Report: Wanderers 0-0 Leicester City
Bolton secured another Championship point at home against high-flying Leicester City, as Dougie Freedman continued his unbeaten start to life at the Reebok.Chung Yong-Lee went closest to breaking the deadlock either side of the break, but he couldn’t find a way past the in-form Kasper Schmeichel, who kept the Whites’ attack at bay.
Adam Bogdan was also in impressive form, producing a string of quality stops to help secure their first clean sheet under the new management.
David Nugent almost secured all three points for the visitors at the death, but a diving block from Sam Ricketts ultimately saw both sides settle for a share of the spoils.
Freedman named an unchanged side form Saturday’s 2-1 win over Cardiff City, with the match winner David Ngog being the only absentee from the squad through suspension.
It was the visitors who forged the first opportunity of the game, as a quick break from Lloyd Dyer found Foxes’ top scorer David Nugent through on goal, but his strike was first saved by Bogdan, then his second effort was superbly blocked by a diving Stephen Warnock.
The Foxes continued to press forward as Danny Drinkwater, and then Martyn Waghorn, forced Wanderers’ Hungarian international into two diving stops.
Up the other end Chris Eagles tried a long-range free kick which had Schmeichel sprawling in front of goal to beat away.
Leicester almost broke the deadlock soon after. Right-back Richie De Laet found himself in space on the edge of the box and managed to clip the bar with a curling strike from an acute angle.
With half time imminent, the Trotters fashioned their best chance of the half as Kevin Davies’ flick on from Ricketts’ long throw caused havoc in the Leicester defence. Chung Yong-Lee pounced before seeing two attempts in quick concession saved by Schmeichel.
Freedman’s side raced out of the blocks at the start of the second half.
First Eagles had a low shot saved after some good work from Chung-Yong, before the ex-Burnley man’s free-kick found Kevin Davies, but his glancing header was pushed round the post by Schmeichel.
The Trotters were on top and almost found the breakthrough when Mark Davies weaved through the middle of the park, only to see his low strike saved by Schmeichel.
Leicester were always dangerous on the break and striker Nugent almost capitalised, but his volley from inside the box hit the side-netting.
Wanderers continued to push forward, and an Eagles’ corner almost unlocked the resolute Foxes defence, but first Chung-Yong and then Mark Davies both had efforts blocked in front of goal.
The Blues responded once again through Waghorn, but an inspired Bogdan once again kept the Leicester attack at bay in what was becoming an increasingly tense half.
Substitute Martin Petrov made an immediate impact providing a delightful ball across the box just inches away from the diving Pratley.
And late on Nugent came close once again, but saw Ricketts block his goalbound shot as the game remained goalless.
Wanderers:Bogdan, Warnock, Mills, Knight, Ricketts, Lee (Petrov 71), Andrews, M Davies, Pratley, Eagles (Afobe 81), K Davies (Unused subs: Lynch, Ream, Mears, Sordell, Spearing)
Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky (Schlupp 40), Morgan, Keane (Moore 57), Drinkwater, King, Dyer, Knockaert, Waghorn (Lingard 85), Nugent. (Unused subs: Logan, Marshall, James, Futacs)