Report: Mjallby 3-2 Bolton

Bolton Wanderers concluded their pre-season tour of Scandinavia with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Swedish top flight side Mjallby.

Dougie Freedman’s charges impressed in the early throes, playing an entertaining brand of football and racing into a two-goal lead.

Rob Hall teed up Jermaine Beckford for the opener, before roles were reversed for Bolton’s second. 

Mjallby came fighting back and found themselves in front prior to the interval and would hold on to eventually win what was an entertaining pre-season workout.

Wanderers started the game with a real swagger about them. 

Kevin McNaughton, starting the game following confirmation of his loan from Cardiff City, overlapped Liam Feeney before delivering a dangerous cross. Beckford met it well, though his goal-bound effort was well blocked.

However, it didn’t take long for Bolton to open their account.

On four minutes Hall pinched the ball from the Mjallby full-back before crossing for Beckford, who calmly converted from close range.

Bolton continued to look a real threat going forward, weaving pretty patterns in the attacking third.

A second goal arrived on seven minutes. 

After some neat interplay involving McNaughton and Beckford, Hall applied the finishing touch with a sublime left-footed finish from the edge of the area.

Bolton were seemingly in cruise control, playing an attractive style of football.

Though with 12 minutes gone and with their first meaningful attack Mjallby halved the deficit. 

Mattias Hakansson latched onto a through ball in behind the Bolton defence before finishing under the body of the onrushing Andrew Lonergan. 

And the hosts were soon level after a low cross from the right found its way into the net via a combination of Matt Mills and Mjallby frontman Kristian Haynes.

Bolton continued to threaten in the final third, but found themselves behind just before the interval.

Kwame Bounso controlled a ball from the left 18 yards out before bending an effort beyond Lonergan and into the far corner.

Mjallby made a flurry of subs at the interval and started the second period in a lively fashion.

Viktor Nilsson escaped into the right channel and a saw a shot smartly tipped away by Lonergan.

Beckford then had a chance to draw Bolton level, though his instinctive shot following a long pass was well smothered by Mjallby goalkeeper Mattias Asper.

Bolton then made a number of changes of their own.

The game became a little disjointed, with any chances of real note at a premium.

Nilsson did see a shot from distance deflect into Lonergan’s gloves, whilst up the other end Hall’s centre was turned goalwards by sub Craig Davies, with the goalkeeper blocking well.

Mjallby did hit a post late on via a miss-hit cross, but ultimately the hosts were to win the game by the odd goal in five.