U21s: Nottingham Forest 5-1 Bolton

Bolton Wanderers Under-21s conceded the lead as they fell to a heavy 5-1 defeat away at Nottingham Forest on Monday.

Jamie Thomas fired the Trotters ahead early on from the penalty spot after Kaiyne Woolery was brought down in the box, but once Andreas Karo equalised moments later, it was one-way traffic.

Jorge Grant headed the hosts ahead prior to the break, before second half goals from Tyler Walker, Karo and Johnny Williams secured the result on a disappointing day for the young Whites.

Harry Campbell captained a much-changed Wanderers side as only Jon Ceberio, Chris Cvetko, Nat Phillips and Kaiyne Woolery remained from last week’s starting XI against Barnsley.

Alex Finney, George Newell, Alex Perry, Callum Spooner, Quade Taylor and Jamie Thomas all came into the team alongside Campbell, while there were places on the substitutes’ bench for Under-18s players Max Allen, Tyrell Palmer, Ronaldo Pearson and Jake Turner.

Facing off in windy conditions at the Nigel Doughty Academy against an experienced Forest side featuring a number of senior players, both sides looked to grab the early initiative in what was an even start to the first half.

Wanderers’ first chance fell to George Newell as the forward found himself in space on the left-hand side of the penalty area, however he was unable to hit the target as he dragged his effort wide.

However, the Whites did not have to wait long to take the lead as they were awarded a penalty after ten minutes when Kaiyne Woolery was hacked down in the area.

Jamie Thomas stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake as he calmly side-footed Bolton ahead, placing his strike into the bottom right-hand corner, out of goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov’s grasp.

But the Trotters were pegged back almost immediately as Andreas Karo equalised just moments later, heading home at the near post from a Forest corner.

Continuing to exchange chances, Harry Campbell was off his line quickly to deny Wales international Johnny Williams, with Alex Finney on hand to block to rebound, before Woolery forced a low save from Evtimov at the other end after cutting in from the right and firing low towards goal.

Campbell was called into action again shortly after the half-hour mark, making a stunning fingertip save to prevent what looked like a certain goal before later denying Forest when left one-on-one.

However, there was nothing Campbell could do to stop the hosts taking the lead as Jorge Grant headed home at the far post as Wanderers went in at the break a goal behind.

On the back foot following the restart, the Whites could have fallen further behind after Tyler Walker broke free and tried to chip Campbell, only for the goalkeeper to recover and palm clear.

Having seen Campbell into action once more as he diving full-stretch to tip behind, Walker did manage to get his name on the scoresheet shortly before the hour-mark, firing low across goal into the bottom corner.

Bolton continued to struggle to mount attacks of their own, and fell further behind as Karo headed home his second of the game after Campbell failed to punch clear a Forest cross, leaving the defender with an open goal.

George Newell acrobatically volley over in a rare Trotters second half attack, but that was the closest Wanderers came to reducing the deficit in what was a one-sided second half.

Williams compiled further misery on the Whites late on as he fired low into the bottom corner from range to wrap up the scoring, inflicting a heavy defeat on Bolton in the process on what was a rare off day for the Trotters.

Bolton: Campbell, Taylor, Spooner, Finney, Phillips, Perry (Palmer 71), Cvetko, Ceberio (Campbell-Young 51), Woolery, Thomas Newell.

Unused substitutes: Turner, Allen, Pearson.