Manager happy with final pre-season performance in 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic at Macron Stadium
Neil Lennon believes Bolton’s final pre-season friendly against Charlton Athletic was exactly what his side needed ahead of the campaign’s opener.
The Trotters twice took the lead against their Sky Bet Championship counterparts on a cool summer’s evening at Macron Stadium.
Darren Pratley and Liam Feeney both scored for Bolton, only for Charlton to twice peg Wanderers back.
But with the season’s opener against Derby County now on the horizon, the manager was left happy with positive with his side’s preparations.
“It was a game of two halves as far as we’re concerned,” he told bwfc.co.uk after the final whistle. “We were a little bit off the pace in the first half, but I thought in the second half we were really good. We probably should have won the game in the end.
“We scored two good goals and generally created some really good chances. We were a little passive in the first half, but I got everything I wanted in the second.
“It was a real plus point for Zach Clough and Mark Davies to get game time. They haven’t played much football since the back end of last season.
“I also thought Gary Madine, Dorian Dervite and Josh Vela played really well, as did most of the team. We’re very encouraged by what we saw and the players needed that kind of game at this stage.
“It was a really good test of what we’re going to be coming up against now. We looked a good side and got better as the game went on.”
The only downside for Bolton came in the form of an injury to Derik Osede, with the Spanish defender forced from the field of play midway through the second half.
The manager added: “Our only blip from the game was the injury to Derik. It looks like a knock on the ankle, but he’ll go away for a scan and we’ll take it from there.”