the two sides went in level at the break.

Half time: Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Leeds United



After the break, Bolton had the first opportunity, Craig Noone drove forwards before striking from 25 yards, but he couldn’t find the target.

Kalvin Phillips then tried his luck from 35 yards, but his attempt was wide of the mark.

Bamford was introduced just after the hour mark, making his first senior appearance since August and the Leeds striker had an immediate impact.  Hernandez played him in on goal and he superbly found the back of the net with a first time strike.

The Whites had the opportunity to make it two in the 70^th minute, Hernandez found Phillips from a corner, but his header was off target.

Bolton felt they should have had a penalty when Noone went down under a challenge from Phillips in the Leeds box, but the referee waved away the protests.

The Whites then had Barry Douglas to thank for keeping the Whites ahead in the 85^th minute, clearing a Jack Hobbs header off the line following a Bolton corner.

A minute later at the other end, Leeds almost went further ahead.  Mateusz Klich struck from 20 yards and only a superb save from Alnwick denied him.

Bolton’s best chance late on came through Jason Lowe who struck wide, but Leeds saw out the four minutes of added time, to come with a fifth Sky Bet Championship victory in a row.

Full time: Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Leeds United